Jagiellonian University
Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Poland's oldest university, founded in 1364 in Kraków, where Copernicus studied and most teaching is in Polish.
- Students
- 37,569
- Tuition
- €6,900
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1364
- QS World Ranking
- #329
- 2027 edition
About JU
The Jagiellonian University was founded on 12 May 1364 by King Casimir the Great and is the oldest university in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. Nicolaus Copernicus studied here in the 1490s, and Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, enrolled in 1938. Today it has 16 faculties, including the Medical College, about 5,000 academic staff (FTE) and 37,569 students, doctoral candidates and postgraduate learners in 2025/26, across 169 fields of study.
Research strengths include medicine (the Medical College runs pioneering work in cardiac surgery, urology and neurology), archaeology, astronomy and biotechnology, supported by facilities such as the Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics, the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology and the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre. Several disciplines, including philosophy, literary studies, art studies and medical sciences, hold Poland's top A research category.
Almost all bachelor's (first-cycle) programmes are taught in Polish and require B2 Polish; English-taught options at undergraduate level are limited to the long-cycle Medicine and Dentistry programmes and the Una Europa joint bachelor's degrees, while most English-taught programmes are master's. Foreigners apply through a separate admission process with online interviews. JU suits students who want a historic, research-heavy university in one of Europe's great student cities and are ready to learn Polish or study medicine in English.
Plus ratio quam vis
“Let reason prevail over force” — university motto
Why students choose JU
Study in Kraków's Old Town at a university founded in 1364, whose Collegium Maius is its oldest building.
The six-year Medicine and Dentistry programmes in English lead to a Polish medical degree, with Medicine at EUR 16,000 a year.
Polish-taught programmes are free for EU/EEA citizens and holders of Karta Polaka or a C1 Polish certificate, while other foreigners pay programme-specific fees, e.g. PLN 6,000 a year for Computer Science.
Una Europa joint bachelor's degrees (European Studies and Sustainability) are taught in English with partner universities across Europe.
Admissions
2027/28 academic year (applications from early 2027)
Selectivity
No overall admission rate is published. Foreigners compete in a separate admission process with a limited number of places per programme; candidates are ranked by programme-specific criteria (usually including an online interview), and the Rector sets a minimum score. JU publishes per-programme statistics (places, applicants per place, minimum and average scores) for 2023–2025, in Polish.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school leaving certificate | A certificate entitling you to university study, obtained by 9 September of the entry year (2026 cycle); recognition requirements depend on citizenship and the country that issued it |
|---|---|
| Polish language (Polish-taught programmes) | B2 minimum, verified in the interview; an official certificate (State Commission, ECL or TELC) may be required. Faculty of Medicine programmes in Polish require a C1 certificate at application |
| English language (English-taught programmes) | B2 minimum, e.g. IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or Cambridge B2 First |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 These are JU's minimum B2 equivalents from the national regulation (also PTE Academic 59, TOEIC 785 L&R plus 150 speaking and 160 writing, Cambridge B2 First). Programmes may set higher requirements, and a certificate does not exempt you from the admission interview. |
Deadlines
- First round (basic), first-cycle and long-cycle programmes for foreigners Non-binding Passed23 February – 9 March 2026 (for 2026/27)
Online interviews 13–26 March; results 31 March; enrolment 13 April – 9 September. School certificate needed by 9 September.
- Una Europa Joint Bachelor in Sustainability (BASUS) Non-binding Passed23 February – 14 April 2026 (for 2026/27)
Entrance examination on 21 April 2026; school certificate needed by 22 July 2026.
- Second round (additional) Non-binding PassedUntil 11 May 2026 (for 2026/27)
Only for programmes with places left after round one; results 2 June.
These are the 2026/27 dates for foreigners, the latest published; the 2027/28 schedule will be posted on welcome.uj.edu.pl and is likely to follow a similar February–May pattern. Medicine and Dentistry in Polish (for NAWA scholars), Physiotherapy and Medical Rescue follow separate schedules. Polish citizens, including dual nationals, apply through the Polish admission process at rekrutacja.uj.edu.pl.
How to apply
Foreigners (anyone without Polish citizenship) apply online through JU's IRK system, pay a PLN 100 application fee per programme by the round deadline, upload documents and take part in an online interview. If placed on the ranking list, you enrol by submitting your documents, then pay tuition in semester instalments unless you are exempt.
What admissions looks for
- A valid secondary school leaving certificate that entitles you to study, available by the September enrolment deadline.
- At least B2 in the language of instruction, confirmed in the interview and, where required, by an official certificate.
- A strong performance in the programme's qualification criteria, usually an online interview, to rank above the Rector's minimum score.
- For Medicine in English, excellent biology and chemistry.
Tips for applying to JU
- 1 Apply in the first round (late February to early March): the second round only opens for programmes with spare places.
- 2 Pay the PLN 100 fee early, ideally via Przelewy24, because unpaid or late-credited applications are not considered.
- 3 Check the programme page in IRK for the exact tuition fee and language requirement; Polish-taught first-cycle programmes are listed only in the Polish version of IRK.
- 4 If you have Karta Polaka or a C1 Polish certificate from the State Commission, you can study Polish-taught full-time programmes tuition-free.
- 5 Look at JU's published admission statistics to see past applicants per place and minimum scores for your programme.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Exemptions from tuition for full-time Polish-taught study apply to EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, Karta Polaka holders, permanent residents, refugees, holders of a C1 Polish certificate and several other groups. Holders of Polish NAWA scholarships are exempt from tuition. The application fee is PLN 100 per programme.
- PLN 100 per programme
- Application fee
- EUR 16,000 per year (EUR 96,000 over six years)
- Medicine, Program in English
- PLN 6,000 per year
- Computer Science (in Polish), non-exempt foreigners
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Medicine, Program in English
Six-year MD-equivalent programme at the School of Medicine in English, taught by JU staff and visiting professors from the USA, Canada and Germany; EUR 16,000 a year.
Dentistry, Program in English
The other long-cycle health programme taught in English at the Medical College.
Una Europa Bachelor of European Studies (BAES)
An English-taught joint bachelor's run with Una Europa partner universities.
Una Europa Joint Bachelor in Sustainability (BASUS)
English-taught joint degree with its own entrance exam; EUR 2,000 a year for EU students and EUR 6,900 for others.
Computer Science (in Polish)
Offered by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science; PLN 6,000 a year for non-exempt foreigners, with B2 Polish checked at interview.
Research
- SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre and the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology.
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics.
- Top A research category in disciplines including philosophy, literary studies, art studies and medical sciences.
- JU astronomers take part in international projects such as H.E.S.S., and its archaeologists excavate in Egypt, Cyprus, Central America and South Asia.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Law and Administration
- Faculty of Philosophy
- Faculty of History
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Polish Studies
- Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of International and Political Studies
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication
- Faculty of Medicine (Medical College)
Student life
JU's buildings are spread across Kraków, from the 14th-century Collegium Maius in the Old Town, now a museum, to modern research centres; several university buildings are historic sites in their own right. The university hosts numerous student research societies, runs its own dormitories, and offers Intro Days for new international students, a School of Polish Language and Culture and a JU Ambassadors programme. Kraków, Poland's former capital, is a major cultural centre visited by millions of tourists.
- Collegium Maius, the university's oldest building, now a museum.
- Numerous student research societies (koła naukowe).
- School of Polish Language and Culture for learning Polish.
- Intro Days and JU Ambassadors to help international students settle in.
Housing. JU runs student dormitories that international students can apply for; places are not guaranteed on the admissions pages.
Location
Kraków, in southern Poland, is the country's former capital and a major cultural centre visited by millions of tourists. Many JU buildings, including the Collegium Maius near the Main Square, stand in the medieval Old Town, alongside modern research centres such as the SOLARIS synchrotron. The city is served by Kraków John Paul II International Airport.
Nearest airport: Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Notable alumni
- NC Nicolaus CopernicusAstronomer who proposed the heliocentric model; studied at the University of Kraków from 1491
- PJ Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła)Pope from 1978 to 2005; enrolled at the Jagiellonian University in 1938
- WS Wisława SzymborskaPoet, Nobel Prize in Literature 1996; studied Polish literature and sociology
- BM Bronisław MalinowskiAnthropologist whose field research shaped modern anthropology; doctorate from JU in 1908
- SL Stanisław LemScience-fiction writer whose books have sold more than 45 million copies; studied medicine at JU
- AD Andrzej DudaPresident of Poland (2015–2025); law graduate
- IŁ Ignacy ŁukasiewiczPharmacist who built the world's first modern oil refinery and invented the modern kerosene lamp; studied pharmacy at JU
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Jagiellonian University in English?
At undergraduate level, only a few programmes are in English: Medicine and Dentistry (long-cycle) and the Una Europa joint bachelor's degrees. Most English-taught programmes are master's; other bachelor's programmes are in Polish and need B2 Polish.
How much is tuition at Jagiellonian University for international students?
It depends on the programme: for 2026/27, Medicine in English costs EUR 16,000 a year, the Joint Bachelor in Sustainability EUR 6,900 for non-EU students, and Polish-taught Computer Science PLN 6,000 a year. EU/EEA citizens study Polish-taught full-time programmes for free.
When is the application deadline for foreigners at Jagiellonian University?
For 2026/27, the first round for bachelor's and long-cycle programmes ran from 23 February to 9 March 2026, with a second round until 11 May for remaining places. The 2027/28 dates have not yet been published.
Does Jagiellonian University hold admission interviews?
Yes. Most programmes for foreigners include an online interview, which also verifies your language level; a language certificate does not exempt you from it.
What IELTS score does Jagiellonian University require?
The minimum B2 equivalent is IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72, though individual programmes may ask for more.
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.
- Jagiellonian University: Overview and facts and figures
- Jagiellonian University: Admission for foreigners
- Jagiellonian University: Application schedule, undergraduate programmes (2026/27)
- Jagiellonian University: Fees for foreigners
- Jagiellonian University: Knowledge of language
- Jagiellonian University: Admission statistics
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