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The medical college of Poland's oldest university, founded in 1364, teaching medicine in English in Kraków with a QS-world-ranked, EU-recognised degree.
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Poland
Country
Kraków
City
#303 in the world (QS 2026)
Ranking
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The arcaded courtyard of Collegium Maius, the oldest building of Jagiellonian University
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Recognition & Prestige
Jagiellonian University is one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities, ranked #303 in the world by QS in 2026 and #1 in Poland for Medicine. Its medical degree is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and automatically recognised across the European Union.
#303
QS World University Rankings 2026 (Jagiellonian University)
#1
in Poland for Medicine (QS by Subject)
EU-wide
degree recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC
The medical degree is recognised internationally. Jagiellonian University Medical College is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), accredited by the Polish Accreditation Commission (PKA), and its lekarz (physician) degree is automatically recognised across the EU and EEA; graduates are ECFMG-eligible for the USMLE, and Indian graduates can qualify for practice in India through the NMC screening/exit examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT).
NMC/MCI
Graduates eligible for Indian licensing via the NMC screening examination (FMGE/NExT)
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; graduates eligible for ECFMG certification and the USMLE
PKA / WFME
Accredited by the Polish Accreditation Commission (PKA) and listed via the WFME/FAIMER directory
EU
Degree automatically recognised across the EU and EEA under Directive 2005/36/EC
Complete Information About Jagiellonian University Medical College
Get complete information about Jagiellonian University Medical College, including tuition, living costs, admission, EU recognition and the FMGE route for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Jagiellonian University Medical College offers a QS-world-ranked, English-taught medical degree with EU recognition and a strong North American connection, in one of Europe's most beautiful and historic cities.
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Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission to the 6-year English MD at Jagiellonian University Medical College is based on the School of Medicine in English entrance examination, a 100-question multiple-choice test in biology, chemistry and reasoning, with no separate interview for the 6-year track. Indian students apply online to the School of Medicine in English and should hold a valid NEET qualification for future licensing in India.
Online applications for the 2026 intake open on the School of Medicine in English admissions portal.
Indian applicants should hold a valid NEET-UG qualification, required by India's NMC for licensing after a foreign medical degree.
Applicants sit the School of Medicine in English entrance exam — 100 multiple-choice questions in biology, chemistry and reasoning/critical thinking; there is no interview for the 6-year MD.
Successful applicants receive an offer and confirm their place per the admissions instructions, paying the required fees to reserve their seat.
Students apply for the Polish (EU) student visa and residence documents, arrange insurance, and prepare to travel to Kraków.
The academic year begins on 1 October at the Kraków campus.
Applicants must have completed Class 12 (or equivalent secondary education) with Biology, Chemistry and Physics and strong science grades. For Indian students, the NMC requires a minimum aggregate of 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (40% for reserved categories) plus English, and a valid NEET qualification, for licensing in India.
Subjects:
Candidates should be at least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year, in line with NMC rules for studying medicine abroad.
Selection to the 6-year MD is by the entrance examination. Indian students also need a valid NEET result for future Indian licensing. Applications are made directly to the School of Medicine in English.
Entrance Examination
A 100-question multiple-choice test in biology, chemistry and reasoning/critical thinking; admission to the 6-year track is based on this exam, with no interview.
English Proficiency
The programme is taught entirely in English; applicants who did not study in English provide evidence of English proficiency (for example IELTS/TOEFL) as required by the university.
Admission to the 6-year MD is decided by the School of Medicine in English entrance exam in biology, chemistry and reasoning.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Entrance exam | 100 multiple-choice questions in Biology, Chemistry and reasoning/critical thinking |
| Interview | None for the 6-year MD track |
| NEET (Indian students) | Valid NEET-UG qualification for future licensing in India |
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
Jagiellonian University Medical College teaches a six-year, 360-ECTS MD that moves from basic sciences to full clinical training in the university's teaching hospitals, with a summer clinical clerkship after most years, taught in English and leading to the Polish lekarz (physician) degree, equivalent to an MBBS.
Total Duration:
6 Years (360 ECTS)
Degree:
MD / lekarz (physician — equivalent to MBBS)
Years 1–2
The first two years cover the basic medical sciences with early clinical-skills training, ending each year with a summer clinical clerkship, moving from the healthy body to disease mechanisms:
Years 3–4
The middle years shift to clinical practice with bedside teaching in the university hospitals across the core disciplines, in small groups working with patients, plus summer clerkships:
Years 5–6
The senior years integrate history-taking, examination, laboratory and imaging into diagnosis and treatment, and the final year is spent almost entirely in clinical rotations, with electives available in the US, Canada and the EU:
Clinical training takes place in Jagiellonian University Medical College's teaching hospitals, centred on the University Hospital in Kraków-Prokocim (opened 2019, one of the largest and most modern in Poland) and the University Children's Hospital of Kraków, with elective rotations abroad in the final year. An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | Basic sciences, clinical skills and a summer clinical clerkship each year |
| Years 3–4 | Bedside teaching in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics |
| Years 5–6 | Advanced clinical training and a final clinical year, with elective rotations in the US, Canada or the EU |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Global Exchange
As a full EU university, Jagiellonian University Medical College runs an extensive Erasmus+ programme, letting medical students spend a semester or clinical placement at leading universities across Europe with EU funding. A selection of the Faculty of Medicine partners:
| Country | Erasmus+ Partner Universities |
|---|---|
| Germany | Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin; LMU Munich; TU Munich; University of Bonn; University of Cologne; University of Würzburg; University of Münster; Goethe University Frankfurt; Friedrich Schiller University Jena |
| Austria | Medical University of Vienna; Medical University of Graz |
| Italy | Sapienza University of Rome; University of Padua; University of Pavia; University of Florence; University of Cagliari; Tor Vergata University of Rome |
| France | University of Bordeaux; University of Lille; University of Strasbourg |
| Spain | University of Granada; University of Oviedo; University of Santiago de Compostela; University of Lleida |
| Switzerland / Portugal | University of Lausanne; University of Porto |
| Central Europe | Charles University, Prague (3rd Faculty of Medicine); Comenius University Bratislava; University of Ljubljana; University of Pécs; University of Split |
Explore Your Erasmus+ Options
The table above highlights selected Erasmus+ partner universities of Jagiellonian University Medical College.
Legacy
Jagiellonian University has shaped science and medicine for more than six centuries, from the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus to pioneers of physiology, surgery and chemistry.
A professor of physiology at Jagiellonian University who, in 1895, co-discovered and isolated adrenaline (epinephrine), one of the most important hormones in medicine. He was also a pioneer of electroencephalography and helped establish experimental physiology in Poland.
A Jagiellonian University pathologist who first described the specialised macrophage cells of the liver, known today as Browicz–Kupffer cells, and carried out early work identifying the bacterium responsible for typhoid fever, advancing both pathology and microbiology.
A professor of internal medicine at Jagiellonian University and a founder of modern balneology. A reformer of clinical medicine who insisted on observation over unproven treatments, he later served as Rector of the university and Mayor of Kraków.
A surgeon associated with the Kraków medical faculty who was among the first in the world to perform a gastrectomy for peptic ulcer and for pyloric cancer, pioneering modern gastrointestinal surgery and co-founding the Polish surgical tradition.
Jagiellonian University scientists who, in 1883, became the first in the world to liquefy oxygen and nitrogen from air in a stable state — founding low-temperature physics and underpinning technologies from medical oxygen supply to cryopreservation used in hospitals today.
A pioneering surgeon connected with the Kraków school who introduced major advances in abdominal, thoracic and endoscopic surgery, including early surgical endoscopy and the use of sterile gloves and masks in the operating theatre.
Jagiellonian University's wider legacy includes Nicolaus Copernicus, who studied astronomy and the liberal arts here before revolutionising our understanding of the solar system, and Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II. Neither studied medicine, but both reflect the university's extraordinary intellectual heritage.
Jagiellonian University is led by Rector Professor Piotr Jedynak, with Professor Maciej Małecki as Vice-Rector for the Medical College and Professor Przemko Kwinta as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; the School of Medicine in English is led by Vice-Dean Professor Agata Ptak-Belowska. Teaching is delivered by experienced physicians, surgeons and scientists in the University Hospital and University Children's Hospital.
Experienced physicians and surgeons
More than 650 years of academic heritage
Internationally published researchers
One of Poland's newest, largest teaching hospitals
30+ years of English-language teaching
Strong US residency-match support
Clinical supervision during rotations
International student community
About University
Get all information about Jagiellonian University Medical College in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at Jagiellonian University Medical College.
Role in medicine
Get all information about Jagiellonian University Medical College in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at Jagiellonian University Medical College.
Cost of living
Kraków is a beautiful, historic EU city that is more affordable than Warsaw and much cheaper than Western Europe. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an Indian student.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (dormitory / shared flat) | ₹25,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Food | ₹14,000 – ₹20,000 |
| Transportation | ₹1,500 – ₹2,000 |
| Other Expenses (Utilities, Internet, Leisure) | ₹9,000 – ₹15,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹50,000 – ₹75,000
Housing
Jagiellonian University offers student dormitories in Kraków, and many international students also rent private flats in the city, which is compact, historic and easy to get around.
Jagiellonian University runs student dormitories (Domy Studenckie) in Kraków, giving international students secure, affordable housing within reach of the medical campus and teaching hospitals.
Dormitory rooms are furnished, usually single or twin rooms in shared units with kitchens and common areas, internet and laundry, and are among the most economical housing in the city.
University dormitory places are cheaper than private rent, and a private or shared room in the city typically costs around PLN 1,200–1,700 per month (roughly ₹25,000–₹40,000).
First-year international students are encouraged to apply for a dormitory place on arrival, which keeps them close to fellow students and eases the move to a new country.
Dormitory places are requested through the university's student housing service after admission; because demand is high, students should apply for a room as soon as they accept their offer.
Students who prefer more comfort or independence can choose privately operated student residences, or rent or share a private flat. Both options cost noticeably more than the university halls, and students organise this independently as the university does not arrange private housing.
Kraków has an efficient tram and bus network with discounted student passes, and its historic centre is compact and walkable, so students can live across the city and reach the campus easily.
Kraków has cold, snowy winters, so students should budget for warm clothing and heating, a real adjustment for students from most parts of India.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian and vegetarian food is easily available in restaurants, grocery stores and student kitchens across Kraków, a major tourist city with a strong food scene.
Kraków is famous for its cheap and cheerful 'milk bar' (bar mleczny) canteens and its huge student food scene, with vegetarian and vegan options in most places, so eating out is affordable for students.
Location
Jagiellonian University Medical College (Collegium Medicum), św. Anny 12, 31-008 Kraków, Poland (medical teaching and the University Hospital are centred on the Prokocim campus, ul. Kopernika / ul. Jakubowskiego)
Nearest Airport
Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK), about 15–20 km from the city; served from India via one-stop connections through Gulf and European hubs
Local Transport
Kraków has an extensive tram and bus network with discounted student passes, and the historic centre and campuses are well connected across the compact city
Your Roadmap to Success
Graduates earn the Polish lekarz (physician) degree, equivalent to an MBBS. Because it is listed in EU Directive 2005/36/EC, the degree is automatically recognised across all EU and EEA member states, so graduates can seek to practise throughout Europe without a further recognition examination.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after graduating from Jagiellonian University Medical College, Indian students follow the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Because the college is WDOMS-listed and teaches an English-medium six-year programme, it meets the NMC's core criteria, and students should qualify NEET-UG before joining.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. At present this is the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which the NMC plans to replace with the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete the required one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, which builds hands-on experience in Indian clinical settings under the NMC's framework.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council. Once registered, the graduate holds a full licence to practise medicine in India.
Student Life Style
Life at Jagiellonian University Medical College combines a demanding English-taught medical course with life in Kraków, one of Europe's most beautiful and student-friendly cities, and a truly international student community.
A historic baroque church and collegium building of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Wawel Royal Castle and cathedral overlooking the Vistula river in Kraków
The historic old-town skyline of Kraków, Poland
Scholarship & Financial
Honest note first: fee-paying international medicine at Jagiellonian University Medical College has limited scholarship support, so families should plan as fully self-funded, though a few routes exist.
The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) runs Polish government scholarship programmes for international students and researchers. These are competitive and mostly aimed at specific countries, agreements and postgraduate study rather than fee-paying English-programme MD students, but they are the main national scheme to explore.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at Jagiellonian University Medical College.
4.6
128 reviews
Compare
Compare Jagiellonian University Medical College with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Jagiellonian University Medical College vs CMC Vellore
| University | Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeKraków, Poland | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public | Private (minority) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 6 years (MD / lekarz) | 5.5 years (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹14.5 lakh (€16,000) | ~₹3–4 lakh |
| Admission | Entrance exam (biology, chemistry, reasoning) | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | WDOMS; EU-wide (Directive 2005/36/EC); NMC-eligible via FMGE/NExT | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | QS World #303 (2026); #1 in Poland for Medicine | Not in QS top 500 |
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