Cracow University of Technology
Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki
Kraków's engineering and architecture university, with English tracks at EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year.
- Students
- 13,817
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Tuition
- €2,000
- From · Latest published (fee page prints no academic year)
- Founded
- 1945
About CUT
Cracow University of Technology (CUT, Politechnika Krakowska) traces its start to 1 April 1945 and received its current name and independence in 1954. Since 1976 it has carried the name of Tadeusz Kościuszko, the engineer and national hero. It describes itself as a public university with eight faculties and a Doctoral School, covering architecture, civil, mechanical, chemical, environmental and electrical engineering, computer science and mathematics, and materials science and physics.
Architecture is the flagship. CUT says its Faculty of Architecture was ranked best in Poland in the Perspektywy 2025 ranking for the third consecutive year, and its programmes hold recognition from RIBA and IFLA Europe; engineering programmes meet the ENAEE standards. The main campus in Warszawska Street is in the historic former barracks near the city centre, with other sites in Czyżyny and elsewhere, and the university says its premises cover 110 hectares.
For international applicants the picture is split. Programmes in Polish are free for EU citizens and several other groups, and cost EUR 2,000 to 4,000 a year for others. English-taught options are fewer: bachelor's programmes in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Transport and Logistics, and Mechanics and Machine Design, plus a set of master's programmes, at EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year. It suits students who want a practical engineering or architecture degree in a historic city at a fraction of Western European fees.
Why students choose CUT
Low fees: English-taught tuition is EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year and Polish-taught studies are free for EU citizens.
The Faculty of Architecture runs an English-taught bachelor's and master's, and the university reports RIBA and IFLA Europe recognition.
English-taught master's programmes include Energy Engineering, Additive Manufacturing, Applied Physics, Chemical Technology and Mechanics and Machine Design.
CUT operates an International Centre of Education with preparatory courses for bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies, accredited by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
Admissions
Academic year 2026/27 admission rules (latest published)
Selectivity
CUT publishes no overall acceptance rate. Admission is by programme: minimum Matura mathematics scores (for example 50% for Architecture, 75% for Civil Engineering, 80% for Mechanics and Machine Design), plus a ranking list for some programmes.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate or International/Polish Matura, bachelor's entry | Mathematics result or grade: Architecture at least 50%, Civil Engineering and Transport and Logistics at least 75% (plus at least 30% on CUT maths exam if required), Mechanics and Machine Design at least 80% (plus at least 60% on CUT maths exam if required) |
|---|---|
| Architecture bachelor's portfolio | Cover letter in English, hand drawings (B2 format), nature drawing, landscape drawings, three architectural photographs, three works in any technique, and a signed declaration of independent work |
| Master's entry | Completed bachelor's degree; the faculty reviews the diploma supplement. Architecture master's requires a bachelor's in Architecture; Civil Engineering needs knowledge of Eurocodes |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 For English-taught studies CUT asks for English at CEFR level B2, C1 or C2 in four skills, for example IELTS at least 5.5, TOEFL iBT at least 72, PTE Academic at least 59, or Cambridge B2 First or higher. An IB diploma or a school certificate from an English-medium school can also count. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's programmes in English (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Transport and Logistics, Mechanics and Machine Design) Non-binding Passed4 May to 17 July 2026
Previous cycle (2026/27 intake). Admissions for 2026/27 were closed when checked; dates for 2027 were not yet published.
- Master's programmes in English Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months15 October 2026 to 5 February 2027
Listed on the page headed 'Admission requirements for the academic year 2026/27' for Civil Engineering, Energy Engineering, Environmental and Land Engineering, Additive Manufacturing, Applied Physics, Chemical Technology, and Mechanics and Machine Design (the page does not say which start date, February or October 2027, this window feeds); Architecture master's was 4 May to 17 July 2026.
These dates come from the 2026/27 admission requirements page and describe the previous cycle for bachelor's programmes. No 2027 dates were published when checked, so use them only as a guide and confirm on the International Relations Office site.
How to apply
Register in CUT's online recruitment system, choose programmes in Polish or English, and upload the required documents. Qualified applicants then submit original documents in person in a set window (in 2026, 8 to 29 September, with an individual deadline sent by email), and accepted applicants receive an electronic certificate of admission. Architecture applicants send a portfolio by WeTransfer to the International Relations Office.
What admissions looks for
- A strong mathematics result on the Matura or secondary certificate, with thresholds set per programme.
- For Architecture, a hand-drawn portfolio showing geometric composition, still life and landscape drawing.
- For master's programmes, a bachelor's degree whose learning outcomes match the target programme; if not, the faculty may require a competency test.
- Proven English at CEFR level B2 or higher for English-taught studies.
Tips for applying to CUT
- 1 Check whether the CUT mathematics entrance exam applies to you: it covers only candidates under Article 70(5b) and is skipped for Architecture.
- 2 Start the Architecture portfolio early: it needs hand drawings in B2 format and a signed declaration that they are your own work.
- 3 If your English certificate is not on the list, ask the International Relations Office, which lists many accepted tests.
- 4 Consider the International Centre of Education's preparatory courses if you need extra language or academic preparation before a bachelor's or master's.
- 5 If you have Polish heritage, a Pole's Card or C1 Polish, you may qualify for free Polish-language studies.
Costs & financial aid
Latest published (fee page prints no academic year) · figures in EUR
CUT points international students to scholarships offered by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). It does not publish its own named scholarship on the pages checked.
- EUR 1,600 per semester (full-time)
- Preparatory course for bachelor's or master's studies
- EUR 2,000 per semester (EUR 2,500 for Architecture)
- Incoming non-graduating students (English)
Academics
Architecture (BSc/MSc, in English)
The faculty was ranked best in Poland in Perspektywy 2025 for the third year running, and CUT reports RIBA recognition.
Civil Engineering and Transport and Logistics (first cycle, in English)
English-taught bachelor's programmes at EUR 3,000 a year with a 75% Matura mathematics threshold.
Mechanics and Machine Design (first and second cycle, in English)
English-taught from bachelor's to master's; requires at least 80% in mathematics.
Energy Engineering and Environmental and Land Engineering (MSc)
English-taught master's programmes at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy.
Additive Manufacturing and Applied Physics (MSc)
English-taught master's programmes at the Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics.
Research
- The Technology Transfer Centre and Cracow Technological Park support innovation and entrepreneurship, according to the university.
- The university reports that some of its researchers are listed among the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University.
- CUT reports over 200 partner institutions in 54 countries.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
- Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy
- Faculty of Materials Science and Physics
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
The university says it has educated more than 115,000 alumni.
Student life
The main campus at Warszawska Street is in a former military barracks near Kraków's centre, and the university has a Student Housing Complex, a library, art galleries, student clubs, a radio station and a choir, according to its own site and history page. The university also runs a Careers Service and an International Relations Office that handles admissions and support for international students. Living costs in Poland are low by Western European standards: the university says monthly costs start from about EUR 350.
- The main campus is in historic buildings on Warszawska Street that were once barracks.
- The university lists a radio station, a choir, art galleries and student clubs.
- A Student Housing Complex and Careers Service are listed on the university site.
- The International Centre of Education trains around 150 international students a year in preparatory courses.
- Erasmus+ exchange is available.
Housing. The university operates a Student Housing Complex; check the university site for availability and prices.
Location
Kraków is one of Poland's largest and most visited cities, with a historic centre a short distance from the Warszawska Street campus. The city is a major student centre with several universities. The university says living costs start from about PLN 1,500 (around EUR 350) a month, which is low compared with Western European cities.
Nearest airport: Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Notable alumni
- ZB Zdzisław BeksińskiPainter, photographer and sculptor; studied architecture at Kraków Polytechnic (1947-1952, MSc 1952)
- MG Marek GrechutaSinger, songwriter and composer; studied architecture at Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Kraków (English Wikipedia)
- AM Andrzej MleczkoSatirical illustrator; graduated from the Faculty of Architecture
- ZH Zvi HeckerArchitect (1931 to 2023); began his architecture studies at Cracow University of Technology before graduating from the Technion in 1955
- MO Martin Ostoja-StarzewskiMechanical engineer and research professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; undergraduate education at Cracow University of Technology
- NT Nguyễn Thế ThảoVietnamese politician, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee 2007-2015; graduated from the Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Kraków
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study at Cracow University of Technology as an international student?
According to the university's fee page, English-taught programmes cost EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year and Polish-taught programmes EUR 2,000 to 4,000 a year, depending on the faculty. EU citizens and some other groups study in Polish free of charge.
Which bachelor's programmes are taught in English?
For 2026/27, the admission page lists Architecture, Civil Engineering, Transport and Logistics, and Mechanics and Machine Design as English-taught first-cycle programmes.
What English level do I need for CUT?
CEFR B2 or higher in four skills, for example IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or PTE Academic 59.
Is there an entrance exam?
A CUT mathematics exam applies only to candidates covered by Article 70(5b) of the Polish higher education law and not to Architecture. Architecture applicants submit a hand-drawn portfolio instead.
What are the application deadlines?
For the 2026/27 cycle, bachelor's applications ran from 4 May to 17 July 2026 and master's applications from 15 October 2026 to 5 February 2027 for most programmes. Dates for 2027 entry were not yet published.
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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