Study in Poland from Kazakhstan
A practical, honest guide for Kazakhstani students — visas, refusal rates, flights, costs and what life is really like. Backed by sources, not marketing.
Central Asia
2022/23 · GUS/NAWA
type D long-stay
€160–335 (one-way est.)
Visas & entry
National long-stay (type D) study visa
- Processing time
- 2–8 weeks
- Where to apply
- Polish embassy/consulate in Astana / Almaty
- Proof of funds
- ≈ 701 PLN/month (~€165/mo) minimum + tuition + return; ~€2,000–4,000/year
Key documents
- acceptance letter
- proof of funds
- health insurance
- accommodation
- return-travel funds
Source: study.gov.pl
Visa refusal — the honest picture
No clean per-country figure is published — here's what is known:
No reliable 2024 country-specific figure isolated; Kazakhstan generally sees low Schengen refusal (some states <5%)
Important: Left null rather than fabricated.
Source: schengenvisainfo.com
Getting there
Almaty (ALA) / Astana → Warsaw (WAW)
- Typical price
- €160–335 (one-way est.)
- Flight time
- 7–8 (direct Almaty–Warsaw) h
- Airlines
- LOT, Air Astana, Lufthansa (via FRA/MUC), Turkish (via IST)
LOT launched direct Almaty–Warsaw (4x/week) in 2026; connections via Frankfurt/Munich/Istanbul also available.
Prices vary — estimate from astanatimes.com
What it's really like
Kazakhstani students are a small but fast-growing, uncontroversial group, often arriving via Bolashak scholarships or affordable English-taught programmes. Poland actively recruits in Kazakhstan (NAWA fairs, Study in Poland stands in Almaty). Perception is broadly neutral-positive — motivated international students rather than a political lens. Main challenges: distance, visa logistics and residence bureaucracy.
Community: Small but growing — ~1,725 students (2023/24 per one count; more recent reporting suggests 3,000+). Supported by Bolashak scholarships.
Tips from students & forums
-
Check Bolashak and other Kazakh government scholarships for Polish universities before self-funding — several Polish programmes are eligible.
bolashak.gov.kz -
Use the new direct LOT Almaty–Warsaw route (or Air Astana / via-Frankfurt) and book early — direct seats are limited (4/week).
astanatimes.com -
Begin gathering visa documents in winter/early spring — type D plus the post-arrival residence permit (8–10 months) means starting early matters.
studygram.me
Good to know
- Roughly 1,725 Kazakhstani students studied in Poland in 2023/24, with more recent reports citing 3,000+.
- LOT launched a direct Almaty–Warsaw route (4x weekly) in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do Kazakhstani students need a visa to study in Poland?
Kazakhstani citizens need a Polish national long-stay (type D) study visa for programmes over 90 days. Typical processing: 2–8 weeks. Polish embassy/consulate in Astana / Almaty
How many Kazakhstani students are in Poland?
About 1,740 students from Kazakhstan were enrolled in Poland (2022/23, GUS/NAWA data).
How much does it cost to live in Poland as a student?
Roughly €630–1,210 a month for a student living alone in a one-bedroom flat, from Lodz (the cheapest of the 8 cities we track) to Warsaw (the most expensive); a university dormitory or shared flat usually brings that down to about €400–700. Estimate from Numbeo market data accessed 9 July 2026 — for a visa, rely on the sum the authorities specify.
English-taught programmes for Kazakhstani students
All 951 degrees in the catalogue are open to Kazakhstani applicants — these picks match what students from Kazakhstan most often look for. Tuition shown per year where the university publishes it.
Medicine & health programmes
Medical degrees taught fully in English — a popular route for Kazakhstani students.
No English test listed
Programmes whose admissions pages named no English test when we captured them. That is not a university statement that a certificate is unnecessary — confirm the current rule before you apply.
Affordable programmes
The lowest rates published for English-taught studies in the catalogue. Each figure is a university-wide rate its programmes inherit, not this programme's own fee.
Universities behind these picks
Each profile has step-by-step application instructions, admissions contacts and every English-taught programme the university offers.
Where these programmes are taught
Browse the full catalogue by field of study, city, university or use the programme finder.
Ready to find your programme?
Compare Kazakhstani-friendly, English-taught Bachelor's and Master's across Polish universities.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-13. Visa-refusal figures are Schengen short-stay proxies unless stated; Poland does not publish national (type D) study-visa refusal rates per country. Flight prices and monthly budgets are estimates from aggregators and study.gov.pl and change over time. Entries ranked 31+ are added for search coverage of countries Poland does not publish separate student counts for; their studentsInPoland.count is null by design unless a published figure exists (the Perspektywy/GUS "Studenci zagraniczni w Polsce 2023" report covers some).