Application process – Master’s programme

1. Legalization of foreign documents of education
Legalization is the certification of a document’s formal conformity with the law binding in the place of its issue or of the authenticity of the seals and signatures placed on the document. Legalization of a document by the relevant authorities in the country in which it was issued increases its credibility.

• A. Legalization with Apostille
  If a country in which a given document was issued is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, concluded in The Hague, the document’s legalization is replaced by an Apostille certificate attached to it. The list of countries – parties to the Convention and the institutions authorized to issue the Apostille is available here.
• B. Normal Legalization
  If a country in which a given document was issued is not a party to the aforementioned Convention, the document’s legalization remains the responsibility of a Polish consular office in that country. Depending on the type of a document, Polish consular offices will use one of the three categories of legalization clauses: full legalization, standard legalization, authentication.
• More information about legalization or apostille is available here. 
• The list of Poland’s missions abroad is available here.

2. Translation by a sworn translator

All official documents issued abroad should be translated into Polish by:

• a Polish sworn translator registered on the list of translators published by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland. The list of Polish sworn translators may be found here.
• the consul of the Republic of Poland in the country in which documents were issued.
• a person registered as a sworn translator in an EU member state, an EFTA member state, an EEA member state, or an OECD member state.
• an accredited diplomatic representative to Poland, or the consular office of the country in whose territory, or within whose educational system the documents in question were issued.

3. Education documents

• Foreigners applying for admission to second-cycle studies on the basis of a diploma of graduation issued abroad which is not a diploma authorizing continuation of education in second-cycle studies, as referred to in Article 326, paragraph 1, and which has not been recognized as a diploma equivalent to a corresponding Polish diploma on the basis of the international agreement referred to in Article 327, paragraph 1. 1, or through a recognition procedure, will be required to submit during the recruitment process a diploma of graduation issued abroad by a higher education institution recognized by the country on whose territory or in whose system of higher education it operates, along with written information about the diploma issued by the NAWA’s Director confirming eligibility to apply for admission.
• Foreign candidates who have completed their studies outside of Poland may apply for Master’s programmes at the KUE only if their diploma has been legalized or apostilled and entitles to apply for Master’s programmes in the country of issue.
• It is required that the diploma and its supplement must be translated into Polish by authorized institutions or a sworn translator.

More information about the Recognition of Academic Qualifications may be found:

• on the website of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange
• on the ENIC-NARIC network website.

4. Health insurance

All foreign students should have an insurance policy for sickness and accident in Poland. Such a policy should cover at least the first year of studies, amounting to 30,000 EUR for medical treatment throughout the insured period.

In the case of the holders of the Card of the Pole or students who have been recognized as persons of Polish origin within the meaning of the repatriation regulations, an insurance can be paid by the university. For this purpose, they should contact Office for Scholarships and Medical Insurance (Biuro Stypendiów i Ubezpieczeń Zdrowotnych), Main Building, room 215 (second floor).

An insurance policy can be confirmed in the following way:

1. An insurance policy with Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia NFZ, ul. Wadowicka 8W Kraków (the National Health Fund).
   Persons who are not holders of the Card of the Pole may sign a contract with Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia and make premium payments on their own. A copy of a contract along with payment confirmations should be submitted to Unit for Teaching Administration (Dział Nauczania).
   NOTE! To sign a contract with NFZ (the National Health Fund), a student needs the following documents: a certificate confirming admission to studies, PESEL number, a document confirming a student’s residence (e.g. a residence hall).
   In the case of the holders of the Card of the Pole or the decision confirming Polish descent, an NFZ premium can be paid by the university.
   Prior to a visit to Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, please check what documents are required for applying for an insurance policy.
   The necessity to check required documents applies, in particular, to persons underage! http://www.nfz.gov.pl/dla-pacjenta/zalatw-sprawe-krok-po-kroku/jak-ubezpieczyc-sie-dobrowolnie/
2. An insurance policy covering the costs of medical treatment in Poland in the amount of 30,000 EUR. An insurance policy issued abroad must be translated into the Polish language.
3. A certificate issued by an employer, confirming the payment of a premium.
4. European Health Insurance Card (in respect of EU citizens).

5. Legalization of stay

All foreign students who wish to study in Poland are required to legalize their stay.

• The citizens of the EU and Switzerland are only required to register their stay;
• Non-EU foreigners must hold an entry visa or a temporary residence permit.

See the document (pdf)

1. Open your account on the Online Candidate Admission platform (Internetowa Rekrutacja Kandydatów – IRK) at irk.uek.krakow.pl.
2. Mandatorily upload to the IRK system the scans of the following documents:
   – diploma of completing studies,
   – diploma supplement;
   – translation of the diploma and supplement into the Polish language (if possessed);
   – a photocopy of passport (page with a photo).
   – proof of English language proficiency: English certificate –  it does not apply to candidates from  EU who hold a certificate issued in the EU.
3. Make payment of the admission fee (amount and individual account number available on your IRK account).

■ NOTE:
Make sure you meet qualification requirements – remember that only properly completed and paid-for forms are considered in the admission process.

■ After the announcement of the list of candidates eligible for admission, persons expressing their will to undertake studies at the KUE shall submit the following documents:

1. Diploma of completing studies (Legalized, translated) – original and photocopy,

2. Supplement or transcript of records for the whole period of  studies (Legalized and translated) – original and photocopy,

3. The certificate confirming that the candidate’s diploma allows to undertake Master’s studies in the country of issue. Such certificate may be issued by the equivalent of Ministry of Education („Ministerstwo Oświaty”) in a given country (in that case this document should be translated into Polish by a certified translator),

   
   Foreigners applying for admission to second-cycle studies on the basis of a diploma of graduation issued abroad which is not a diploma authorizing continuation of education in second-cycle studies, as referred to in Article 326, paragraph 1, and which has not been recognized as a diploma equivalent to a corresponding Polish diploma on the basis of the international agreement referred to in Article 327, paragraph 1. 1, or through a recognition procedure, will be required to submit during the recruitment process a diploma of graduation issued abroad by a higher education institution recognized by the country on whose territory or in whose system of higher education it operates, along with written information about the diploma issued by NAWA’s Director confirming eligibility to apply for admission.

4. A photocopy of separate notification with GPA (excluding the thesis defense), certified by their University / if it is not provided in the diploma supplement/ – original for view,
   5. Proof of English language proficiency: English certificate (original and photocopy) it does not apply to candidates from EU who hold a certificate issued in the EU,

5. Printout of personal questionnaire – from Online Candidate Admission, (Enrollment applications – Documents and further steps). Before printing the questionnaire, check that the data entered is correct. The candidate’s photo must be printed on the questionnaire (the photo must be uploaded to the IRK beforehand),

6. Photocopy of passport (page with photograph) – original for  view,

7. Statement about citizenship (the document is available in the downloads tab.)

■ NOTE:
Another person/The Representative may submit documents on behalf of the candidate. In such a case authorization is required. Form of power of attorney is posted in the downloads tab. and on the Online Candidate Admissions platform (IRK) – Enrollment applications – Documents and further steps.

The Representative is obligated to deliver:

• fulfilled form of power of attorney,
• personal ID/passport,
• photocopy of candidate’s passport,
• all required documents for admission (from Step 2).
  
  

■ Qualification does not mean admission. A candidate will be admitted upon submission and verification of the required documents allowing to undertake Master’s programme.

■ Admission to studies is confirmed by entry to the student’s list, after submitting required documents from the second step.

■ Failure to submit the required documents at the second step implies the removal of a candidate from the list of persons qualified for admission.

■ Documents required at the Step 2 should be delivered in a special file folder which a candidate receives upon submitting documents.

Before the beginning of studies, admitted persons shall deliver:

1. original and photocopy of visa/residence permit, EU citizens – registration of stay;
2. original and photocopy of health insurance covering the entire period of studies in Poland or copy of the European Health Insurance Card or insurance from the National Health Fund.

IMPORTANT:

• Student ID Card will be available after submission of the documents required in the Step 3.