Study Medicine in Katowice

How do I get this place through Medschool Experts?

We place students at this university with no entrance-exam restrictions. Whether we can place you with your profile is something we work out in a free, no-obligation consultation — where we’ll also discuss which university suits you best.

What qualifications do I need for Katowice, and is there an entrance-exam cap?

There is no entrance-exam cap. You need a general higher-education entrance qualification and good English skills, since medicine and dentistry at the Medical University of Silesia are taught in English. We handle the application.

What does the degree in Katowice cost per semester and in total?

Medicine costs 7,680 EUR per semester and dentistry 8,010 EUR per semester. Over six years of medicine that adds up to around 92,000 EUR; over five years of dentistry, around 80,000 EUR. Fees are due each semester, so there’s no full upfront payment — but the total is still a six-figure sum.

What additional costs should I budget for?

One-off costs cover the application. Ongoing costs include textbooks, a lab coat and — in dentistry — instruments. Health insurance, local transport and rent need to be budgeted too. Because Poland uses the zloty, your everyday costs in euros can fluctuate with the exchange rate.

How much does it cost to live in Katowice?

Less than in Warsaw or Krakow, and well below major German cities. We go through concrete monthly figures individually in your consultation rather than quoting numbers that may be out of date.

What language is teaching in Katowice?

The international programme is in English, so good English skills are required. Solid upper-secondary English is a good starting point; medical terminology is new for all students.

Do I need to learn Polish to study in Katowice?

Yes, progressively through the degree. Polish language courses are built into the pre-clinical years to prepare you for patient contact. From the clinical phase onward, in the university hospitals across Upper Silesia, you actually need those skills. Treating the language courses as a formality to get through will cause problems on the ward later.

How is the medicine degree in Katowice structured?

Medicine runs six years with around 360 ECTS credits, graduating as lekarz at master’s level. The first two years are pre-clinical, from year three comes the clinical phase, and the sixth year is a full clinical training year. Dentistry runs five years with around 300 ECTS credits and is taught in neighbouring Zabrze.

Is a Polish degree automatically recognised internationally?

Yes, across the EU. Poland is an EU member state and the Medical University of Silesia is a public university, so the degree falls under directive 2005/36/EC. It is automatically recognised in every EU country. No knowledge test of the kind required for degrees from outside the EU applies.

Do I need the Polish LEK exam and the Staż for licensing abroad?

No. Your degree is recognised in other EU countries under directive 2005/36/EC without requiring LEK or Staż. Both are prerequisites for practising in Poland itself. If you want to work in Poland or do your specialist training there, you’ll take them; otherwise, you won’t.

Do I get ECTS credits and a Transcript of Records?

Yes. Medicine covers around 360 ECTS credits, dentistry around 300, and your results are recorded in a Transcript of Records. You’ll need this for licensing, for specialist-training applications and for any credit transfer. Keep it complete from day one.

Can I transfer later to a university back home?

There’s no automatic route. A transfer into a higher semester requires an available place, and each university decides independently which credits to accept. Don’t build your plan around this. Assume you’ll complete your degree in Poland.

When does the degree start and when should I apply?

The intake is in the autumn semester. Apply in the year before your intended start, since places are limited and preparation for the online test takes time. We take over the whole process from your first consultation; test and application dates shift each year.

Where will I live in Katowice?

Options include university dormitory places and privately rented rooms or flats. Rents are below Krakow or Warsaw levels and well below major German cities. Dentistry students should bear in mind that teaching is in neighbouring Zabrze and factor that into their accommodation search.

What is daily life like in Katowice, and how do I get home?

Katowice has around 280,000 residents; the Upper Silesian metropolitan area is home to about two million people. The airport is 30 km north; Krakow is about 1.5 hours by train. The international student community at the university means you find your social circle quickly.

Where does practical training take place in Katowice?

At the Medical University of Silesia’s hospitals across Upper Silesia, from year three. The sixth year is a full clinical training year. Clinical placements back home are possible in principle; whether they’re credited depends on the university’s rules — check before you commit.

What career paths are open after graduating?

With the lekarz or lekarz dentysta degree and EU recognition, specialist training is open to you across the EU on equal footing with local graduates. LEK and Staż only come into play if you want to practise in Poland.

How does the Medical University of Silesia differ from the Academy of Silesia?

The Medical University of Silesia is the public medical university in Katowice, founded in 1948, with faculties at several Upper Silesian campuses. Both lead to a medical degree in Poland but differ in institutional type, admissions process and fees.