Private universities in Poland
Quick answer: Poland officially splits higher education into public (publiczne) and non-public (niepubliczne) institutions; for 2025 the EU’s Eurydice portal, citing RAD-on, counts 199 non-public and 135 public ones. Private schools set their own fees: an English-taught bachelor’s runs from roughly €2,700 a year (WSB Merito) to €7,400 (SWPS, Psychology), while Kozminski charges 19,400 zł per semester.
Private schools offer more English programmes and flexible intakes, yet since 2025 not all may admit visa students.
What counts as private, and how to verify a university
NAWA’s study.gov.pl notes there is no national fee for foreigners; each non-public school sets its own terms. Both sectors answer to the independent Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA), on EQAR since 2008 and a full ENQA member since 2009. Before applying:
- Search the ministry’s POL-on / RAD-on data.
- Find the course in RAD-on’s programme register (language, level, degree); if it is missing, ask why.
- AACSB or EQUIS labels are a bonus, not a substitute.
Fees at four well-known private universities
| Programme | Tuition | Application fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kozminski, Bachelor in Management | Year 1: 19,400 zł / semester; year 2: 21,400 zł; year 3: 23,400 zł | 85 zł | No academic year given on the site |
| SWPS, Psychology BA (Warsaw) | €7,400 / year | 85 zł | 2026-2027; instalments possible |
| Lazarski, Diplomacy BA | 2 × €2,520 in year 1 (€5,040) | €18 | 2026/2027 curriculum |
| WSB Merito Warsaw, Global and Sustainable Business Management BA | about €2,700 (11,366 zł) / year | Not stated – check the site | Academic year not given |
Source: kozminski.edu.pl, english.swps.pl, lazarski.pl, merito.pl — checked 11/2026.
None of the four lists separate EU and non-EU prices. Kozminski’s fees rise yearly, so budget for the full degree and ask which intake they cover. For comparison, a 2026/27 Management BA costs €4,000 on Vistula’s NON-EU list or €2,900 on its EU+ list (NON-EU, EU+), with no official word on Azerbaijan’s list; VIZJA asks €4,100, or €3,100 with the IRS scholarship, which covers Azerbaijan (vizja.pl). See also our Vistula page.
Admission rules after the 2025 law
The act of 4 April 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 622, largely effective 1 July 2025) brought changes; per a ministry notice of 30.05.2025 (gov.pl/web/nauka), non-EU applicants need at least B2 in the teaching language, foreigners may make up no more than 50% of students, private academic schools need the Interior Minister’s approval to enrol them, and admitted foreigners go on record in POL-on. Kozminski asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 87; WSB Merito Warsaw, IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72; SWPS, B2 or sometimes C1; Lazarski states only “B2”, so get its IELTS/TOEFL equivalent in writing.
Visa applicants to Kozminski pay a full year’s fee before the invitation and admission decision; it is refunded if the visa is refused.
Work rights and proof of funds
Per study.gov.pl, full-time students with a national visa or study residence permit may work permit-free while study stays their main purpose; Zielona Linia (15 June 2026) limits this to schools approved by the Interior Minister (or exempt and not banned). No official weekly hour cap was found, and rules may change, so check gov.pl. Full-time graduates can get a one-off 9-month graduate residence permit. The residence permit needs evidence of 1,010 zł monthly for a single person (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1044) and, for Azerbaijanis, 2,500 zł or a ticket home (Dz.U. 2022 poz. 78), excluding tuition.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private university’s diploma weaker than a public one?
Legally, no: PKA oversees both. Make sure the programme is registered in RAD-on, which also matters for recognition at home.
Can I study part-time and still work?
The work-permit exemption excludes part-time students, so full-time study is safer on a visa.
When do the next intakes open?
SWPS on 28 January 2027, Kozminski on 1 February 2027; WSB Merito Warsaw admits in October and March.
Plan it with us
EDDE Global can match a Polish private university to your budget and English level and confirm its approval and fee year. Book a free consultation.