Entrance Exam Guide

Polish Medical University Entrance Exams

Poland has no centralised entrance exam. Each of the 19 universities runs its own examination — typically Biology and Chemistry. You can sit multiple exams on different dates.

19 universitiesBiology + Chemistry focusMultiple dates — apply to several

How Polish admissions work

Apply to universities directly

Each university has its own application portal and deadline. Applications typically open January–February. Apply to 2–4 universities to maximise your chances. Each requires an application fee (€50–150).

Travel to Poland to sit the exam

All exams are held at the university. Exams are typically May–July. Biology and Chemistry are the core subjects at most universities. Some universities include Physics or have a brief English language assessment.

Receive and accept an offer

Universities issue offer letters July–August. If you receive multiple offers, choose your preferred university. Accept by the stated deadline and complete enrollment. Registration is typically August–September.

Exam format by university tier

Most selective — Jagiellonian & Warsaw

Jagiellonian University Medical College (Kraków) and Medical University of Warsaw are the most competitive Polish medical universities. Both test Biology and Chemistry at the highest level. Jagiellonian's exam is widely considered the most rigorous in Poland. Multiple choice format with detailed biological and chemical knowledge required. Preparation equivalent to IMAT-level Biology and Chemistry study is recommended.

Exam dates: typically May–June | Application deadline: typically April–May

Mid-tier — Wrocław, Lublin, Gdańsk, Łódź, Białystok

These established medical universities run competitive but more accessible exams than Warsaw or Jagiellonian. Biology and Chemistry are the core subjects — typically multiple choice. Wrocław Medical University is widely recommended for its academic quality and manageable admissions process. With 3–4 months of focused Biology and Chemistry preparation, most students with solid science backgrounds are competitive.

Exam dates: typically May–July | Application deadline: typically April–June

More accessible — Kielce, Rzeszów, Olsztyn, Zielona Góra

Newer or regional universities have more accessible admissions — lower competition and sometimes less demanding exam content. These are appropriate for students with solid but not outstanding science backgrounds. They are EU Directive listed and fully recognised — the main trade-off is a less established international reputation than Warsaw or Jagiellonian.

Exam dates: typically June–July | Application deadline: typically May–June

All Polish universities with entrance exams

University	City	Score	Tuition/year	Selectivity
Wrocław Medical University	Wrocław	4.020	~€11,000	Moderate
Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Kraków	Kraków	3.950	~€9,500	Accessible
Jagiellonian University Medical College	Kraków	3.950	~€13,500	High
Medical University of Lublin	Lublin	3.830	~€12,000	Moderate
Medical University of Łódź	Łódź	3.760	~€12,000	Moderate
Medical University of Białystok	Białystok	3.720	~€11,000	Moderate
Pomeranian Medical University Szczecin	Szczecin	3.720	~€10,500	Moderate
Medical University of Gdańsk	Gdańsk	3.680	~€12,000	Moderate
Medical University of Warsaw	Warsaw	3.660	~€15,000	High
Medical University of Silesia Katowice	Katowice	3.640	~€11,000	Moderate
Poznań University of Medical Sciences	Poznań	3.450	~€11,000	Moderate
University of Rzeszów	Rzeszów	3.470	~€9,500	Accessible
Nicolaus Copernicus University CM Bydgoszcz	Bydgoszcz	3.390	~€11,000	Accessible
Jan Kochanowski University Kielce	Kielce	3.390	~€9,000	Accessible
University of Warmia and Mazury Olsztyn	Olsztyn	3.350	~€9,000	Accessible
University of Zielona Góra	Zielona Góra	3.290	~€9,000	Accessible

Veterinary universities (UPWr Wrocław 4.430, WULS Warsaw 4.200) have separate exam processes — see their individual pages. Tuition fees approximate.

Preparation approach

What to study

Biology: Cell biology, genetics, human anatomy and physiology, ecology, biochemistry, evolution

Chemistry: Atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, organic chemistry, thermodynamics

Physics (some universities): Mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, electromagnetism

Past papers from your specific target universities — formats differ, get the right ones

English assessment (where required): Reading comprehension and basic scientific English

Key differences from IMAT

No Critical Thinking section — Biology and Chemistry are more heavily weighted

No negative marking at most Polish universities — you can attempt all questions

Each university's past papers are different — get papers from your specific target schools

Less competition overall — acceptance rates are higher than IMAT

Physics may or may not be included depending on the university — check specifically

Past papers: Each university provides past papers on its official admissions page. There are no third-party centralised repositories. Go directly to the admissions section of each university website and look for sample questions or previous exam papers. These are the most important preparation resource.

route.doctor has no financial relationship with any preparation provider.

Frequently asked questions

No. Unlike Italy's IMAT, Poland does not have a centralised entrance examination. Each medical university administers its own exam independently, typically covering Biology and Chemistry. Exam formats, difficulty levels, dates, and registration processes vary by university. This means you can apply to and sit exams at multiple universities on different dates — maximising your chances. It also means you must research each university's specific requirements separately.

Yes — all Polish medical university entrance exams are held at the university in Poland. You must travel to sit the exam. Some universities offer preliminary online assessments as a first stage, but the formal entrance examination is always in Poland. This is a significant logistical and cost consideration, particularly if you are applying to multiple universities on different dates.

Polish university exams are generally considered less competitive than the IMAT in terms of overall acceptance rate. The IMAT has approximately a 14% overall acceptance rate across all universities; Polish universities have higher acceptance rates on average, though this varies significantly by university. Jagiellonian University Medical College and Medical University of Warsaw are the most selective and most similar to IMAT in difficulty. Regional universities (Rzeszów, Kielce, Olsztyn) are more accessible. The subject content — Biology and Chemistry — is broadly similar to IMAT but the exam format differs.

For students with strong A-Level or IB Biology and Chemistry (grades A/6+), 3–4 months of targeted preparation is typically sufficient for most Polish universities. For Jagiellonian or Warsaw, allow 5–6 months. For students without recent science study, 6–9 months. Unlike IMAT, there is no Critical Thinking section, so preparation is more focused on Biology and Chemistry content knowledge. Past papers from specific universities are the most valuable preparation resource.

Yes — and this is recommended. Because each university sets its own exam date, it is possible to sit exams at several universities during the same application season. Most students applying to Poland apply to 2–4 universities simultaneously. Application fees are required per university (typically €50–150 each). There is no central coordination system — each application is managed separately with each university.

Application windows typically open January–February and close May–June for September intake. Exams are held between May and July at most universities. Offer letters are typically issued July–August. Registration (enrollment) takes place in August–September. Deadlines vary significantly by university — check each university's official admissions page annually as dates change. Applications submitted earlier generally receive faster processing.

Which Polish universities fit your profile?

19 universities with different exam difficulties, cities, and price points. A route.doctor advisor can help you target the right 2–3.

Poland country guide →No-exam alternatives →