1. Legalisation of foreign documents of education
Legalisation 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. Legalisation of a document by the relevant authorities in the country in which it was issued increases its credibility.
- A. Legalisation with Apostille
If a country in which a given document was issued is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, concluded in The Hague, the document’s legalisation is replaced by an Apostille certificate attached to it. The list of countries – parties to the Convention and the institutions authorised to issue the Apostille is available here. - B. Normal Legalisation
If a country in which a given document was issued is not a party to the aforementioned Convention, the document’s legalisation 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 legalisation clauses: full legalisation, standard legalisation, 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.
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.
3. 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 a permanent residence permit or the decision confirming Polish descent, an NFZ premium 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:
- 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 under age! http://www.nfz.gov.pl/dla-pacjenta/zalatw-sprawe-krok-po-kroku/jak-ubezpieczyc-sie-dobrowolnie/ - 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.
- A certificate issued by an employer, confirming the payment of a premium.
- European Health Insurance Card (in respect of EU citizens).
4. 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 stay permit.
- Open your account on the Online Candidate Admissions platform (Internetowa Rekrutacja Kandydatów – IRK) at irk.uek.krakow.pl.
- Send to the Unit for Teaching Administration (studiainfo@uek.krakow.pl) the copies of the following documents:
– diploma of completing first cycle studies,
– diploma supplement;
– translation of the diploma and supplement into the Polish language (if possessed);
– English certificate (pdf file in preparation);
– a copy of passport (page with a photo). - Sign up for an English language exam.
- Make payment of the admission fee (amount and individual account number available on your IRK account).
■ Please, note:
Make sure you meet qualification requirements – remember that only properly completed and paid-for forms are considered in the admissions 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:
- Undergraduate (Bachelor) studies diploma (Legalised, translated),
- Supplement or transcript of records for the whole period of Bachelor level studies (Legalised, translated),
- The certificate confirming that the candidate’s Bachelor’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 the director of NAWA confirming eligibility to apply for admission.
- Proof of English language proficiency: English certificate (original and copy) – it does not apply to candidates taking the English language exam at KUE,
- Printout of personal questionnaire – from Online Candidate Admissions,
- Printout for the candidate’s file (the document is available in the downloads tab.),
- Copy of passport/ID Card (page with photograph),
- Statement about citizenship (the document is available in the downloads tab.).
■ Please, note:
Another person/The Representative may submit documents on behalf of the candidate. In such a case authorisation 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,
- copy of candidate’s ID/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:
- original and copy of visa/residence permit, EU citizens – UE citizen’s registration of stay;
- original and copy 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 issued after submission of the documents required in the step 3.
