Foreign certificates i.e. certificates issued in foreign education systems, based on which candidates apply for first-cycle studies and long-cycle Master’s degree programs, must be recognized as documents confirming high school education in Poland and the right to apply for higher studies. 

Foreign certificates are recognized in Poland as follows:

RECOGNITION BY LAW
Recognition by law applies to foreign certificates issued in the education system of a member state of the European Union, a member state of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a member state of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. These are certificates issued in the following countries:

Additionally, by law, the following are recognized:

• IB (International Baccalaureate) diplomas, issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva;
• EB (European Baccalaureate) diplomas issued by European Schools, in accordance with the Convention on the Statute of the European Schools, drawn up in Luxembourg on June 21, 1994 (Journal of Laws of 2005, No 3, item 10).

RECOGNITION BASED ON AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF EDUCATION

• High school diploma (gaozhong) issued in the People’s Republic of China,
• Certificate of complete secondary education issued in Ukraine.

A full list and texts of the agreements can be found on the Ministry of National Education website, read more.

Certificates recognized by law or based on an international agreement do not require the recognition procedure by the education superintendent, and therefore can be submitted directly to the university. These certificates do not require legalization or apostille certification. Please note that certificates issued in a foreign language other than English must be presented with a sworn translation into Polish.

In the case of foreign certificates that do not contain information about the rights to continue education at higher education institutions in the country whose education system issued the certificate, the University Admissions Committee may request a certificate containing the above information. The certificate should be issued by the school or educational institution that issued the certificate, or confirmed by the educational authorities of the country on whose territory or in whose education system the certificate was issued.

RECOGNITION THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE BY THE EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT

This applies to foreign certificates issued in other countries, including Belarus, i.e., in countries whose certificates are not recognized by law or based on an international agreement on mutual recognition of education.

Candidates holding a foreign certificate subject to recognition through the administrative procedure by the education superintendent must submit the following to the university:
– the certificate, and
– legalization of the certificate or an apostille, and
– a certificate confirming that the foreign certificate entitles the holder to apply for higher education studies in the country whose education system issued the certificate, and
– an administrative decision on the recognition of the certificate issued by the education superintendent.
Please note that certificates issued in a foreign language other than English must be presented with a sworn translation into Polish.

If the candidate does not have the decision on the recognition of the certificate in Poland by the deadlines for submitting documents, they may submit the superintendent’s decision by September 26, 2024. Candidates who do not submit the superintendent’s decision within the specified deadline will not be able to commence studies from October 1, 2024.

The procedure for the recognition of the certificate is conducted by the education superintendent competent for the applicant’s place of residence or – in the absence of a permanent address in Poland – competent for the location of the university where the certificate will be submitted.

The education superintendent competent for the location of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences is:
Mazowieckie Kuratorium Oświaty READ MORE
For detailed questions regarding the recognition of certificates, please contact the relevant superintendent.

Before you apply for certificate recognition, make sure it is legalized or has the seal of apostille READ MORE