Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Poland

Vocational education in Poland is organised mainly within the school system. Teenagers who finish primary school can choose a 5-year technical secondary school (technikum) or a 3-year stage I sectoral vocational school (szkoła branżowa I stopnia). For adults who already have a secondary education, the main route is the post-secondary school (szkoła policealna), which trains for a specific occupation and ends with a state vocational exam. These schools, together with private art and design schools and short vocational courses, are what international students usually mean by vocational schools in Poland.

According to Eurydice, the European network on education systems, Poland had 1,200 post-secondary schools with 245,900 learners in the 2024/25 school year. Most of them (79.5%) were run by private bodies, and most are located in bigger cities and towns.

How vocational training works

Training is based on a national classification of occupations, which covers over 230 occupations and around 280 qualifications in 32 sectors. Since a 1999 reform, vocational exams are external state exams. Post-secondary schools lead to a vocational diploma once learners pass the exams for their occupation; the diploma corresponds to level IV or V of the Polish Qualifications Framework.

• Duration: up to 2.5 years at a post-secondary school
• Modes of study: full-time day programmes, other full-time programmes, or part-time programmes with classes on two days every two weeks
• Calendar: the school year starts on the first working day of September, but schools for adults may also start in February
• Vocational qualification courses: shorter courses for adults that prepare for the exam in a given occupation

At tertiary level, Poland also has vocational higher education institutions (uczelnia zawodowa), such as the state higher schools of professional education. They offer practical bachelor's and master's programmes, but unlike universities they cannot award doctorates.

Admission for international students

Post-secondary schools mainly admit applicants who have completed secondary education, and most ask only for a secondary school leaving certificate, not the Matura (maturity certificate). Public schools follow the national admission rules; non-public schools set their own in their statutes. Most programmes are taught in Polish, so a good command of the language is usually needed, unless a school offers a course in English.

As a general rule, students from outside the EU need a visa to enter Poland and, for a longer stay, a temporary residence permit from the local Voivodship Office. Before enrolling, check with the school that its programme allows you to apply for a visa.

Costs and funding

Fees at private schools are set by each school. As an example, the Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design charges 990 euros per semester for its English-taught programmes to EU citizens and 1,600 euros per semester to students from outside the EU, plus a registration fee of 150 or 250 euros (2026-27 admissions). The school states that its best students can apply for a scholarship.

How to choose a vocational school

• Qualification: a state vocational diploma after the external exam, or a school's own certificate
• Language of instruction: Polish or English
• Mode of study: full-time or part-time, and whether it allows you to obtain a visa
• Practical training: workshops, studios and contacts with employers
• Location and cost of living in the city

Our directory lists one vocational school in Poland, the Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design (Krakowskie Szkoły Artystyczne, KSA) in Kraków. It was founded in 1989 by Joanna and Jerzy Gaweł and teaches fashion design, creative photography, interior design, acting, choreography, directing, visual merchandising and garment construction. Two full-time diploma programmes are taught entirely in English: the International School of Fashion Design and the School of Creative Photography. Applications are accepted all year; there are no entrance exams, and places go in order of application. Applicants need a secondary school certificate, but not the Matura.

Frequently asked questions

What is a post-secondary school in Poland?

A post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) trains adults who have finished secondary school for a specific occupation. Programmes last up to 2.5 years and end with a state vocational exam.

Can I study a vocational course in Poland in English?

Most vocational programmes are taught in Polish. Some private schools offer English-taught programmes, such as the fashion design and photography programmes of the Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design.

Do I need the Matura to enter a post-secondary school?

Usually not. Most post-secondary schools ask only for a secondary school leaving certificate.

Do I need a visa for a vocational course in Poland?

Students from outside the EU generally need a visa and then a temporary residence permit. EU citizens only need a valid ID and register their stay.