What are the requirements for universities in Krakow for 2026/2027?

• July 2026 (mid): Announcement of the first ranking lists and lists of persons qualified for admission.
• July 2026 (end): Submitting physical copies of documents (maturity certificates) to the admissions offices – this stage is necessary to confirm the willingness to study.

Second round and supplementary recruitment

If you do not score enough points in July, in August and September 2026, universities such as the Cracow University of Technology or the University of the National Education Commission open supplementary recruitment for fields of study where the limits of places have not been met.

Point thresholds at Krakow universities – trend analysis

The point thresholds for 2026/2027 will ultimately be shaped by the difficulty level of the 2026 matura exam, however, based on data from previous years, you can estimate your chances.

Jagiellonian University (Jagiellonian University)

At the Jagiellonian University, the most popular fields of study require results in extended subjects at a level above 80-90%.

• Psychology / Law: Thresholds usually oscillate within the highest values, often requiring near-maximum results in humanities and foreign language subjects.
• Medicine (Collegium Medicum): Here, the thresholds are one of the highest in the country. In 2026, expect to have to score a minimum of 85-88 points per CMUJ (Biology and Extended Chemistry) system.

AGH University of Science and Technology (AGH)

AGH UST uses a specific recruitment indicator, where extended mathematics has the greatest weight.

• Computer Science / Cybersecurity: The point thresholds for these directions regularly exceed 900 out of 1000 possible points of the indicator.
• Construction/Materials Engineering: The thresholds here are usually lower (about 500-600 points), which makes it easier for candidates with a solid, but not the maximum score in physics or mathematics to get in.

Cracow University of Technology (PK)

PK rewards candidates with high results in mathematics. In the field of Architecture, an additional drawing exam is mandatory, which usually takes place in June. Points from the drawing exam are added to the matura results and often they decide about admission.

Specifics of recruitment at individual universities in Krakow

Understanding how a particular university calculates your scores will allow you to better prioritize your enrollment system.

AGH UST Point Converter

The enrolment rate (W) at AGH UST for most fields of study is calculated according to the formula:

W = 4 G + J, where G is the result in the main subject (mathematics, physics, chemistry or computer science) and J is the result in a foreign language. Extended subjects are calculated with a multiplier of 2, which makes the basic matura exam at the level of 100% less valuable than the extended one at the level of 51%

Recruitment at the Jagiellonian University (IRK)

The Jagiellonian University uses a weighting system for objects. In many humanities faculties, Polish and a modern foreign language are obligatory components of the result. If your goal is philology, the system rewards the result in a specific major language at the advanced level.

Admission to the University of Economics (UEK)

The CUE in Krakow attaches great importance to the results in foreign languages and elective subjects (geography, history, mathematics, WOS). It is crucial for you to have a high score in at least one extended subject, which is multiplied by a factor of 0.6 or 1.0.

Entrance exams and additional tests (2026/2027)

Although most of the recruitment is based on the high school diploma, some Krakow universities require additional verification of skills.

• Academy of Fine Arts (Academy of Fine Arts): Mandatory multi-stage exams in drawing, painting and a review of the work file (the so-called self-presentation). Recruitment dates for the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow are usually earlier than at university universities.
• AST (Academy of Theatre Arts): Practical exams in diction, movement and text interpretation.
• AWF (Academy of Physical Education): Some faculties require health certificates and fitness exam results, although in many faculties in 2026 only the matura exam and sports achievements (sports classes) are decisive.

Specific tips for candidates to study in Krakow

Following these points will increase your chances of successfully passing the recruitment process in the 2026/2027 cycle:

• Check out the scoring calculators: Every university (AGH, JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY, PK) provides simulators on its websites. Enter your predicted matriculation results to see where your profile is strongest.
• Monitor seat limits: Public universities in Krakow have rigid limits. If you are interested in a niche major, check that the number of places is not less than 30 – this drastically raises the point threshold.
• Take care of the recruitment fee: Make transfers a few days in advance. IRK systems book payments after the date of receipt to the university’s account, not the date the transfer was sent.
• Enroll in more than one major: Within one university, you can usually choose several majors (as a priority). This increases your safety if the threshold turns out to be too high in the main direction.
• Check the requirements for winners: If you are a laureate or finalist of a central level subject olympiad, check the resolutions of the Senates of the university (JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY, AGH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, PK) regarding the admission of laureates. This often gives you maximum scoring and free admission before official admission.

mObywatel and e-Diploma in recruitment 2026

In the 2026/2027 recruitment cycle, Krakow universities (Jagiellonian University, AGH, PK) are fully integrating their IRK systems with the mObywatel application. This is crucial for the speed of verification of your data.

• Data Automation: When creating an account in the recruitment system, instead of manually entering data, you will use logging in via the National Node (Login.gov.pl). Thanks to this, your personal data and the results of the matura exams (downloaded from the KReM database – the National Register of Matura Exam Students) will be taken automatically, eliminating the risk of errors in the PESEL number or percentage results.
• e-Diplomas: If you are applying for a second-cycle (master’s) degree in Krakow in 2026, your home university has probably already issued a diploma in digital form with a qualified signature. The systems of the Jagiellonian University and AGH UST are prepared to receive these files directly, which shortens the education verification procedure by several working days.

Recruitment for second-cycle (Master’s) studies in Krakow 2026

If you are completing your bachelor’s or engineering degree in 2026, the admission process for a master’s degree in Krakow will be different from the one you remember from your high school diploma.

Grade Ranking and Entrance Exams

• Average of studies: At most faculties of the Jagiellonian University (e.g. the Faculty of Management and Social Communication), the key criterion is the average grade from first-cycle studies. A conversion rate is often used, which rewards graduates with a very good grade on their diploma.
• Interviews and exams: In fields such as psychology, philology or specialist engineering courses at PK, entrance exams or interviews to check aptitudes are mandatory. They usually take place in July or September 2026. You need to prepare a concept for your master’s thesis or read the reading list made available by the faculty in the IRK system.

Appeal procedure – how to fight for the index in Krakow?

If you receive a decision not to admit you to the university in the first round, you have the right to appeal. In Krakow, this procedure is strictly formalized.

Complaint vs Appeal

1. System error: If you notice that your points have been miscalculated (e.g. the system did not take into account the language certificate at the CUE), you file a complaint with the university admissions committee within a few days of the publication of the results.
2. Appeal against the decision: You can only file an appeal after receiving an official administrative decision on non-admission (available in the IRK system or sent by post). The basis for an appeal in Krakow may only be an indication of a violation of the conditions and procedure of recruitment specified in a resolution of the Senate of a given university.
3. Important: Do not write requests for “mercy” or justifications for a difficult life situation – the admissions committees of the Jagiellonian University or AGH UST operate solely on the basis of point and legal criteria.

Recruitment of foreigners and people with the Pole’s Card (2026/2027)

Krakow is the most popular center for international students in southern Poland. The rules for this group are specific.

• Card of the Pole: With a Pole’s Card, you apply for admission to study in Krakow on the same terms as Polish citizens. This means that you study for free in full-time studies and can apply for social scholarships.
• Polish language verification: If your secondary school leaving certificate was issued abroad, you must present a certificate of Polish language proficiency at least B1/B2 (issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Polish as a Foreign Language). Universities such as PK or AGH UST are also organizing their own language tests for candidates in July 2026.
• Nostrification of certificates: Remember that certificates from some countries require an apostille or nostrification at the Board of Education in Krakow (73 Szlak Street). This process should be started at least 2 months before the recruitment process.

Alternative strategies: “Golden Index” and competitions

Some universities in Krakow offer the opportunity to get a place in studies bypassing the standard ranking procedure for high school graduates.

• “For the Golden Index of the PK” competition: The Cracow University of Technology organizes its own competition in mathematics and chemistry. Winners receive an index before the matura exam. The 2026/2027 edition usually takes place in March 2026.
• AGH UST Olympiad: AGH University of Science and Technology runs its own nationwide Olympiad “AGH UST Diamond Index”. Earning a laureate in mathematics, physics, computer science, geography with elements of geology or chemistry guarantees you 100% of the points in admission to most majors.

Specific guidance on fees and insurance in the recruitment process

• Enrolment fee and refunds: If you enrol in 5 courses at the Jagiellonian University, but after the first round you get to your dream number one and resign from the others before the registration closes, you can apply for a refund of the overpaid recruitment fee. Refund applications are submitted through the IRK system.
• Candidate’s health insurance: Once you submit your paperwork and become a student (after October 1), you will be covered by the university if you do not have another title (e.g. parental insurance). During the recruitment period (July-September), you must take care of the continuity of your secondary school completion insurance.

FAQ – Admission to study in Krakow 2026/2027

Are there also point thresholds for part-time (extramural) studies in Krakow?

Yes, but they are much lower than in full-time studies. Admission is often determined by the order of applications until the limit of places is exhausted, provided that the minimum point requirements from the matura exam are met. Recruitment for extramural studies (e.g. at CUE or AGH) often takes longer, even until mid-September 2026.

What language certificates give you extra points?

The Jagiellonian University and AGH UST recognize certificates such as CAE (C1), CPE (C2), TOEFL or IELTS (from 6.0 points). Having a certificate at the C1 level often exempts you from the language exam at university and gives you the maximum number of points in the admission process if a given field of study provides for points for a foreign language.

Do I need to do a medical examination before recruitment?

Only if you choose faculties where there are harmful factors (e.g. chemistry at the Jagiellonian University, most faculties at AGH UST and PK). You will receive a referral for research from the admissions system after qualifying for studies. Examinations by an occupational medicine doctor are free of charge for candidates (on the basis of a referral from a university).

What if my high school diploma is lost?

You must immediately apply to the District Examination Commission (OKE in Krakow, Szkolne 37) for a duplicate. Without a physical certificate or a legal copy of it, the recruitment office in Krakow will not accept your documents, even if you are listed in the system as qualified.

Are the results of the matura exams from previous years honored in the 2026/2027 recruitment?

Yes, the results of the matura exams obtained in the “new matura” system are valid indefinitely. When registering in the IRK system, you enter the year of obtaining the certificate, and the algorithm will recalculate the points in accordance with the rules in force in 2026.

How much does it cost to enrol to study in Krakow?

The standard fee for one field of study at public universities (JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY, AGH, UEK, PK) in 2026 is PLN 85. In the case of art faculties or faculties requiring a fitness test (e.g. Architecture at the PK or faculties at the University of Physical Education), the fee may be PLN 150.

Is it possible to take part in recruitment at several universities at the same time?

Yes, there is no ban on registering in the systems of the Jagiellonian University, AGH University of Science and Technology at the same time. However, you must pay a separate admission fee at each of these universities. At the time of the announcement of the results, you will have to decide which one you will provide the original documents for.

When are the point thresholds for 2026/2027 announced?

Official point thresholds do not exist before the end of the recruitment process. What you see online are the thresholds of 2025/2026. The final threshold for 2026 depends on the number of candidates and their results on the matura exam in that particular year.

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

You have to follow the announcements about the so-called reserve lists. Many people give up their place in Krakow in favor of other cities, which causes shifts in the lists. If the threshold was 80 and you have 79 points, you have a very good chance of being accepted from the reserve list at the end of July.

Is the basic matura exam enough to get into university in Krakow?

In the most popular fields (Computer Science, Law, Psychology), the basic matura exam is not enough, even with a result of 100%. Universities reward extended subjects with multipliers, which makes it mathematically impossible to obtain the required number of points without them.

What deadlines apply to international students?

Recruitment for foreigners often starts earlier (even in March/April) due to the need to nostrify certificates and verify knowledge of the Polish language (B2 Certificate).

Summary and action plan for the candidate

Effective admission to study in Krakow 2026/2027 is a process that requires you to keep track of the IRK platforms of individual universities. Krakow offers a wide range of destinations, but the centralization of dates makes July a decisive month for you. Focus on maximizing the results in extended subjects, which have the greatest importance in the algorithms of AGH UST or the Jagiellonian University.

Remember about the three pillars of success:

1. Punctuality – being late with the admission fee is the end of dreams of studying in a given round.
2. Strategy – choose courses of different degrees of difficulty within one university.
3. Documentation – have a complete certificate and photos ready to be uploaded to the system as early as June 2026.

Be active in recruitment systems and monitor your place on the ranking lists right after the results of the matura exams are announced. Krakow is waiting for students who can efficiently manage administrative procedures.