RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN CREDENTIALS IN POLAND
SCHOOL CERTIFICATES
According to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Science on the Nostrification of School Certificates and Maturity Certificates Obtained Abroad (April 6, 2006) any school certificate obtained abroad has to be
legalized in the country in which it was issued and then presented to the local educational authority (kuratorium oświaty) in Poland in order to be nostrified (recognised).
The above does not apply to the certificates issued in the
countries which have signed a bilateral agreement on the recognition of
educational credentials with Poland. The information on bilateral agreements can
be found in the section Legal frames.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Foreign credentials which give access to higher education abroad are recognised as such in Poland similarly to other school certificates. However they must contain a clause confirming
that their holders have access to higher education institutions in their own countries. In case
the certificate does not include such a clause, the authorities of the school issuing the certificate may give a separate note confirming this fact.
As in case of other school certificates, the credentials issued in the countries with which Poland has signed an agreement on the recognition of qualifications need not to be presented to Polish local educational authorities to be nostrified.
Different rules apply to recognition of certificates issued in the
countries which have signed a bilateral agreement on the recognition of
educational credentials with Poland. The information on bilateral agreements can
be found in the section Legal frames.
HIGHER EDUCATION DIPLOMAS
The holders of foreign higher education diplomas have to apply to the council of faculty (or other basic
organizational unit of a Polish higher education institution).
The higher education institution they apply to must be chosen among those which
have right to award the academic degree of doktor of a given field of science.
Different rules apply to the higher education credentials issued in the
countries which have signed a bilateral agreement on recognition of
educational credentials with Poland. The information on bilateral agreements can
be found in the section Legal frames.
ACADEMIC DEGREES
Foreign scientific degrees are recognised in Poland on the basis of the Regulation of the Minister
of National Education and Sport on the nostrification of of academic degrees and degrees in the scope of art obtained abroad (June 3, 2005) - in force since 29th June
2005. The procedure of recognition is similar to that of higher education diplomas. Bodies which
can nostrify academic degrees are the councils of faculties which are entitled to
award the degree of doktor habilitowany.
Different rules of recognition apply to the academic degrees issued in the
countries which have signed a bilateral agreement on the recognition of
educational credentials with Poland. The information on bilateral agreements can
be found in the section Legal frames.
