AGH University of Krakow
Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie
Poland's big technical research university, born as a mining academy, with a compact central Kraków campus and Poland's largest student estate.
- Students
- 21,121
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 10.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €2,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1913
About AGH
AGH University of Krakow (formerly AGH University of Science and Technology) began as the Academy of Mining, founded in 1913 and inaugurated in 1919; its full Polish name, Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza, means Academy of Mining and Metallurgy. It has grown into a broad technical university covering engineering, computer science, exact and Earth sciences, energy, materials and management, and it is one of ten Polish universities with Research University status.
AGH has 18 faculties and, as of 31 December 2025, 20,212 bachelor's and master's students, 909 doctoral students and 2,362 academic staff. In 2026/27 it offers 109 degree programmes, 30 of them in English. Its campus is a compact 40-hectare hub in central Kraków, anchored by the 1920s-30s Main Building (A-0) on Mickiewicza Avenue, and it runs three supercomputers (Helios, Athena and Ares), 800 laboratories and an experimental mine.
Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Polish. The English-taught bachelor's options are Computer Science, Computer Science for Embedded Systems, Computer Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Space Engineering and Geology of Natural Resources. Admission is by a points-based admission rate calculated from school results, often with AGH's own online maths exam, which suits applicants with strong mathematics who want an affordable engineering degree in one of Europe's great student cities.
Labore creata, labori et scientiae servio
University motto
Why students choose AGH
English-taught bachelor's degrees cost 1,250 to 3,000 euros a semester, and EU citizens study for free on full-time Polish-taught programmes.
The AGH University Student Campus is the biggest student estate in Poland: over 7,000 students in 20 dormitories, 1.5 km from Kraków's Main Square.
AGH runs three supercomputers (Helios, Athena and Ares), 800 laboratories and about 1,000 R&D agreements a year, 75% commissioned by industry.
It has 140 student research clubs, 31 student organisations and 32 sports sections.
Admissions
October 2027 entry (academic year 2027/28)
Selectivity
AGH publishes no acceptance rate. Candidates are ranked by an admission rate (WR, maximum 1,000 points), and only those with at least 300 points can be admitted. First-cycle thresholds for English-taught bachelor's programmes in 2026/27 ranged from 472 (Space Engineering) and 500 (Mechatronic Engineering) to 821 (Computer Science for Embedded Systems) and 880 (Geology of Natural Resources); Computer Science was 685 and Computer Physics 566.
Typical entry requirements
| IB Diploma | Grades (1-7) entered for Mathematics SL (or HL, counted in the maths component) and other subjects at HL; no AGH maths exam required. Qualification by ranking on the admission rate |
|---|---|
| European Baccalaureate | Grades (0-10) with mathematics at basic level unless taken at advanced level; no AGH maths exam required |
| Other secondary certificates | Grades converted to 0-100%; the AGH online maths exam is compulsory for documents from outside the EU, EFTA and OECD systems (except Ukraine and China) |
| Polish matura (świadectwo dojrzałości) | Maths at basic level and other subjects at advanced level, entered in e-Rekrutacja |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 English-taught programmes need B2 in all four skills (e.g. IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge B2 First). EU/EFTA/UK citizens with a school certificate from an EU, EFTA or OECD education system, the IB or the EB are exempt. Only final official certificates are accepted. |
Deadlines
- 1st recruitment cycle (2026/27, past) Non-binding Passed9 July 2026, 10 am CEST (declarations and fee)
2026-cycle dates, now past: declarations from 1 June 2026; online maths exam 14 July; results 17 July.
- 2nd recruitment cycle (2026/27, past) Non-binding Passed20 July 2026, 10 am CEST
2026-cycle dates, now past: maths exam 23 July, results 27 July.
- 3rd recruitment cycle (2026/27, past) Non-binding Passed4 September 2026, 10 am CEST
2026-cycle dates, now past: maths exam 10 September, results 14 September; registration for candidates without a Polish matura 16-30 September.
The admission calendar for 2027/28 had not been published when checked. The dates shown are from the 2026/27 summer recruitment (past) and indicate the usual pattern: e-Rekrutacja opens around 1 June with several cycles through early September. The same e-Rekrutacja system is used for Polish-taught programmes.
How to apply
Register in AGH's e-Rekrutacja online admission system, declare one or more fields of study, upload scans of school documents and a language certificate, and pay a recruitment fee for each declaration (PLN 85, or PLN 100 if you take the AGH maths exam, in the 2026/27 round). Results and qualification are announced in the system; qualified candidates then confirm their chosen programme and register in person.
What admissions looks for
- A strong admission rate (WR) built from school results in mathematics and subjects such as physics, computer science or a foreign language, depending on the programme.
- Solid mathematics: the AGH maths exam replaces advanced maths in the rate for many international applicants, and below 30% ends the application.
- B2 English, proved by an official certificate where required.
- Complete, correctly entered grades; AGH states candidates bear the consequences of entering results incorrectly.
Tips for applying to AGH
- 1 Apply in the first cycle: thresholds can rise or fall sharply between cycles (Computer Science was 685 in the first 2026/27 cycle and 501 in the second).
- 2 If you hold the IB or European Baccalaureate, you skip the AGH maths exam, but check which subjects count for your programme.
- 3 You can declare several fields of study, each with its own recruitment fee, but can register for only one.
- 4 Book a place in the AGH Student Campus early; its dormitories start at 490 PLN a month, the lowest rate in Kraków according to the campus.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
International students are admitted on a fee-paying basis, but full-time Polish-taught study is free for EU/EFTA citizens, holders of the Card of the Pole, permanent residents and holders of a C1 Polish certificate, among others. Students with a NAWA (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange) scholarship decision may be exempt from tuition. AGH has student research clubs and scholarship schemes for enrolled students.
- PLN 85 (PLN 100 with the AGH maths exam)
- Recruitment fee per declared bachelor's programme (2026/27)
- From 490 PLN a month
- AGH Student Campus dormitory
- 300 of 1,000 points
- Minimum admission rate for a bachelor's place
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter from 1 October, summer)
Computer Science (BSc, English)
Seven-semester engineering degree; 3,000 euros a semester and a first-cycle threshold of 685 points in 2026/27.
Computer Science for Embedded Systems (BSc, English)
The most competitive English bachelor's in 2026/27, with thresholds of 821 and 841 points.
Space Engineering (BSc, English)
Taught by the Faculty of Space Technologies, at 1,250 euros a semester.
Mechatronic Engineering (BSc, English)
From the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, with an English MSc to follow.
Computer Physics (BSc, English)
Physics and applied computing from the Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science.
Geology of Natural Resources (BSc, English)
A six-semester programme rooted in AGH's mining and Earth-science heritage.
Research
- AGH operates three supercomputers, Helios, Athena and Ares, and about 800 laboratories.
- It carries out about 1,000 R&D agreements a year (75% commissioned by industry) and has founded 34 spin-off companies since 2010.
- AGH is a founding member of the UNIVERSEH European university alliance (2020), with partners in Toulouse, Düsseldorf, Luleå, Luxembourg, Rome and Namur.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management
- Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
- Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunications
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics
- Faculty of Space Technologies
- Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection
- Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy and Environmental Engineering
- Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics
- Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science
- Faculty of Energy and Fuels
- Faculty of Management
Student life
AGH's teaching buildings, library, sports facilities and student housing form one compact campus in central Kraków. The AGH University Student Campus (Miasteczko Studenckie AGH) houses over 7,000 students in 20 dormitories, 1.5 km from the Main Square, with free access to laundry, courts, a football field and gyms, and about 360 cultural events a year in its student clubs. AGH lists 140 student research clubs, 31 student organisations and 32 sports sections.
- Biggest student estate in Poland: 20 dormitories and over 7,000 residents.
- About 360 cultural events a year in campus student clubs.
- 140 student research clubs and 32 sports sections.
- Outdoor sculpture gallery and industrial machines around the campus grounds.
Housing. The AGH Student Campus offers dormitory places from 490 PLN a month, which it says is the lowest dormitory rate in Kraków.
Location
Kraków is in southern Poland, and AGH's campus sits on Mickiewicza Avenue on the edge of the city centre, and the student campus is a 1.5 km walk from the Main Square with dozens of tram and bus connections across the city.
Nearest airport: Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Notable alumni
- WO Wiesław OchmanPolish operatic tenor; AGH graduate
- WL Wladyslaw LizonCanadian member of parliament (2011-2015); master's in mining engineering (1978)
- SK Stanisław KracikPolish politician, former Voivode of Lesser Poland and acting Mayor of Kraków (2026); graduate
- JK Jarosław KrólewskiCo-founder and CEO of AI company Synerise; graduated from AGH and the University of Banking and Management in Kraków (master's in sociology, engineer's degree in computer science)
- SŻ Stanisław ŻukMining and energy manager and member of the Sejm; master's in mining engineering
Frequently asked questions
Does AGH University of Krakow teach bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes, seven in 2026/27: Computer Science, Computer Science for Embedded Systems, Computer Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Space Engineering and Geology of Natural Resources. Most other programmes are taught in Polish.
How much is tuition at AGH for international students?
English-taught bachelor's programmes cost 1,250 to 3,000 euros a semester in 2026/27, for example 3,000 for Computer Science. Full-time Polish-taught studies are free for EU/EFTA citizens and some other groups.
Do I need to take the AGH maths exam?
Not with the IB, European Baccalaureate or a Polish matura. It is compulsory if your school certificate comes from outside the EU, EFTA and OECD education systems, and optional for some others; you need at least 30% to continue.
When are AGH application deadlines?
The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. In 2026 the first e-Rekrutacja cycle ran from 1 June to 9 July, with further cycles closing on 20 July and 4 September.
What English level does AGH require?
B2 in all four skills for English-taught programmes, such as IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72, unless you are exempt as an EU/EFTA/UK citizen with a school certificate from an EU, EFTA or OECD system.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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