Archaeology, full-time, first cycle

First-cycle full-time studies in Archaeology are the only such course with instruction in English offered in Poland. Over the last few years, our courses have garnered increased interest among foreign candidates.

The course programme extensively covers new trends in archaeological research and discusses archaeology’s social functioning. This lays a foundation for studies which, being focused mostly on the Mediterranean archaeology, aim to provide students with elementary knowledge and practical skills enabling them to participate in excavations anywhere around the world.

The programme includes a wide range of courses, from general introduction to ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and South America, through excavation methodology, to practical field documentation, data acquisition and processing techniques indispensable in the modern academic practice, or museology which prepares students to organise their own exhibitions and cooperate with cultural institutions. The final year of the first-cycle full-time studies, in addition to continuation of previous learning, requires students to choose a BA seminar and prepare their bachelor’s thesis.

A significant role within the programme is played by fieldwork practicum:

• field survey, usually performed in spring or autumn;
• no less than 3 excavation seasons, performed usually in summer. The excavations are directed by researchers affiliated by the Faculty of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, or abroad – in Egypt, Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Italy (Sicily), South America, and many more locations.

The classes are held in the Main Campus of the University of Warsaw, namely the Main School which has housed the Faculty of Archaeology for over a decade.

Detailed information about the first-cycle full-time studies in English can be found at the website of Faculty of Archaeology.

During the studies, students acquire specialist knowledge in archaeology enabling their active participation in excavations at sites of diverse character – reading and documenting stratigraphy, handling measuring devices, preparing research or museum catalogue entries, searching archives, performing scholarly analyses, drawing conservation records, as well as realising exhibitions.

Professional and general knowledge developed in the course of the studies, as well as competences in individual work and cooperation within a team, form a strong base for further studies at the second-cycle level in archaeology and other fields.

Admission rules

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

Polish new maturity exam 2005 – 2025

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

Points are calculated as follows:

W = a * P + b * M + c * J + d * X

where:

W – the final result
P – result from Polish language on basic or advanced level
M - result from Mathematics on basic or advanced level
J – result from English language on advanced level
X - result from additional subject on advanced level
a, b, c, d – weights.

Important information for candidates with the foreign language exam result at bilingual level. >> Check! <<

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Candidates whose result in the English language at the advanced level in the Polish maturity exam („new maturity diploma”) is lower than 60% are obliged to upload on their registration account in the IRK system (section “Education” – “Certificates and other documents required to start studies”) one of the documents accepted by the University of Warsaw certifying their competence in English (see the above list) and contact the Admissions Commission.

Old maturity exam

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

Points are calculated as follows:

W = a * P + b * M + c * J + d * X

where:

W – the final result
P – result from Polish language on basic or advanced or undefined level
M - result from Mathematics on basic or advanced or undefined level
J – result from English language on advanced or undefined level
X - result from additional subject on advanced or undefined level
a, b, c, d – weights.

Maturity exam after 1991

grade 6 = 100%
grade 5 = 90%
grade 4 = 75%
grade 3 = 50%
grade 2 = 30%

Maturity exam until 1991

grade 5 = 100%
grade 4 = 85%
grade 3 = 40%

Important information for candidates with Polish old maturity exam. >> Check! <<

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

International Baccalaureate (IB)

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

Points are calculated as follows:

W = a * P + b * M + c * J + d * X

where:

W – the final result
P – result from Polish language on standard or higher level
M - result from Mathematics on standard or higher level
J – result from English language on higher level
X - result from additional subject on higher level
a, b, c, d – weights.

The IB results will be converted according to the table below:

7 = 100%
6 = 90%
5 = 75%
4 = 60%
3 = 45%
2 = 30%

Important information for candidates with IB and EB. >> Check! <<

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

European Baccalaureate (EB)

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

Points are calculated as follows:

W = a * P + b * M + c * J + d * X

where:

W – the final result
P – result from Polish language on basic or advanced level
M - result from Mathematics on basic or advanced level
J – result from English language on advanced level
X - result from additional subject on advanced level
a, b, c, d – weights.

The EB results will be converted according to the table below:

9,00 - 10,00 = 100%
8,00 - 8,99 = 90%
7,50 - 7,99 = 75%
7,00 - 7,49 = 60%
6,00 - 6,99 = 45%
5,00 - 5,99 = 30%

Important information for candidates with IB and EB. >> Check! <<

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Foreign diploma

 Minimum number of points needed to be qualified: 50

W = a * P + b * M + c * J + d * X

where:

W – the final result
P – result from Polish language
M - result from Mathematics
J – result from English language
X - result from additional subject
a, b, c, d – weights.

Calculation of candidates high school diploma results. >> Check! <<

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Foreigners with foreign diploma from outside of EU/EFTA/OECD/international agreements [more]

Attention! Qualification process consists of two stages. Additional entrance examination is obligatory.

Stage 1: calculation of the results of the matriculation examinations based on the rules specified in the table for candidates with foreign diploma (above).

The number of points possible to obtain: 100

Qualification threshold for admission to the second stage of the qualification process: 50

Attention! A candidate’s score below the required qualification threshold in stage 1, will result in 0 (zero) points from the entire qualification procedure.

Stage 2: entrance examination testing the knowledge or special aptitude required for admission to a relevant field of study

The number of points possible to obtain: 100

Qualification threshold: 50

Who is this exam for?: The examination is intended for foreign candidates holding a secondary school leaving certificate obtained outside the EU, EFTA, OECD, or countries covered by international agreements.

Date of this exam: 15th of July, 2025

Form of this exam: A written test in English conducted on the Kampus platform, consisting of 50 single-choice questions. The questions cover topics from the following subjects: geography, history, history of art, and philosophy – in accordance with the programme's requirements.

Scope of assessed competences: The exam is designed to assess general knowledge in the humanities and social sciences acquired during secondary education, necessary for undertaking first-cycle studies in Archaeology (Studies in English).

Scoring system:

• Maximum number of points: 100 points (2 points for each correct answer)
• Minimum score required to pass the exam: 50 points

Attention! The final qualification result is the arithmetic average of the results from both stages of the qualification procedure. Qualification threshold: 50

Checking Candidates' competence to undertake studies conducted in the English language 

Candidates are obliged to hold one of the documents accepted by the University of Warsaw, certifying their competence in the English language at least at the B2 level.

Information on documents certifying knowledge of the English language. >> Check! <<

Foreigners with foreign diploma from outside of EU/EFTA/OECD/international agreements

Information on requirements concerning confirmation of the English language proficiency at a level of at least B2 is available here

Attention! The faculty does not plan to conduct an exam verifying the knowledge of the English language.

Foreigners (does not apply to citizens of EU/EFTA) with foreign diploma from EU/EFTA/OECD/international agreements

Information on requirements concerning confirmation of the English language proficiency at a level of at least B2 is available here

Attention! The faculty does not plan to conduct an exam verifying the knowledge of the English language.

Deadlines

Announcement of results: 22nd of July, 2025

Reception of documents: 

• I round: 23rd-25th of July, 2025
• II round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during I round): 28th-29th of July, 2025
• III round (in case of not fulfilling the limit during II round): 30th-31st of July, 2025
• additional rounds will be announced in case of not fulfilling the limits

Payments

Application fee

Student's ID payment (ELS)

The studies are payable - tuition fees

Required documents

List of required documents submitted by candidates qualified for studies

Additionally a health certificate is required.

Additional information

Find us on the map: Faculty of Archaeology