University of Gdańsk
Uniwersytet Gdański
Pomerania's largest university, spread across Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, with a research focus on the sea.
- Students
- 21,358
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 10:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €2,820
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1970
About UG
The University of Gdańsk (Uniwersytet Gdański, UG) was founded on 20 March 1970 by merging the Higher Economics School in Sopot, whose roots go back to a maritime trade school opened in 1945, with the Higher Pedagogical School in Gdańsk. It is the largest university in the Pomeranian region, with 11 faculties, 96 fields of study and about 21,000 students, and it teaches on campuses in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia: the three cities known together as the Tricity.
Most faculties sit on the Baltic Campus in Gdańsk-Oliwa, where EU-funded buildings now house law, social sciences, chemistry, biology, modern languages, the main library, biotechnology and informatics, while the faculties of economics and management are in Sopot. The university says it is among Poland's leading institutions in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, oceanography, quantum physics, pedagogy, psychology, law and economics, and much of its research is connected with the sea.
Teaching is mainly in Polish, but UG runs a growing set of English-taught degrees, including bachelor's programmes in International Business, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Cultural Communication, Logistics and Mobility, and Finance and Accounting. It suits students who want a large, broad public university on the Baltic coast at modest fees, and who are comfortable with a points-based admissions system rather than essays and interviews.
In mari via tua
“Your way is in the sea” — university motto
Why students choose UG
English-taught bachelor's degrees cost 1,050 to 1,905 euros a semester for 2026/27, depending on the programme and on whether you hold EU citizenship.
The university hosts two International Research Agendas funded by the Foundation for Polish Science: the International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science and the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies.
UG is a member of SEA-EU, the European University of the Seas, alongside coastal universities including Cádiz, Split, the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Kiel and Malta.
Campuses in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia put students within reach of the Baltic beaches and of one of Poland's largest metropolitan areas.
Admissions
Entry October 2027 (bachelor's programmes)
Selectivity
UG publishes no overall admission rate. Candidates are ranked by points calculated from weighted school-leaving results, within fixed places per programme. For 2025/26 entry, English-taught bachelor's thresholds included 110.30 points for International Business (105 places), 90.85 for Finance and Accounting (Financial Analyst, 25 places) and 88.50 for Criminology and Criminal Justice (60 places); thresholds change each year.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign secondary school diploma | Diploma giving access to higher education, with apostille or legalisation, transcript, national exam results where they exist (e.g. ZNO, Gaokao), sworn translations, and a NAWA recognition statement if required; grades are converted to points |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma / European Baccalaureate | Follow the procedure for Polish-issued diplomas; no apostille or entrance exam required, and IB/EB also counts as proof of English |
| Polish matura | Subject results weighted by programme, e.g. English plus two further subjects for International Business |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 English-taught programmes need at least B2: e.g. IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59, Cambridge B2 First or higher. Polish citizens and EU, EFTA or UK citizens with a school diploma from an EU, EFTA or OECD country, IB or EB do not need a certificate. |
Deadlines
- Main bachelor's recruitment (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed10-12 July 2026
Registration opened 15 June 2026 and closed 10 July (Cultural Communication, Finance and Accounting) or 12 July (Criminology and Criminal Justice); entrance exam for foreigners 13 July; ranking lists 14 July; accepted lists 20-21 July 2026.
- Faculty of Economics bachelor's: International Business and Logistics and Mobility (main round, 2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed14 July 2026
The Faculty of Economics FAQ for 2026/27 (dated 19 May 2026) gives 14 July 2026 as the last day of registration and 17 July as the day the candidate list is announced. Entrance exam for foreigners applies as for other programmes.
- Faculty of Economics bachelor's: later recruitment window (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed1 September 2026
The recruitment portal now shows 3 August to 1 September 2026 for International Business and Logistics and Mobility (exam for foreigners 3 September, candidate list 4 September, documents 7-10 September, results 11 September). Both programmes reserve places for 'additional recruitment' (15 of 105 and 12 of 35), so this appears to be the follow-up window after the July main round; the portal does not label it.
- Original documents (candidates educated abroad, 2026 cycle) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026
Candidates who used scans must deliver the original paper documents by this date (IB and EB holders cannot use scans).
UG has published only the 2026/27 recruitment schedule. Bachelor's recruitment for October entry runs from mid-June to mid-July (Faculty of Economics main round closed 14 July 2026), with a later window for some Faculty of Economics programmes (3 August to 1 September 2026) that looks like additional recruitment. Expect 2027 dates to follow the same pattern, and start the apostille, translations and any NAWA recognition early.
How to apply
Create an account in the IRK online recruitment system, enter your personal data and photo, and (with a foreign diploma) upload scans of all documents at least 5 working days before registration closes so UG can check eligibility and convert your grades. Then apply to your chosen programmes, pay the 85 zł recruitment fee for each, sit the online entrance exam if it applies to you, and check the ranking list. Qualified or reserve candidates submit documents (scans, with originals by 15 October of the entry year) to be enrolled.
What admissions looks for
- Strong school-leaving results in the subjects each programme weights, above all English for English-taught degrees.
- Mathematics for quantitative programmes such as Finance and Accounting.
- For non-EU applicants with non-exempt diplomas, a pass in the programme's online entrance exam (for example contemporary world affairs for International Business).
- Complete, correctly legalised documents submitted on time.
Tips for applying to UG
- 1 Upload your document scans at least 5 working days before registration closes: UG must convert your grades before you can apply.
- 2 Pay the 85 zł recruitment fee separately for each programme you apply to, and check it is assigned to the right programme.
- 3 Check whether your diploma needs an apostille, legalisation or a NAWA recognition statement well before June.
- 4 Look at last year's point threshold on each programme page to judge your chances; International Business needed 110.30 points for 2025/26.
- 5 If you want a university hall place, apply in the first-year round (21 July to 7 August in 2026).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Tuition for full-time studies taught in Polish can be waived for foreigners who hold one of the documents on UG's exemption list. Two English-taught master's programmes (Chemistry with Digital Chemistry and Marine Biotechnology) are tuition-free for 2026/27. Fees are refunded in full if a visa is refused or you withdraw before studies begin.
- 85 zł
- Recruitment fee (per programme)
- Chemistry (Digital Chemistry), Marine Biotechnology
- Tuition-free English-taught master's (2026/27)
- 605-745 zł a month
- University hall of residence (as published in the study guide)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (October start)
International Business (BA, English-taught)
UG's largest English-taught bachelor's, with 105 places in 2026 and a 2025/26 threshold of 110.30 points, taught in Sopot.
Criminology and Criminal Justice (BA, English-taught)
The faculty calls it one of Poland's earliest full criminology degrees (since 2013), with a mandatory internship in institutions such as the police or courts.
Cultural Communication (BA, English-taught)
A Faculty of Languages degree combining culture and linguistics with practical English for business, PR and diplomacy.
Quantum Information Technology (MSc, English-taught)
An English-taught master's from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at a university that also hosts the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies; 405 euros a semester for EU citizens in 2026/27.
Marine Biotechnology (MSc, English-taught)
A tuition-free master's from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography that draws on UG's sea-focused research.
Research
- The International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science (ICCVS) and the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies (ICTQT) were set up with 76 million zł from the Foundation for Polish Science's International Research Agendas programme.
- UG highlights biomedical and biomolecular research and the theoretical foundations of quantum technologies as its strongest research areas.
- Sea-related research and the SEA-EU European University of the Seas alliance link UG with coastal universities across Europe.
- UG is an important centre for research on the Kashubian language and culture.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of History
- Faculty of Languages
- Faculty of Law and Administration
- Faculty of Management
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG
Student life
UG's life is spread across the Tricity, with most faculties on the modern Baltic Campus in Gdańsk-Oliwa and others in Sopot and Gdynia, and the SKM local train runs between the three cities. The university counts 140 student research circles, runs its own student radio station (Radio MORS), a film and documentary production centre and museums including an amber inclusions museum. University hall rooms cost 605 to 745 zł a month, according to the university's study guide, and private rooms in the Tricity typically cost about 1,500 to 2,000 zł a month.
- 140 student research circles across the faculties.
- Radio MORS, the university's student radio station.
- Museums including the Museum of Inclusions in Amber and a Museum of Criminalistics.
- Membership of SEA-EU, with joint programmes and exchanges with other coastal universities.
Housing. UG has halls of residence (605 to 745 zł a month per the study guide); first-year students applied in a dedicated round from 21 July to 7 August 2026, with later rounds for additional-recruitment students.
Location
Gdańsk is a historic Baltic port city that forms the Tricity with the seaside resort of Sopot and the port of Gdynia, linked by the SKM commuter railway. UG's main campus is in the Oliwa district, and its economics and management faculties are in Sopot, close to the beach. The university's study guide puts a room in a shared flat at about 1,500 to 2,000 zł a month and a local train ticket at 5 to 12 zł.
Nearest airport: Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN)
Notable alumni
- DT Donald TuskPrime Minister of Poland (since 2023, previously 2007-2014) and former President of the European Council; history graduate (1980)
- AD Aleksandra DulkiewiczMayor of Gdańsk since 2019; law graduate (2006)
- JL Janusz LewandowskiEconomist and former European Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming; economics graduate
- PH Paweł HuelleNovelist and journalist; studied Polish philology
- MK Maria KaczyńskaFormer First Lady of Poland; studied transport economics and foreign trade in Sopot (graduated 1966, before the 1970 merger that formed UG)
- ML Marta LewickaPolish-American mathematician; bachelor's and master's in mathematics (1996)
- AK Aneta KręglickaMiss World 1989; studied economics
- ID Izabela DłużykNature sound recordist named on the BBC 100 Women list (2023); English and Russian studies graduate
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Gdańsk cost for international students?
For 2026/27, English-taught bachelor's programmes cost 1,410 to 1,905 euros per semester for non-EU citizens (about 2,820 to 3,810 euros a year) and 1,050 to 1,410 euros per semester for EU citizens. Some English-taught master's, such as Marine Biotechnology, are tuition-free.
What English level do I need for the University of Gdańsk?
At least B2, for example IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or PTE Academic 59. EU, EFTA and UK citizens with a school diploma from an EU, EFTA or OECD country, and IB or EB holders, do not need a separate certificate.
Is there an entrance exam at the University of Gdańsk?
For English-taught bachelor's programmes, non-EU citizens with a foreign diploma (other than IB, EB, EU/EEA/OECD-system or bilaterally recognised diplomas) must pass an online entrance exam; failing it disqualifies the application. Other candidates are ranked on school results.
When is the application deadline for the University of Gdańsk?
Bachelor's recruitment runs once a year for October entry. In 2026 registration ran from 15 June to 10 or 12 July for Cultural Communication, Finance and Accounting and Criminology, and closed 14 July for International Business and Logistics and Mobility, with a later window for those two programmes from 3 August to 1 September. Dates for 2027 have not yet been published.
What is the acceptance rate at the University of Gdańsk?
UG does not publish an acceptance rate. Each programme has a fixed number of places and a points threshold, such as 110.30 points for International Business in 2025/26.
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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