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Requireddocuments
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List of documents
Wondering what documents you’ll need? You’ll find a complete and up-to-date list of required documents, tailored to your degree programme and circumstances, in your Online Application System (IRK) account.
Submitting your documents involves two simple steps:
Step 1
Uploading your scans online
During the admission process, you do not need to send us any original paper documents. To enable the Faculty Admission Committee to calculate your points, simply upload clear scans or photos of your certificates/diplomas directly to your account in the Online Application System IRK system.
Please note that you can only upload one file per field. You must add each document to a separate field provided for that purpose.
Exception – if your secondary school-leaving certificate and the appendix with grades are issued separately, scan both documents and save them as a single PDF file, then upload it to the appropriate field in the IRK system.
1st cycle studies and long-cycle studies
Are you applying for a Bachelor’s, Engineering or 5-year Master’s degree? Here is a list of documents you must upload to the IRK system during the admission process:
Document confirming your secondary education
This will be a scan of one of the following documents (depending on which you hold):
- Polish secondary school-leaving certificate (together with any annex or certificate of results),
- IB (International Baccalaureate) or EB (European Baccalaureate) diploma,
- foreign secondary school-leaving certificate (or another document entitling you to undertake studies in the country of issue).
Important rule for foreign documents
A certificate issued outside Poland must be legalised or bear an apostille stamp. If your document was issued in a language other than Polish or English, you must attach a translation into Polish, prepared exclusively by a sworn translator listed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland.
Confirmation of eligibility to study (only for selected countries)
This point applies to you only if your certificate was issued in a country that does not belong to the EU, EFTA, OECD or EEA, and is not Ukraine or China (gaozhong). In this case, you must provide one of the following documents to confirm that your certificate allows you to study in Poland:
- an individual written statement issued by the Director of NAWA (National Agency for Academic Exchange),
- a decision by the Regional Education Authorities recognising your certificate.
Proof of language proficiency
A document proving your language proficiency at a minimum B2 level:
- knowledge of Polish (if you are choosing a degree programme taught in Polish) – download the list of accepted documents (pdf, 197KB),
- knowledge of English (if you are choosing an English-taught degree programme) – download the list of accepted documents(pdf, 222KB).
Document exempting you from fees (if applicable)
If you have a status entitling you to undertake full-time studies in Poland without paying fees (tuition fees), you must attach a document confirming it. A list of statuses entitling you to study free of charge can be found here.
2nd cycle studies (Master’s degree)
Are you applying to a Master’s degree programme as a university graduate? Check which documents you need to prepare and upload as scans to the IRK system during the admission process:
1. Degree diploma with a supplement
The basis for your application is a copy of your 1st-cycle (e.g. Bachelor’s or Engineering), 2nd-cycle, or long-cycle degree diploma. You must attach a supplement to the degree diploma containing a list of your grades.
Important rule for foreign documents
A diploma issued outside Poland must be legalised or bear an apostille stamp. If your document was issued in a language other than Polish or English, you must attach a translation into Polish, prepared exclusively by a sworn translator listed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland.
2. Confirmation of eligibility to study (only for selected countries)
This requirement applies to you only if your degree was issued in a country that is not a member of the EU, EFTA, OECD or EEA, and is not Ukraine or China. In this case, you must provide:
- a written statement issued by the Director of NAWA (National Agency for Academic Exchange) confirming your eligibility to undertake higher education studies in Poland.
3. Certificate of grade point average (if not included in your documents)
If, for the course you have chosen, the grade point average from your previous studies is one of the admission criteria, and your degree diploma or supplement does not specify the exact value of this average, you must ask your previous university to issue a separate certificate stating the calculated average.
4. Proof of language proficiency
A document proving your language proficiency at a minimum B2 level:
- knowledge of Polish (if you are choosing a degree programme taught in Polish) – download the list of accepted documents (pdf, 197KB),
- knowledge of English (if you are choosing an English-taught degree programme) – download the list of accepted documents(pdf, 222KB).
5. Document exempting you from fees (if applicable)
If, due to your status, you are entitled to undertake full-time studies in Poland without paying fees (tuition fees), you must attach a document confirming this entitlement. You can find the list of statuses entitling you to study free of charge here.
Apostille, legalisation and translations
Important terms
Once you have been accepted to studies, you will need to submit your original documents. If your certificate or diploma was issued outside Poland, you must ensure it is properly authenticated and translated. Find out how to complete these formalities:
Document authentication (apostille or legalisation)
Depending on the country in which your certificate/diploma was issued, you are required to follow only one of the two procedures below:
- Apostille (for Hague Convention countries)
This is a special stamp that certifies the authenticity of the document and allows it to be used legally abroad.
Where can you get this done? You can only obtain an apostille from the relevant authorities in the country where the document was issued. List of countries where you can obtain an apostille (signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention). - Legalisation (for countries outside the Hague Convention)
If the country where your document was issued has not signed the Hague Convention (i.e. does not issue apostilles), the document requires a full legalisation procedure. This is to confirm that your certificate or diploma has the same legal force in Poland.
Where can you get this done? First, you must obtain a confirmation (stamp) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where your document was issued. Then, go to a Polish diplomatic mission (Polish consulate) in the country where the document was issued to complete the legalisation process.
If you do not manage to legalise your document or obtain an apostille stamp before the end of the recruitment period, you can still take part in the admission process! You can submit the relevant certification (apostille or legalisation) later, by 30 September.
Translation into Polish
You must attach an official translation to your foreign education document. The University of Silesia accepts documents translated in two ways:
- Standard procedure: a translation prepared by a sworn translator who is listed on the official register maintained by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland.
- Alternative route: If the translation was carried out by another person (e.g. a regular translator in your country), such a translation must be certified by the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in the country where the document was issued.
Confirmation of eligibility to study
Check whether your school-leaving certificate or degree diploma requires recognition in Poland.
Step 2
Enrolment
When you see the status Accepted in your account, this means it is time for official enrolment and to present your original documents.
Where can you check the deadline for submitting documents? You can find the exact dates in the Online Application System (IRK):
- In the tab for your degree programme: Programme information → Admission schedule → Enrolment and submission of documents
- On the official list of accepted applicants.
Important: You must submit your documents by the specified deadline. Unfortunately, late submission means you will automatically lose your place on the list – so keep an eye on the dates!
Pro Tip: Remote enrolment (for holders of foreign documents only!)
Are you applying on the basis of a certificate or diploma issued outside Poland? We have great news for you! You don’t need to make a special trip to Katowice in the middle of summer to submit your documents to the dean’s office.
How to enrol remotely
- Send an email to your faculty’s dean’s office requesting remote enrolment (attaching the required documents). You can find the application form in the Online Application System (IRK).
- When you arrive in Poland before the start of the academic year, simply bring the original paper documents to the dean’s office. Remember to have your documents checked at the International Admissions Office first. You have until 30 September at the latest to do this!
