Concerns Over Supplementary Exams in Polish University Admissions — “There Is Hope”

As previously reported by Kurier Wileński, some Polish universities do not recognize the results of the Polish language Matura exam taken in Lithuania. This means that Lithuanian graduates are obliged to take additional Polish language exams in Poland at the B1 and B2 levels. The Forum of Parents of Polish Schools in the Šalčininkai District, led by President Renata Cytacka, is actively working to resolve this issue through various efforts. In an interview with Kurier Wileński, Renata Cytacka shares what has already been accomplished.

Challenges in Applying to Polish Universities

“Before the meeting with Minister Andrzej Szeptycki from Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education regarding the requirement to take additional Polish language exams, dozens of letters were sent to various institutions,” said Renata Cytacka. “In these letters, on behalf of the Forum of Parents of Polish Schools in the Šalčininkai District, we highlighted the issue of recognizing our Polish Matura exam during university admissions in Poland. During the meeting, I received assurance from the minister that new legal regulations would come into force on July 1 this year, based on the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education on the Types of Documents Confirming Proficiency in the Language of Instruction at University Level. Unfortunately, our gymnasiums were not included in the regulation,” she explained.

Minister Szeptycki has since issued a statement to universities on the matter, which has already been published on the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Polish Universities Operate Autonomously

“In Poland, universities operate independently and have their own autonomy. That’s precisely where the lack of legal regulation lies — something we, as a forum of parents, have been advocating for through the ministry,” said Renata Cytacka. “We requested that the regulation be amended to legally recognize our gymnasiums as institutions authorized to certify proficiency in the Polish language. During my meeting with Minister Szeptycki, I was assured that work is underway to amend the regulation, with the changes expected to come into force in early July.’’

The president of the Forum of Parents of Polish Schools in the Šalčininkai District also received a letter from Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, clarifying that — based on a legal analysis and the provisions of the Polish Language Act — Matura certificates (whether obtained in Poland or abroad) cannot be formally included in the regulation.

Letter from Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education

“In accordance with the provisions of the Polish Language Act, individuals who have completed a school operating within the education system of another country that offers instruction in the Polish language and who have obtained a secondary education are considered to possess Polish language proficiency at the B1 level,” the ministry stated in an official letter. “For this reason, a diploma from such a school cannot be included in the draft regulation, which — under the law — is intended to define the types of documents confirming proficiency in the language of instruction at a level no lower than B2.”

The letter also emphasized that, under the new regulations, the requirement to demonstrate at least B2-level proficiency applies to foreign nationals who are not citizens of the European Union. Therefore, this does not apply to Poles living in Lithuania.

Minister Szeptycki has also issued a letter to university rectors recommending that, when admitting EU citizens of Polish origin — particularly from Lithuania, Latvia, or France — universities should refrain from requiring additional certification of Polish language proficiency if the candidate’s Matura certificate includes a grade in Polish.

Hope That the Minister’s Recommendation Will Be Taken Into Account

“We now hope that university authorities in Poland will take this into consideration,” said Renata Cytacka. “Through Kurier Wileński, I’d like to highlight the fact that there is a clear possibility here: if our graduates have completed Polish schools and hold a Polish language Matura certificate, they should not face issues proving their proficiency in the Polish language. It’s worth trying to refer to the minister’s letter, which I received, when dealing with university admissions offices.”

Another ongoing challenge, which remains unresolved, is the mismatch between university admission deadlines in Poland and the issuance of Matura certificates in Lithuania. Most Polish universities close their admissions by July 12, while Lithuanian graduates receive their final exam certificates only on July 15, so the system still needs a workaround.

Secure the Necessary Documents in Advance

“This year, the Lithuanian National Agency for Education proposes a more flexible solution — instead of having school principals confirm the final Matura results for all graduates at once, they may now do so selectively and earlier,” explains Renata Cytacka, president of the Forum of Parents of Polish Schools in the Šalčininkai District. “If the approved Matura scores are already available from the National Agency for Education, an individual certificate can be issued through the system and handed to the graduate planning to study abroad.

The graduate should then go to a notary. The notary will accept an application and must forward it to the school for verification that the Matura certificate is valid. So first, the student contacts the school principal, retrieves their Matura certificate from the system, and goes to the notary. There, they submit an application requesting an apostille on their certificate. The apostille must also be translated into Polish by a certified translator,” Cytacka advises.

She also emphasizes the importance of paying close attention to the formal admission requirements of each university when choosing where to apply.

“I would also recommend that applicants submit a transcript of final grades from all subjects. Some universities accept the Karta Polaka (Polish Card), which confirms not only Polish heritage but also proficiency in the Polish language. The most important thing is to carefully read the specific admission criteria. These are available on the official websites of individual universities, typically under a tab labeled ‘foreign applicant.’ As unfortunate as it may seem, our Polish youth from Lithuania applying to Polish universities are still treated as foreigners,” notes Cytacka.

She adds that candidates should create a personal account in a university’s online candidate registration system (IRK system) and upload documents there in the order they are received.

“One more tip — if the application deadline is July 12, I suggest writing to the university’s Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and requesting conditional admission, pledging to submit the Matura certificate as soon as it becomes available. The final decision rests with the Vice-Rector, but we’ve received reports from candidates that this approach is being accepted. As members of the Forum of Parents of Polish Schools, we provide guidance and advice on what steps can be taken. We genuinely care about helping as many young Poles in Lithuania as possible to pursue higher education,” the Forum president concluded.