Study in Poland from Germany

Visas & entry

No visa — EU freedom of movement; register residence if staying >3 months

Where to apply

local voivodeship office (EU residence registration)

Key documents

• German ID (Personalausweis) or passport
• EU residence registration certificate
• health insurance (EHIC or private)

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

Getting there

Berlin (BER) → Warsaw (WAW)

Typical price

€20–70 (one-way est.)

Flight time

1.2 h

Airlines

Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT, easyJet

Very cheap (~1h10); train (~6h EIC) or FlixBus also good. From western Germany, fly from Frankfurt/Munich.

Prices vary — estimate from kiwi.com

Cost of living

~€550–900/mo for a student in Poland (Kraków ~€550–800, Warsaw higher) — usually far cheaper than German university cities. Estimate.

Full tuition & costs guide →

What it's really like

Polish-German relations carry the weight of WWII history, but the modern relationship is a close EU partnership and one of the region's biggest trade ties. Younger Poles are generally positive or neutral toward Germans, appreciating reconciliation; older generations can be more reserved. Germans are seen as well-off, organised neighbours, and German students meet no hostility on campus. The border is open, with thousands commuting both ways daily.

Community: No large permanent student diaspora, but Germans are one of the largest nationalities on English-taught medical programmes (Wrocław, Poznań, Szczecin near the border). Erasmus+ Germany↔Poland is among the EU's largest.

Tips from students & forums

1. Many Germans study medicine in Poland in English because Germany's strict Numerus Clausus (near-perfect Abitur required) shuts out even strong applicants; Polish universities admit via exam/application instead.

   mygermanuniversity.com ↗

2. English-taught medicine costs ~€12,000–16,000/year in Poland; for many Germans it's the only realistic alternative to an unreachable NC, and the degree is recognised EU-wide (Directive 2005/36/EC).

   medlinkstudents.com ↗

3. Living costs are far lower than in Germany — ~€550–800/mo in Kraków, where rent alone would cost more in Berlin/Munich; the close border eases weekend trips home.

   study.gov.pl ↗

Good to know

• Germans are one of the largest groups of English-taught medical students in Poland, driven by Germany's Numerus Clausus.
• A Polish medical degree is automatically recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC.