Is it difficult to get into the University of Gdańsk?

The most popular destinations – this is where it’s the most difficult

There is a group of faculties where competition has been extremely high for years. Often, the admission is decided by fractions of points, and the reserve list stretches for kilometers. The “Tri-City elite” includes:

• Psychology: An absolute record holder. The number of candidates for one place often exceeds 15-20 people. To get here, you need to have an almost perfect high school diploma in major subjects.
• Criminology: A hit of recent years at the Faculty of Law and Administration. The specificity of the course attracts enthusiasts from all over the country, which raises the point thresholds to a level available only to the best high school graduates.
• English Philology: Due to the business profile of the Tri-City (numerous SSC/BPO centers in Oliwa), knowledge of English at the academic level is a guarantee of a job. This makes the fight for the index very fierce here.
• Production of audiovisual forms: A modern direction that responds to the needs of the media market. The small number of seats and high popularity make the entry threshold high.

Unique destinations – your chance in Gdynia

The University of Gdańsk is one of the few universities in Poland to offer courses related to maritime economy and oceanography. Oceanography or Water Management and Protection of Water Resources are proposals for people who want to combine a passion for nature with a specific profession. Is it difficult to get there? The thresholds are sometimes lower than in psychology, but they require a solid knowledge of biology, chemistry or geography.

IRK recruitment system and rules for converting points

To successfully go through the process, you need to be perfectly familiar with the tool you will be using: IRK UG (Online Candidate Registration).

1. Point Converter: UG rewards subjects taken at the advanced level. Usually, the result from the extended matura exam is multiplied by a higher coefficient than the basic level. Focusing on 2-3 extensions is the key to success.
2. Choice of multiple majors: The system allows you to register for several fields of study (however, this requires separate recruitment fees). It’s a great “security” strategy – if you don’t get into psychology, you can have a reserved place in sociology or pedagogy.
3. Choice of multiple majors: The system allows you to register for several fields of study (however, this requires separate recruitment fees). It’s a great “security” strategy – if you don’t get into psychology, you can have a reserved place in sociology or pedagogy.

Comparison: UG vs Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk University of Technology) and MUG

Often, high school graduates hesitate between the University and other universities in the Tri-City.

• UG vs PG: It is more difficult to get into the University of Technology in strictly technical faculties and architecture (drawing exams). However, the University of Gdańsk offers a much wider range of social sciences and humanities, which are at a very high level in Gdańsk.
• UG vs MUG: If you are thinking about medical analytics or biotechnology, UG is a great alternative to MUG. The Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk (run jointly with MUG) is one of the best scientific units in Poland, but it is extremely difficult to get there.

The realities of a student’s life in Gdansk: Logistics, costs and work

The answer to the question “is it difficult to get in” is just the beginning. Equally important is how difficult it is to support yourself. The Tri-City is a specific market that offers students a lot, but also requires a lot.

Transport – Fast Urban Rail (SKM) is your bloodstream

When studying at UG, SKM will become your best friend. The Baltic Campus in Oliwa has its own stop (Gdańsk Przymorze-Uniwersytet). Thanks to this, students can live in cheaper districts of Gdańsk, Gdynia, and even in Rumia or Pruszcz Gdański, while maintaining efficient access to lectures.

Renting an apartment – a challenge in Gdańsk

Gdańsk, next to Warsaw and Wrocław, is one of the most expensive cities in terms of rent.

• Districts at the university: Oliwa, Przymorze, Zaspa – prices are the highest here, but you can walk to the university.
• UG dormitories: The university has an extensive network of student dormitories in Gdańsk and Sopot. The price for a place in a dormitory is much lower than on the private market (from about 600 to 900 PLN), but the allocation of a place is determined by the income criterion and the distance from the permanent residence.

Work for a student in the Tri-City

Gdańsk is a hub for modern business services. In the immediate vicinity of the UG campus in Oliwa there are business centers: Olivia Centre and Alchemia. UG students (especially philology, economics and computer science) find employment there as early as their second or third year of studies. The possibility of combining education with work in an international corporation is one of the strongest arguments for choosing Gdańsk.

How to increase your chances of getting into UG?

Instead of worrying about statistics, follow a specific plan:

1. Analysis of last year’s thresholds: Check the archived point thresholds on the UG website. Remember, however, that they are only indicative.
2. Extended Matura exam in a foreign language: In most of the UG faculties, English is key in the recruitment process. A high score from the extension gives a powerful boost of points.
3. Participation in the Olympiads: Laureates and finalists of subject olympiads at the central level are admitted to the UG out of order. This is a “golden ticket” for the most popular destinations.
4. Second and third rounds: In August and September, supplementary recruitment for less popular fields of study or for those where the limits have not been met are often held.

Specificity of recruitment for individual Faculties – Where is the “sieve” the densest?

In order to precisely answer the question of whether it is difficult to get into the University of Gdańsk, we need to go down a level – to specific faculties. UG is an organism composed of 11 units, and each of them has its own specific recruitment policy and “filters” that can surprise high school graduates.

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science (WMFI) – An alternative to the University of Technology?

Many candidates wonder: Computer science at UG or at Gdańsk Tech? At the University of Gdańsk, recruitment for Computer Science (especially the practical profile) is very competitive, but it has a different specificity than at the University of Technology. UG puts more emphasis on the theoretical foundations of programming and algorithms.

• Important Detail: The thresholds for computer science at UG are sometimes slightly lower than for the top fields of study at ETI PG, which makes this faculty an excellent choice for people who are great at mathematics, but do not necessarily want to face the typical engineering rigor of the University of Technology.

Faculty of Philology – Scandinavian Studies is a Gdańsk “phenomenon”

Gdansk, due to its location and strong economic ties with the North, is the best place in Poland to study Scandinavian philology. Scandinavian Studies at the University of Gdańsk (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish) are majors with one of the highest point thresholds.

• Why is it difficult? The number of places is very limited (often only 15-25 people per path), and the interest is huge due to the guaranteed employment in Scandinavian corporations in the Tri-City. Here, the extended matura exam in Polish and a foreign language at the level of 90%+ is the absolute minimum.

Faculty of Social Sciences (WNS) – Psychology and what’s next?

Everyone knows about psychology, but it is worth paying attention to National Security or Journalism. These are directions where the thresholds are “movable“. At WNS, recruitment often depends on the results of WOS and history. If you did not do well in these subjects, look for majors such as Sociology or Social Work – it is much easier to get in, and after the first year there is a possibility (albeit difficult) to transfer to a related, more crowded field with a very high average.

Recruitment strategy: How to “play” the IRK system and reserve lists?

Most candidates make the mistake of giving up the fight after seeing the first results. In Gdańsk, recruitment is a multi-stage process.

The phenomenon of “floating” reserve lists

There is a specific phenomenon in the Tri-City: many candidates submit their papers at the same time to the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk Tech and universities in Warsaw.

• Rule of the 3rd list: Very often, people from distant places get on the reserve list in the third or even fourth round (in September). If you are 5-10 points short of the threshold, your chances of entering the reserve are really high.
• “Second Choice” Strategy: In the IRK system, it is worth marking a related direction. If your goal is Biotechnology, check Biology as well. The first-year programs are often similar, and the status of a UG student allows easier access to information about vacancies in the field of your dreams.

Admission to second-cycle studies (Master’s)

An often overlooked aspect is the recruitment for a master’s degree. The Tri-City attracts bachelor’s graduates from all over Polish (the so-called “escape to the sea”).

1. An often overlooked aspect is the recruitment for a master’s degree. The Tri-City attracts bachelor’s graduates from all over Polish (the so-called “escape to the sea”).
2. Industry Change: UG is very open to people changing their profile. You can complete a bachelor’s degree in history in Krakow and do a master’s degree in Management of Artistic Institutions in Gdansk. This is a great way to “enter” a prestigious university if the matura exam did not go perfectly.

Cooperation with business – Recruitment that pays off

UG is not an “ivory tower”. The university has signed agreements with such giants as State Street, Intel, Amazon and LPP.

• Ordered and patronage courses: Search the guide for destinations that have patronage for companies. It may be more difficult to get into, but the process of recruiting for the job itself after graduation is then much simplified.
• UG Career Office: It is one of the best-operating units of this type in the region. They help students understand what competencies are rewarded on the local labor market already at the recruitment stage.

Tips and tricks for candidates (List)

• Metropolitan ticket: Immediately after receiving the card, make a ticket for all means of transport (ZTM Gdańsk, ZKM Gdynia, SKM). Without it, your cost of living in the Tri-City will increase by several hundred zlotys per month.
• Check the importance of a foreign language: At the University of Gdańsk, a foreign language (usually English) is counted in almost every field of study. Even if you are going to Biology, a poor high school diploma in English can disqualify you.
• Remember about the recruitment fee: Your IRK application will not be considered until the fee has been credited. Do it in advance!
• Keep an eye on the deadlines for submitting documents: If you get on the list of qualified, you usually only have a few days to provide the original high school diploma. Missing this deadline means giving up your seat.
• Check the additional requirements: Some courses, such as speech therapy, require a certificate from a phoniatrist or audiologist.
• Take care of a photo for your ID: You upload them to the IRK system already at the recruitment stage. It must meet the requirements of an evidentiary photo.
• Take an interest in science clubs: Before you graduate, check what is happening at the university. Being active in the UG scientific clubs is an opportunity to travel abroad as part of the Erasmus+ program.

Frequently asked questions about UG recruitment

How many points do you need to have to get into law at UG?

The threshold for law at the University of Gdańsk usually oscillates between 140-160 ranking points (out of 200 possible), but it depends on the conversion rate in a given year. Law is one of the most popular majors, so the results of the extended matura exam in Polish and history or WOS must be at the level of 80%+.

Is it possible to get into UG without an extended matura exam?

Technically, it is possible for less crowded destinations, but your chances drop drastically. Extensions are multiplied by much more favorable coefficients (typically 1.0 for the extension and 0.4-0.6 for the base), which makes the person with the average score from the extension overtake the person with 100% from the base.

What if I don’t get in the first round?

Wait for the announcement of the lists from the next stages of recruitment. Many people resign after the first round because they got into other universities. The thresholds at the University of Gdańsk can drop significantly in the second and third rounds.

Is it easier to get into part-time (part-time) studies?

Yes, the point thresholds for part-time studies at the University of Gdańsk are usually much lower. Often, admission is determined by the order of applications or the minimum number of points. However, remember about the cost of tuition, which can be considerable in fields such as law or psychology.

What courses at UG give the best job in Gdańsk?

In the Tri-City region, graduates of Computer Science, Economics, Scandinavian Philology (due to companies with Scandinavian capital) and Logistics (proximity to the Ports of Gdansk and Gdynia) are highly valued.

Is the IRK UG system intuitive?

The IRK system at the University of Gdańsk is modern and leads the candidate “by the hand”. However, it is important to regularly check the inbox in the system, because this is where all the key messages from the recruitment committee come.

Is it difficult to find a place in a UG dormitory?

The competition for dormitories in Gdańsk is high. The most difficult to get a place is for people living close to the Tri-City (e.g. in Starogard Gdański or Elbląg). If you live in the south of Polish, your chances of getting a cheap accommodation in a “dormitory at the university” are much higher.

Is it worth fighting for the University of Gdańsk index?

The answer is definitely yes. Although it is difficult to get into the most popular courses, the University of Gdańsk offers a level of teaching and career prospects that reward the effort put into the matura exam.

Studying in the Tri-City is not only a diploma from a prestigious university. It is primarily networking in the heart of Pomeranian business, access to culture, great SKM communication and the unique atmosphere of the seaside metropolis. If you take a solid approach to the matura preparations and play the strategy wisely in the IRK system, your chances of being on the admission list are very high.