Polish Language Exams for University in Poland: the State Certificate and B2
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Studying in Polish is the cheapest way into a Polish university: full-time study in Polish at a public university is free for EU citizens and for several groups of non-EU citizens, and non-EU students outside those groups still usually pay far less than for an English-taught degree. The condition is the language. Since 2025 the law sets a minimum level and a closed list of documents for applicants from outside the EU.
The level: B2 for non-EU applicants
Applicants who are not EU citizens must prove at least B2 in the language of the programme. For Polish, the accepted documents are listed in a regulation of the Minister of Science of 30 July 2025 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1045):
- the state certificate of Polish as a foreign language at B2, C1 or C2;
- a certificate at B2 or above from ECL or telc, covering listening, reading, speaking and writing;
- a certificate of completing a preparatory course for higher education in Polish lasting at least nine months;
- a degree taught in Polish from a Polish university, a foreign philology degree in Polish with at least 500 hours of Polish, or a sworn translator's qualification.
B2 is the legal minimum, and a university may ask for a higher level in its admission rules. EU citizens are outside this list and follow each university's own rules, so read the rules of the programme you want.
The level also matters for money. Holders of the state certificate at C1 or above can study full time in Polish at a public university free of charge, as explained in how much it costs to study in Poland.
The state certificate exam
The state certificate exams are set by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language and held by accredited centres, mostly at universities in Poland and at centres abroad. The official site is certyfikatpolski.pl.
- Levels. Up to C2, with separate versions for adults and for children and teenagers. Check that you register for the adult version.
- Format. A written part in several modules and an oral part. At B2, C1 and C2 you must score at least 60% in each written module and 60% in the oral part.
Fees. By law the exam fee for B1 or B2 in the adult version is capped at the equivalent of €150, and the certificate itself costs the equivalent of €20 in złoty. Centres set their own price within the cap and are paid in złoty. Lazarski University in Warsaw, for example, charges the equivalent of €150 for the exam and €20 for the certificate at B1 and B2, and €170 plus €20 at C1.
2027 sessions for adults. The commission has published the schedule:
| Dates | Adult levels |
|---|---|
| 6–7 February 2027 | B1, B2 |
| 10–11 April 2027 | B1, B2, C1 |
| 12–13 June 2027 | B1, B2 |
| 2–3 October 2027 | B1, C2 |
| 27–28 November 2027 | B1, C1 |
For an October 2027 start, the February, April and June sessions are the ones that offer B2. Compare the time results take to arrive with the document deadline of your university before you choose a session. Each centre opens registration a few weeks ahead and closes when places run out: Lazarski's registration for the December 2026 session opened on 14 October and closed on 3 November 2026.
ECL and telc
ECL and telc are international exam systems that also test Polish. They are accepted on the same footing as the state certificate if the certificate covers all four skills at B2 or above. Check the language, level and dates with the exam centre you plan to use; centres for Polish are fewer than for English or German.
Preparatory courses
If you start from zero, the usual route is a preparatory year in Poland. A course must last at least nine months to count as proof of B2 under the regulation. Many public universities run them, often combined with subjects for the intended field of study.
One example with a published price: the University of Łódź charges foreigners €3,000 for its nine-month preparatory course of 800 to 900 hours, under the rector's order of 30 April 2026. The same university charges €1,900 for a 500-hour C1 course.
A preparatory course is also a recognised purpose for a student visa, so you can come to Poland for it before your degree starts. See student visa for Poland.
Planning the time
B2 in nine months is demanding unless you already speak a related Slavic language, so it is worth starting before you arrive. If you are short of time, an English-taught programme may be the better first step: our catalogue lists 446 of them out of 4,951. See bachelor's degrees in English in Poland.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Poland
- How much it costs to study in Poland
- NAWA recognition for Poland
- CEFR levels for university
- All programmes and cities in Poland
Official sources
- Regulation on documents proving B2 language level (in Polish)
- Certyfikat Polski: the state certificate exams
- Lazarski University: state certificate exams, dates and fees
- University of Łódź: fees for Polish courses and preparatory courses (in Polish)
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.