New Rule for Polish University Applications in 2025: B2 English Certificate Required

IMPORTANT NOTICE – New Language Certificate Requirement Effective July 1, 2025

According to a regulation issued by the Polish Ministry of Education and Higher Education on 30 July 2025 and effective from 1 July 2025:

For Bachelor’s and Master’s applications where the language of instruction is English (or another foreign language), all applicants must submit a Ministry-approved language proficiency document at B2 level or higher to the university.

List of Accepted Documents #

A certificate, diploma, or other document confirming B2, C1, or C2 proficiency across all four skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing) from one of the following organizations is required:

• University of Cambridge, ESOL Examinations: B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE), B2 Business Vantage (BEC Vantage), C1 Business Higher, Certificate in English for International Business and Trade (CEIBT)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum 5.5 overall
• Trinity College London: ESOL Skills for Life – Level 1 (B2) or higher; Integrated Skills in English (ISE) – ISE II or higher; ISE Digital – above 80 points (B2)
• Educational Testing Service (ETS): TOEFL iBT – minimum 72 points; TOEIC – minimum 785 (Listening & Reading), 150 (Speaking), and 160 (Writing)
• Pearson Assessment English: Pearson English International Certificate – Level 3 (Pass/Merit/Distinction); PTE Academic – minimum 59 (both test-center and online)
• LanguageCert: LanguageCert International ESOL – Communicator B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Speaking part: LanguageCert Academic B2 or higher; LanguageCert Test of English B2 or higher
• LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry): English for Business Level 2 or higher; Foundation Certificate for Teachers of Business English (FTBE)
• European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages: Level B2 (Vantage) or higher
• telc GmbH / WBT Weiterbildungs-Testsysteme GmbH: Certificate in English; Certificate in English for Business Purposes; Certificate in English for Technical Purposes; telc English, telc English Business, telc English Technical, telc English University

Additional Accepted Evidence of English Proficiency (B2 or above) #

• Language preparatory course completion certificate: Proof of completing a minimum 9-month preparatory course at B2/C1/C2, covering all four skills, issued by a Polish university or a NAWA-accredited prep center.
• Degree or confirmation in English Philology / Applied Linguistics: A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or long-cycle degree, a diploma supplement, or an official letter confirming at least 500 hours of English language instruction from a Polish or foreign higher education institution.
• Degree taught in English: A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or long-cycle degree from a Polish or foreign university indicating the language of instruction (on the diploma; if not, in the diploma supplement or an additional confirmation).
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma: Regarding the language of studies.
• European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma: Regarding L1 (first language) or L2 (second language).
• Ministry of Justice (Poland) certificate/register: Certificate or registry entry confirming the right to work as a sworn translator of English in Poland.

Information note regarding the new rule.

No Longer Accepted #

• Duolingo English Test
• University-run internal language exams or online interviews
• Other private course certificates not listed in the official regulation

Implementation & Process #

• Universities are notifying all enrolled and admitted students of this change.
• Even if you did not submit a language certificate at the start, your enrollment cannot proceed without it.
• Some universities may allow submission by the end of the first semester—this is entirely at the university’s discretion and not guaranteed.
• Visa applications cannot be submitted without a valid language certificate.

What You Should Do #

1. Register as soon as possible for one of the accepted exams listed above.
2. Send your exam booking confirmation to your advisor or university.
3. Submit your certificate to the university immediately once you receive it.

Important Reminder #

This new rule applies to all Polish universities. Due to the regulation change, admissions, enrollment, and visa procedures cannot progress without an approved B2-level (or higher) language certificate.