Preparatory Medical Courses in Poland
Admission to medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy in Poland requires solid preparation in core subjects and confident proficiency in the language of instruction. For this reason, Polish universities offer preparatory medical courses (often called Foundation Year, Premed, or Zerówka). These programs help international applicants prepare in a structured way and significantly increase their chances of admission.
What are preparatory medical courses
Preparatory medical courses in Poland are official, accredited programs lasting 9–12 months, delivered at universities. They are designed specifically for future medical students.
English-taught programs
English-taught Foundation / Premed courses combine core science subjects with academic medical English.In most cases, a minimum English level of B1 is required (sometimes A2+ is accepted). During the course, the language level is developed to B2, which is sufficient for studying medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy in English.
Alongside language training, students study biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, medical terminology, and exam formats. Polish language is often included as an additional subject for adaptation purposes, but it is not the main focus.
Polish-taught programs (Zerówka)
Polish-taught courses focus primarily on intensive Polish language training. Their goal is to bring students from zero or A2 level to B2 within 9–12 months, which is required for admission to Polish-taught medical programs.
At the same time, students study biology, chemistry, anatomy, and medical terminology in Polish, so they are prepared not only for the language exam, but also for real academic study at a university.
Who These Courses Are For
For many students, a Foundation Year becomes a realistic alternative to repeated admission attempts. Preparatory medical courses are usually chosen by:
applicants who lack sufficient background in biology or chemistry
candidates without confident English or Polish language skills
high school graduates who want to apply for medicine without the risk of failing entrance exams
applicants aiming for top medical universities in Poland
English-taught courses
There are several strong English-taught preparatory programs in Poland offered by medical and classical universities.
Medical University of Lodz — PREMED Course
The course lasts about 9 months (online + on-campus) and includes 960 academic hours. Subjects include biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, medical English, and Polish language.
Tuition fee: about 6 700 euro per year.
After successful completion, graduates can apply to medical programs at the same university, and course results are taken into account during selection.
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań — PRE-MED Course
An on-campus course lasting 2 semesters (approximately 850 hours). The program includes biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and basic Polish language.
Tuition fee: about 5 600 euro per year.
The course does not guarantee automatic admission, but it significantly increases the chances of passing entrance exams.
Medical University of Warsaw — Premed College
A two-year program taught in English. The first year focuses on academic English and Polish, while the second year covers core medical subjects.
Tuition fee: 6 000 euro (1st year) and 7 500 euro (2nd year).
Important: the course does not replace the entrance exam and serves as academic preparation only.
Medical University of Gdańsk — Premedical Course
An on-campus two-semester course covering biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, medical English, and Polish language.
Tuition fee: about 7 300 euro per year.
The key advantage is that after successful completion, students can enter the MD program without an additional entrance exam.
Polish-taught courses (Zerówka)
In Poland, there are official 9–12-month preparatory medical courses taught in Polish, designed for admission to Polish-taught programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and related medical fields. These courses are usually offered by public universities and may be state-funded.
University of Lodz — Zerówka (Studium Języka Polskiego dla Cudzoziemców)
A 9-month course focused on medical Polish and core subjects such as biology and chemistry, preparing students for medical studies at B2 level.
Tuition fee: free of charge, with a monthly scholarship of about 1 800 PLN; mainly available to applicants of Polish origin or state program participants.
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin — Preparatory course (NAWA)
A 9-month Polish-taught program focused on Polish language and basic medical subjects (biology and chemistry).
Tuition fee: usually free of charge under state funding; the course allows application to Polish-taught medical programs.
University of Silesia in Katowice — Zerówka (medical profile)
An on-campus 9-month course combining intensive Polish language with medical profile subjects.
Tuition fee: most often free of charge, in some cases up to 1 500–2 000 euro per year.
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń — Preparatory course
A 9-month Zerówka including Polish language, biology, and chemistry, aimed at future medical students.
Tuition fee: free of charge under NAWA programs, or up to 2 000 euro per year without funding.
What preparatory courses provide in practice
Preparatory medical courses:
- help level out academic knowledge in key subjects;
- adapt students to the requirements of Polish universities;
- reduce the risk of failing entrance exams;
- in some universities, offer a direct path to enrollment without repeated selection.
It is important to understand that not all courses guarantee admission, but almost all of them significantly increase the chances, especially in highly competitive fields such as medicine and dentistry.
How AcademGo helps choose a preparatory course
AcademGo helps select a preparatory course with a clear and realistic outcome — either a real opportunity for admission without exams or a maximum increase in admission chances to a chosen university. We analyze the applicant’s academic background in core subjects, language level, budget, and study goals to offer an optimal path, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Our team supports the entire process: from course selection and document preparation to admission and further transition to the university. We clearly explain in advance what results a specific course can provide and continue support after the Foundation Year, helping students successfully enter a medical program without wasted time or costly mistakes.
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