Study in Poland Without IELTS: Accepted Tests & the MOI Route

What English Level Does Poland Actually Require?

Poland’s national study portal (study.gov.pl, run by NAWA) does not publish a single national English threshold — each institution sets its own. However, both the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University, which together cover the widest range of English-taught programmes in Poland, use the same B2 baseline for both Bachelor and Master entry to English-medium courses.

B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) corresponds to what is often described as “upper-intermediate” — competent in complex texts and discussions, but not yet at the full-fluency C1/C2 level.

In practical test terms, B2 means:

Source: University of Warsaw admissions page and Jagiellonian University admissions page, confirmed June 2026. Check your specific programme — some require higher thresholds.

⚠️ Programme-specific bars: English-taught Psychology at the University of Warsaw is cited in university guidance as requiring a higher English level (around IELTS 6.5 — confirm the current figure directly on the programme’s admissions page). Polish-taught Medicine at Jagiellonian requires Polish C1, not an English test. Always check the requirement for the specific programme you are applying to, not just the general institutional baseline.

Which Tests Work Instead of IELTS?

If you have a TOEFL, PTE, or TOEIC result that meets the thresholds above, it is directly accepted at Poland’s major universities with English-taught programmes. There is no requirement to additionally hold IELTS.

TOEFL iBT is widely recognised globally and has an extensive African testing network. The 72 iBT threshold is broadly aligned with IELTS 5.5 — both represent B2.

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) is computer-delivered and sometimes offers faster results than IELTS or TOEFL. The 59 threshold is the B2 equivalent.

TOEIC is primarily an occupational English test but is accepted at UW with the score breakdown above (785 L&R combined, 150 Speaking, 160 Writing). It is less widely accepted at programme level than IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE — verify on your specific programme page.

Cambridge certificates at the B2 First level and above are accepted at UW. The C1 Advanced (CAE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE) are naturally also accepted because they are at a higher level.

All of these are accepted without needing to convert or crosswalk scores. Present the result certificate directly; the university admissions office processes it against its threshold.

The Medium-of-Instruction (MOI) Route

For African students from countries where English is the official language of education — including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa — there is a potential route to bypass the language test entirely: the MOI letter (also called a medium-of-instruction letter or language of instruction certificate).

The principle is simple: if your secondary school or university explicitly taught in English and your certificate or transcript says so, that is taken as evidence of B2-level competence.

When it works:

• Your secondary school certificate, transcript, or an official letter from the institution explicitly states that English was the medium of instruction.
• Your prior degree (for Master’s applicants) confirms on the diploma supplement that the programme was delivered in English.
• An IB diploma at the Primary Language level, or an EB diploma as L1 or L2.

When it does not work:

The University of Warsaw is explicit on this point: the MOI waiver does not apply automatically merely because English is an official language of your country. A student from Nigeria, Ghana, or Kenya cannot simply state “English is the national language” and expect a waiver — the specific document must confirm English as the medium of instruction.

Additionally, under the Act of 4 April 2025 — part of Poland’s visa-integrity legislative package — citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and a defined group of treaty states face narrower automatic MOI waivers and extra recruitment requirements. The University of Warsaw’s language-competence page (updated in 2026 to reflect this law) confirms that numeric test thresholds are unchanged, but the scope of MOI exemptions has been narrowed for citizens of “other countries,” which includes most African nationalities.

What this means in practice: an MOI letter from a recognised English-medium institution is still valid evidence, but the admissions committee has more latitude than before to request a test result even when an MOI letter is submitted. If your school’s MOI letter is strong — letterheaded, signed, cross-referenced to your certificate, and from an institution the admissions committee will recognise — it may well be accepted without question. If there is any doubt about the document’s clarity or the institution’s recognition, IELTS 5.5 is more reliable.

Which African Students Are Best Placed for an MOI Waiver?

Students who sat the International Baccalaureate (IB) as their primary qualification are in the clearest position: the IB is an internationally standardised curriculum that Polish universities recognise explicitly, and if the primary language is English, the waiver typically applies without further question.

Students who completed their entire secondary schooling at schools with explicitly English-medium instruction — not dual-language, not “English is a subject,” but English as the teaching language — and can produce a certificate or letter that says so clearly are also well-positioned.

Students relying on the argument that “everything in my country is taught in English anyway” are in a weaker position after the 2025 law change. The committee can and may ask for a test result.

For Master’s applicants from African universities: if your first degree was delivered in English and your diploma supplement confirms this, you are typically eligible for the MOI waiver on a prior-degree basis at both UW and Jagiellonian.

Is IELTS Still the Safer Choice?

Yes — and not because it is required. IELTS 5.5 is a straightforward B2 result that no Polish admissions committee will question. If you already have it, there is no reason not to use it. If you are planning your application and have the time and resources to sit a test, IELTS 5.5 is the lowest-risk route because:

• It is accepted at all English-taught programmes in Poland at the B2 level or above.
• It removes any ambiguity about the MOI waiver’s application under the 2025 law.
• It is a globally portable result that will serve you in other applications as well.
• IELTS 5.5 is a modest threshold — it is one of the lower scores in common use for university admissions in Europe. Most well-prepared African students from English-medium schools score at this level or above.

If taking IELTS is not feasible (cost, test-centre availability, or timing), TOEFL iBT 72 and PTE Academic 59 are equally valid and have extensive global test-centre networks. A well-documented MOI letter from a recognised institution remains a valid route but carries somewhat more risk of a follow-up request under the 2025 rules.

Practical Steps: How to Prepare Your Language Proof

1. Identify the threshold for your specific programme — not just the university’s baseline. Check the programme’s own admissions page on the university website.

2. If you have a test result: ensure it is within its validity period (IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE results are typically valid for two years) and meets the programme-specific minimum.

3. If you are pursuing the MOI route: obtain a letter from your secondary school or university on official headed paper, signed by the principal or registrar, stating explicitly that the medium of instruction was English. For a prior degree, request a diploma supplement that confirms English medium.

4. IB/EB holders: include a copy of your diploma with the language designation clearly visible — this is typically sufficient without further documentation.

5. For Medicine: check separately. English-taught Medicine at most Polish universities has its own admissions process including entrance exams (BMAT, MCAT, GAMSAT, or UCAT at the Medical University of Warsaw, for example). The English threshold applies, but the admissions process is not the same as for Arts or Business.

6. Keep copies of all language documents in both your university application and your visa application file. Language proof is required at the university admissions stage and may also be reviewed as part of the visa application.

How World Study Africa Helps

World Study Africa advises African students on whether their English documentation is likely to be accepted at their chosen Polish university — and helps identify whether an MOI letter, a Cambridge certificate, or IELTS is the right approach for their specific situation. Our core service is free; we receive a commission from universities when a student enrols.

Speak to an adviser on WhatsApp or run the eligibility checker to get a personalised view of your language-proof options.

See the full language requirements guide at /education/poland/without-ielts/.

Sources

• University of Warsaw — language competence requirements, MOI waiver rules, 2025 Act note: https://rekrutacja.uw.edu.pl/en/language-competence/
• Jagiellonian University — English requirements, B2 baseline, Cambridge, MOI, prior-degree waiver: https://welcome.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/admission/knowledge-of-language
• NAWA study.gov.pl — admission requirements overview: https://study.gov.pl/admission-requirements
• our Poland destination research