Medical University of Silesia in Katowice

About the University

The Medical University of Silesia (Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, SUM) was established in 1948 as the Medical Academy of Bytom (Beuthen). It relocated to Katowice in 1957 and was granted university status in 2007. Today it is one of Poland’s major medical universities, with five faculties distributed across campuses in Katowice-Ligota, Zabrze, Bytom, and Sosnowiec. Six teaching hospitals serve as the primary clinical training environments.

The English-Language M.D. Programme

The Medical University of Silesia offers an English-language medical programme leading to the degree of lekarz, the Polish equivalent of the M.D. The programme follows the Polish medical curriculum framework and is fully taught in English, making it accessible to international students without prior knowledge of Polish. The standard duration is six years.

Degree Recognition

The lekarz degree awarded by a Polish public medical university is automatically recognised throughout the European Union under Directive 2005/36/EC and Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. Graduates may apply for the Approbation in Germany and medical licences in other EU member states. Recognition outside the EU depends on bilateral agreements and national licensing requirements.

Campuses and Teaching Hospitals

SUM operates across four locations in Upper Silesia: Katowice-Ligota (main clinical campus), Zabrze, Bytom, and Sosnowiec. Six affiliated teaching hospitals provide clinical training across all major specialties. The university sits in the heart of the Upper Silesian conurbation, one of Central Europe’s most densely populated regions.

Admission

Applications to the English-language M.D. programme are submitted directly to the Medical University of Silesia. The selection process includes an online admissions test. Biology is a mandatory subject in the test; applicants additionally choose between chemistry and physics as a second subject. There is no interview. Both a winter semester (October) and a summer semester intake are available, which is rare among European medical programmes.

Finances

Tuition for the English-language M.D. programme is approximately 15,360 EUR per year (subject to change; verify on the university’s official website). As a Polish public university, SUM is not subsidised for international-track students, but the tuition level is substantially lower than comparable English-language programmes in Western Europe. Living costs in Katowice and the Upper Silesian region are among the lowest in the EU, making the overall cost of studying medicine here very competitive.

Recognition of the Degree

The lekarz degree from the Medical University of Silesia is automatically recognised throughout the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC and Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. In Germany, holders of a Polish lekarz degree may apply for the Approbation directly; language proficiency requirements and the Staż (mandatory internship) completion must be verified with the relevant Landesbehörde. In the United Kingdom and other non-EU countries, separate licensing procedures apply. Graduates intending to work in a non-EU country should verify recognition requirements with that country’s licensing authority before enrolment.

Licensing in Poland

To practise medicine in Poland, graduates must complete the Staż (a supervised internship) and pass the LEK (Lekarski Egzamin Końcowy — the Polish medical licensing examination). EU graduates are entitled to mutual recognition of their qualification without repeating the LEK when moving to another EU country, provided the degree meets the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC.

Campus and Student Life

Katowice is the capital of the Silesia region and the centre of the Upper Silesian metropolitan area, home to around 2.7 million people. The city has undergone significant transformation over recent decades, evolving from an industrial centre into a vibrant cultural and business hub. It hosts major music venues, a strong food scene, and one of Poland’s leading contemporary art museums (MOCAK is in Kraków, but Katowice has the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the NOSPR concert hall).

The cost of living in Katowice is very low by European standards. Student accommodation, food, and transport are all substantially cheaper than in Western European university cities. The city is well connected by road and rail, and Katowice Airport serves numerous European destinations. Polish language courses are typically available for international students who wish to integrate further.

Is the lekarz degree recognised in Germany?

Yes. The lekarz degree from the Medical University of Silesia is automatically recognised in Germany and all EU member states under Directive 2005/36/EC. Graduates must apply for the Approbation through the relevant German state authority (Landesbehörde) and demonstrate sufficient German language skills.

What is the admissions test?

The admissions test is conducted online and covers biology (mandatory) plus either chemistry or physics (applicant’s choice). There is no interview. Test dates and registration details are published on the university’s official admissions pages.

Can I start in the summer semester?

Yes — the Medical University of Silesia offers both winter (October) and summer semester intakes for the English-language M.D. programme, which is unusual among European medical universities.

What is the Staż?

The Staż is a mandatory supervised internship required to obtain a full medical licence (prawo wykonywania zawodu) in Poland. It follows the six-year programme and typically lasts 13 months. Graduates intending to practise in another EU country instead of Poland should check whether their destination country recognises the Polish degree with or without Staż completion.