Surge in Applicants Creates Tougher Admissions for Ukrainians at Polish Universities

Admissions to Polish Universities in 2026

According to Radiotrek — Світ: This year, Ukrainian students face significantly more difficult admissions to Polish universities due to an unprecedented number of applicants. The surge stems from a double cohort of graduates completing secondary school across two academic years. In 2026, 321,314 students took the matura (secondary school leaving exam), a 33% increase from 255,517 in 2025. These students began their secondary education in 2014.

Applications to Polish public universities have risen sharply. At the University of Warsaw, 37,600 applicants submitted and paid for 74,800 applications-33% more than the previous year. The most popular fields of study included:

• Economics
• Finance and Accounting
• Econometrics
• Data Analysis
• Management
• Psychology

The highest competition at the University of Warsaw was for Medicine (32.78 applicants per spot), Business and Management (26.23 per spot), and Japanese Studies (19.12 per spot).

Competition Across Universities

Jagiellonian University received 42,000 applications from roughly 23,000 candidates, a 29% increase from last year. The most sought-after programs were:

• Law (2,586 applications for 350 spots)
• Nursing (2,228 applications for 200 spots)
• Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy (2,048 applications for 140 spots)

The tightest competition at Jagiellonian was for Dentistry (19.11 applicants per spot), Electroradiology (16.78 per spot), and Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy (14.63 per spot).

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań also saw strong interest, with 21,000 applicants submitting over 38,000 paid applications. The most popular majors were:

• Psychology
• Law
• English Philology
• Journalism
• Social Communication

The highest competition at Adam Mickiewicz University was for Medicine (over 22 applicants per spot) and Psychology (over 21 per spot).

Wrocław University of Science and Technology recorded 24,000 applications for 6,200 spots across 62 fields. The greatest demand was for Medicine (over 14 candidates per spot), Automation and Robotics, Mathematics, and Data Analysis. The University of Wrocław registered nearly 37,000 applications, with the most competitive programs being:

• Psychology (24 applicants per spot)
• Speech Therapy (18 applicants per spot)
• Image Communication (12 applicants per spot)

This year's admissions process has become a genuine challenge for many Ukrainian applicants, driven by increasing competition and limited available spots.

The rise in applicants at Polish universities reflects a strong interest in higher education among young people, likely tied to economic conditions and the opportunities that studying abroad offers. With applications climbing for popular fields, prospective students must assess their competitiveness and prepare for demanding entrance exams. This trend may reshape resource allocation in higher education and necessitate adjustments to academic programs to meet new demands.

The increasing competition for university spots is not the only challenge facing students in Poland. Rising rental prices are forcing many Polish students to reconsider their living arrangements. This situation has led to a significant number of them abandoning apartments in search of more affordable options. To learn more about how soaring costs are impacting students, read about the current housing crisis affecting Polish students here.