The Jagiellonian University is a public research university in Kraków, founded on 12 May 1364 by King Casimir the Great.[1] It had 37,569 students in 2025/26 and 16 faculties.[2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is 329th in the world (tied), the second-highest Polish university.[3]
All international students pay tuition: for studies in English the university’s fee page names amounts from PLN 16,000 to EUR 15,500 for the first year, depending on the programme.[4] English-taught programmes require English at level B2; programmes in Polish require Polish at level B2, and the Faculty of Medicine requires Polish at C1.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Uniwersytet Jagielloński |
| Location | Kraków, Poland (main address ul. Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków)[6] |
| Type | Public research university[7] |
| Founded | 12 May 1364 by Casimir the Great as the Studium Generale; re-founded 26 July 1400 by Władysław Jagiełło; named Jagiellonian University in 1817[1] |
| Students | 37,569 in the 2025/26 academic year[2] |
| Staff | 9,266 (full-time equivalents, including the Medical College), of them 5,001 academic teachers; as of 31 December 2025[2] |
| Faculties | 16[2] |
| Medical school | Collegium Medicum (Medical College); School of Medicine in English[8] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 329th (tied)[3] |
| Language of study | Polish or English; level B2 required in the language of instruction (Faculty of Medicine: Polish C1)[5] |
| Tuition | All international students pay; English-taught first year from PLN 16,000 to EUR 15,500 depending on programme (academic year not stated)[4] |
| Application system | Online recruitment system IRK (irk.uj.edu.pl)[8] |
| Official website | en.uj.edu.pl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 10 November 2026.
About the Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was founded on 12 May 1364 by King Casimir the Great as the Studium Generale and ceased to exist after his death. It was re-founded on 26 July 1400 by King Władysław Jagiełło, helped by the estate that Queen Jadwiga left to it in her will. It acquired its modern name in 1817.[1]
In 2025/26 it had 37,569 students and 16 faculties, including the Medical College (Collegium Medicum). Its staff numbered 9,266 full-time equivalents at the end of 2025, of whom 5,001 were academic teachers.[2] Wikipedia gives an older student count (33,549 in December 2023), so we use the university’s own, more recent figure.[7] Its main address is ul. Gołębia 24 in Kraków.[6]
How is the Jagiellonian University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the Jagiellonian University is 329th in the world (tied). In Poland only the University of Warsaw (289th) ranks higher; the Warsaw University of Technology follows at 504th.[3][9]
The university’s rankings page also lists other results: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 501–600, the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) 501–600, CWUR 2026 rank 396 (the highest in Poland) and U.S. News Best Global Universities rank 394. It reports QS subject rankings in 27 disciplines.[10] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. See all Polish universities on our Poland page.
What can you study at the Jagiellonian University?
The university has 16 faculties, including the Medical College.[2] Faculties named on its English home page include Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science; Biology; Philology; International and Political Studies; Philosophy; and Polish Studies, as well as the Medical College and the Institute of Oriental Studies.[6]
Programmes taught in foreign languages are offered at first-cycle (bachelor’s), second-cycle (master’s) and long-cycle level, from the humanities and social sciences to the exact, natural and medical sciences.[6] The pages we read do not give a total number of English-taught programmes; the full offer is listed at studia.uj.edu.pl.[8] The School of Medicine in English runs at medschool.uj.edu.pl.[8]
How much does the Jagiellonian University cost?
All international students pay tuition for first-cycle, second-cycle and long-cycle studies, and each signs a declaration of payment at enrolment. The amounts are set each academic year in a Rector’s order; the fee page refers to Order no. 65 of 18 June 2024.[4]
| Studies | Fee named on the university’s page |
|---|---|
| In English, lowest example (Environmental Protection and Management) | PLN 16,000 (first year) |
| In English, highest example (MD programme in English) | EUR 15,500 (first year) |
| In Polish | Programme-specific; shown in the recruitment system under “About studies” |
The page does not name the academic year for these amounts. It says English-taught studies are paid per semester but gives the figures for the first year without stating whether they are annual or per semester, so confirm the amount for your programme in the recruitment system.[4] The two currencies in the range are as the page prints them.[4]
Who studies free?
Full-time studies in Polish are free of charge for holders of certain documents, among them EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, holders of a Pole’s Card, permanent residents, refugees and people under temporary or subsidiary protection, and holders of a C1 Polish certificate. You must tick the free-of-charge option during admission to claim it.[4] Holders of a NAWA scholarship are exempt from the fees for studies in English; if you declare that you are applying for a NAWA scholarship and do not receive it, you pay the fees.[4]
Payment
Full-time Polish-language studies are paid in two semester instalments and English-language studies per semester. The first instalment is due within 7 days of enrolment.[4] The page mentions no registration or application fee. For living costs in Kraków, see our Poland guide.
How do you apply to the Jagiellonian University?
International candidates apply through the university’s online recruitment system IRK at irk.uj.edu.pl. The admission page for international candidates is at welcome.uj.edu.pl; Polish citizens use a separate site.[8]
- Prepare your application and register online.[11]
- Confirm your registration.[11]
- Take the entrance exam, which is required for some programmes only.[11]
- Check the results and enrol.[11]
The language rules also require an admission interview: submitting a language certificate does not exempt you from it.[5] We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme; the university publishes an application schedule on its website. Check the timetable of your programme before you start.
Which language level do you need?
For candidates without Polish citizenship the minimum is level B2 (the upper-intermediate level on the European CEFR scale) in the language of instruction. Some programmes add requirements on their recruitment pages. Programmes at the Faculty of Medicine require a Polish certificate of at least C1.[5]
- English (B2 or higher, all four skills): accepted proofs include Cambridge exams (FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC), IELTS at least 5.5 overall, TOEFL iBT at least 72, PTE Academic at least 59, LanguageCert, Trinity and telc certificates, a preparatory course of at least 9 months, the IB Diploma, or a master’s diploma that states the language of instruction.[5]
- Polish (B2): a Polish language certificate under the Act on the Polish Language, an ECL or telc Polish certificate, a 9-month preparatory course, or a diploma from a Polish higher-education institution taught in Polish.[5]
The School of Polish Language and Culture offers Polish courses and a 9-month preparatory course; completing it certifies level B2.[5] A school-leaving or Matura certificate alone does not prove language proficiency for admission.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Jagiellonian University free for international students?
No, with exceptions. All international students pay tuition, apart from groups such as EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, Pole’s Card holders, permanent residents and refugees in full-time Polish-language studies. Studies in English are paid by all students.[4]
How is the Jagiellonian University ranked?
It is 329th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (tied), the second-highest Polish university after the University of Warsaw (289th).[3]
What English level do I need for English-taught programmes?
At least B2 in all four skills, for example IELTS 5.5 overall or TOEFL iBT 72. Some programmes add requirements.[5]
Do I need Polish to study medicine?
More about studying in Poland
- Poland: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Poland
- Adam Mickiewicz University
- AGH University of Krakow
- University of Warsaw
- Warsaw University of Technology
Sources
[1] Jagiellonian University: History (page without a date (footer 2010–2026))
[2] Jagiellonian University: Overview (page without a date; data as of 31 Dec 2025 and academic year 2025/26)
[3] Warsaw University of Technology: WUT in the QS WUR 2027 ranking (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (page dated 25 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[4] Jagiellonian University, Foreign students: Fees (page without a date; refers to changes from 1 Oct 2026)
[5] Jagiellonian University Welcome Centre: Knowledge of language (page without a date; refers to a regulation of 30 Jul 2025)
[6] Jagiellonian University: English home page (page without a date; its admissions banner still refers to 2024/2025)
[7] Wikipedia: Jagiellonian University (type of institution and earlier student count; secondary source)
[8] Jagiellonian University Welcome Centre: Admission for international candidates (page without a date; banner for the 2026/27 academic year)
[9] Leap Scholar: Which university in Poland ranks highest in the QS World University Rankings 2027? (page dated 30 Sep 2026; study-abroad adviser, secondary source)
[10] Jagiellonian University: JU in rankings (page without a date (footer 2010–2026); does not name the QS edition)
[11] Jagiellonian University: How to apply (page without a date (footer 2010–2026))
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.