Fees
Tuition Fees
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Tuition Fees
Pursuing a degree is an investment in your future. While this path generally involves tuition fees for international students undertaking full-time studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice, there are several ways to study fee-free.
Price list
The amount of tuition fees for specific degree programmes can be found in the tables of tuition fees for foreigners (pdf, 151 KB) – the table has fees for educational services in the cycle which began in academic year 2025/2026.
Exemption from Tuition Fees
In a number of legally defined cases, you may be able to receive a full waiver of tuition fees; this includes National Academic Exchange Agency (NAWA) scholarship and fellowship recipients.
All the circumstances that entitle you to free tuition are in the drop-down sections below. Check them carefully, perhaps one of them applies to you
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Free education
Exemption from Tuition Fees
Full-time programmes taught in Polish and English are free of charge at the University of Silesia for international students who meet at least one of the following criteria listed in Art. 324 section 1 of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on higher education and science:
- have the Polish Card (Karta Polaka);
- have a valid decision on his Polish descent;
- have a permanent residence permit;
- are a citizen of a member state of the European Union, of the European Free Trade Association, of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland;
- are a family member of a citizen of a member state of the European Union, of the European Free Trade Association, of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland and lives in Poland;
- are a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (in accordance with Article 10 section 1 b or d of the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU) or a member of their family residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland;
- have a temporary residence permit due to the circumstances mentioned in Article 127, Article 137a, Article 159(1) or Article 186(1)(3) or (4) of the Act on foreigners of 12 December 2013 (Journal of Laws 2013, Position 1650);
- have a long-term EU resident permit;
- are a refugee acknowledged by the Republic of Poland;
- are under temporary protection on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
- are under subsidiary protection on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
- are a spouse, a parent or a child of a citizen of the Republic of Poland and lives in Poland;
- have a certificate issued by the State Board for Certification of Polish as a Foreign Language, confirming their knowledge of Polish as a foreign language at least at C1 level.
Additionally, a right not to pay tuition fees for full-time studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice applies to international candidates who:
- have graduated from an undergraduate programme at the University of Silesia and wish to continue their education in a graduate programme at the University of Silesia;
- have successfully completed a one-year preparatory course for foreigners planning to study programmes taught in Polish offered by the School of the Polish Language and Culture of the University of Silesia, if the programme they are applying for is taught in Polish;
- are winners of the contest for the best foreign candidates.
Citizen of a member state of EU, EEA or EFTA
In order to confirm their entitlement to start and study a programme at the University of Silesia free of charge, such an international student should show:
- a personal ID or a passport containing the information that they are a citizen of:
- a member state of the European Union;
- Switzerland;
- a member state of EFTA;
- a member state of EEA.
Member states of the European Union:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Spain
- the Netherlands
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Latvia
- Malta
- Germany
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Hungary
- Italy
Member states of the European Economic Area:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Spain
- the Netherlands
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Latvia
- Malta
- Germany
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Hungary
- Italy
Member states of the European Free Trade Association:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
Member states of the European Free Trade Association
An international family member of a European Union citizen is a candidate who is:
- a spouse of an EU citizen;
- a child of this EU citizen or a child of their spouse, aged not more than 21 or a dependent of this EU citizen or their spouse;
- a parent of this EU citizen or a parent of their spouse and a dependent of this EU citizen or their spouse.
Legal basis: Article 2(4) on the entry into, residence in, and departure from the territory of the Republic of Poland of citizens of European Union member states and their family members of 14 July 2006 (Journal of Laws 2017, Item 900).
In order to confirm their entitlement to start and study a programme at the University of Silesia free of charge, such an international student should show:
- a document proving that you are related to the EU citizen – this may be:
- marriage certificate (if the marriage was concluded in Poland, an abridged copy of the marriage certificate);
- birth certificate (if the birth was registered in Poland, a complete copy of the birth certificate);
- a document confirming that they live in Poland, e.g. a confirmation of registration in Poland.
Holder of a temporary residence permit
The temporary residence permit due to the circumstances referred to in Article 127, Article 137a, Article 159(1) or Article 186(1)(3) or (4) of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners is as follows:
Article 127: a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of performing work in a profession requiring high qualifications.
Article 137a: a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of long-term mobility of the holder of an EU Blue Card.
Article 159(1): a temporary residence permit issued to a foreigner wishing to join their family.
Article 186(1): a temporary residence permit due to other circumstances, issued to a foreigner who:
Point 3: have a long-term EU resident permit issued by another EU member state
and
- is planning to work or operate a company in Poland
or
- is planning to start or continue a university programme or vocational training in Poland
or
- shows that there are other circumstances justifying their wish to live in Poland
or
Point 4: is a family member of a foreigner meeting the above criteria—under Article 186(1)(3)— they have stayed with this foreigner in another EU member state and joins him/her in Poland.
In order to confirm their entitlement to start and study a programme at the University of Silesia free of charge, such an international student should show:
- a resident permit, a temporary resident permit,
Spouse, a parent or a child of a citizen of the Republic of Poland and lives in Poland
A foreigner, i.e. a person without Polish citizenship, who is a spouse, a parent or a child of a citizen of the Republic of Poland and lives in Poland.
In order to confirm their entitlement to start and study a programme at the University of Silesia free of charge, a foreigner should show:
- a document confirming their family ties with an EU citizen, e.g.
- marriage certificate (if the marriage was concluded in Poland, an abridged copy of the marriage certificate);
- birth certificate (if the birth was registered in Poland, a complete copy of the birth certificate);
a document confirming that s/he lives in Poland, e.g. a confirmation of registration in Poland
Holder of a certificate issued by the State Board for Certification of Polish as a Foreign Language at least at C1 level
A certificate confirming a foreigner’s knowledge of Polish as a foreign language has to be issued by the State Committee for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language, in accordance with the Act on the Polish Language of 7 October 1999 (Journal of Laws 2018, Item 931).
The certificate has to confirm that the foreigner knows Polish at least at C1 level.
Only a certificate compliant with the template specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 26 February 2016 on examinations in Polish as a foreign language entitles a candidate to undertake full-time studies conducted in Polish free of charge.
Detailed information on exams in Polish as a foreign language leading to a certificate can be found on the website of the State Committee for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language.
In order to confirm their entitlement to start and study a programme at the University of Silesia free of charge, such an international student should show:
a certificate issued by the State Board for Certification of Polish as a Foreign Language, confirming their knowledge of Polish as a foreign language at least at C1 level
Contest for the best foreign candidates
In the academic year 2025/2026, all the foreigners applying for programmes offered by the University of Silesia who are not entitled to study free of charge, may participate in a contest for the best foreign candidates. Foreigners with the best results of the qualification procedure will not have to pay to study. This applies to 1st cycle, 2nd cycle and long-cycle studies.
The qualification procedure creates a ranking of the best foreign candidates. The criteria are the candidate’s results (i.e. grades on their secondary school-leaving certificate or university/college diploma) as well as their proficiency in Polish (or English).
Each candidate who registers in the Online Application System, has good grades from the previous stage of education, and has language skills in Polish or English that enable them to study in this language, may get a chance to study at the University of Silesia free of charge.
If a candidate is admitted within this procedure, they will not pay student fees, but they will not receive any scholarship from the University. They will have to cover the costs of living in Poland, including accommodation.
Key Information about the contest for the best foreign candidates.
Applicants who meet the following criteria may take part:
- Candidates from outside the European Union who do not have statutory rights to the exemption from tuition fees for full-time studies in Poland, i.e., they are not listed in Article 324(2) and do not hold any other entitlements under the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on higher education and science, allowing them to undertake and pursue full-time studies in Poland free of charge.
→ Information on statutory entitlements can be found above;
- candidates who have been qualified for studies by the Faculty Recruitment Committee;
- candidates who do not currently hold student status at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
Rules for participation in the contest for the best foreign candidates
To participate in the competition, a candidate must:
- complete full registration in the Online Application System (i.e., enter all required data and upload all required documents);
- pay the application fee;
- meet the qualification criteria for the chosen field of study;
- be qualified for the selected study program by the Faculty Admissions Committee;
- achieve the highest possible score on the ranking list of candidates qualified for the selected study programme.
A candidate who is awarded a tuition-free place must:
- within 2 days (48 hours) of receiving information about being granted a tuition-free place under the competition, confirm their intention to begin studies by uploading in the Online Application System (in the designated field) a signed declaration regarding participation in the competition for the best foreign candidates for the 2025/2026 academic year
→ A form of the declaration will be sent to candidates who meet the competition criteria;
- enter the name of the selected field of study in the declaration to confirm that they will begin studies in that programme
→ Only one chosen study program can be undertaken under the competition in a given academic year;
- personally submit the required documents within the deadline specified in the Online Application System and complete enrolment at the appropriate Dean’s office or the KISM secretariat
→ If it is not possible to travel to Poland within the specified timeframe, the foreign candidate must submit a request for enrolment for studies based on the remote submission of documents issued outside Poland by sending a scan of the request to the Dean’s office.
if the above requirements are not fulfilled, the offer to study as part of the contest for the best foreign candidates is no longer valid
