Foundation Year, master - level

Dear Candidates,

The University of Warsaw offers a unique opportunity to enrol in the Foundation Year – an intensive, one-year preparatory course in English, designed for secondary school graduates and university degree holders seeking to improve their English language proficiency.

The program aims to prepare participants for degree studies in English in their chosen field within the social sciences, humanities, or sciences at the University of Warsaw.

Successful completion of the Foundation Year guarantees admission to the selected postgraduate programme.

LANGUAGE OF THE COURSE

English/Polish

COURSE STRUCTURE:

• intensive English language course (450 hours); 
• Polish language course (120 hours, including 114 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of asynchronous learning); 
• Social Path module (first semester), which forms part of the English language course and introduces participants to Polish culture; activities are conducted outside the classroom; 
• field-specific courses (second semester), conducted by subject specialists. These courses are offered provided that at least five participants select a given faculty.
• NOTE: If there are fewer applicants to a chosen faculty, participants will receive a reading list to prepare for the exam independently.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

First Semester focuses on English for academic and specific purposes, basic Polish language, and the Social Path module, which introduces participants to Polish culture, academic life, University facilities, and the local environment.

During Second Semester, participants continue English and Polish language learning. In addition, subject-specific courses led by academic specialists are offered, provided that at least 5 candidates are applying to the same field of study.

To successfully complete the Foundation Year, you must pass all courses in the programme. Admission to second-cycle (Master’s) studies requires:

• passing the final English exam at minimum B2 level,
• obtaining a positive result in the Polish language exam,
• obtaining a positive result in the field-specific knowledge exam (conducted at the end of the Foundation Year programme) for your chosen faculty,
• and submitting all required admission documents (see the faculty page in IRK for the list of attachments).

DURATION

OCT 1, 2026 – JUN 30, 2027

ENTRY LEVEL

IELTS 4.5 / CEFR B1

FEE

 3500 EUR

MORE ABOUT FOUNDATION YEAR: https://welcome.uw.edu.pl/uw-foundation-year/

CONTACT US ANYTIME AT foundation.year@uw.edu.pl

* A certificate of completion of Foundation Year at the University of Warsaw is not equal to international English language certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL and might not be accepted by other Polish universities during the admission process.