Poland offers veterinary courses as master’s degree programs called MSc Veterinary. These long-cycle programs are an amalgamation of bachelor’s and master’s degrees together. They are of 5.5 years duration containing 11 semesters. Most Polish veterinary schools teach MSc Veterinary in English. The program leads to a DVM or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After this students have to complete an internship and register with the Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber to obtain a license.
A veterinary degree from Poland is recognized throughout the EU region. Thus Poland makes a great destination to study veterinary for international students. The following piece of information discusses in-depth veterinary medicine in Poland. It contains information about top colleges, tuition fees, admission requirements, scholarships, etc.
Study Veterinary in Poland: Highlights
Before you read the article, kindly go through the following highlights about veterinary studies in Poland.
| Degree offered | MSc Veterinary/DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) |
| Type of degree | Long-cycle master’s degree program |
| Duration of MSc Veterinary | 5.5 years |
| Annual fees for MSc Veterinary | 7,000 to 9,000 USD*/year |
| Medium of teaching | English |
| Accrediting body | European Association of Faculties of Veterinary Medicine (EAEVE) |
| License registration | Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber |
How to Become a Veterinarian in Poland?
- Get admitted to a European Association of Faculties of Veterinary Medicine (EAEVE) accredited MSc Veterinary/DVM program from a Polish university
- Pass all 11 semesters of the MSc Veterinary/DVM program and complete an internship to attain a diploma
- Register with the Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber to obtain a license
- Join the Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences
- Start looking for employment opportunities as a veterinary doctor in Poland or EU
About Veterinary Courses in Poland
The entry-level degree for veterinary schools in Poland is a long-cycle master’s degree: MSc Veterinary/DVM. The duration of the degree is 5.5 years or 11 semesters. The curriculum starts with general and basic subjects like animal anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, etc. Students are then introduced to clinical subjects like veterinary pharmacology, parasitology, surgery of animals, etc. Several practical classes, laboratories, and hours of internships in clinics, food production and safety, and farm entities are held.
During their course, students must complete a mandatory internship of 12-14 weeks. Students can choose to do their internship in their home country or any other country via Erasmus+ programs. After successful graduation, the graduates receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or “lekarz weterynarii“ degree. They have to then register with the Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber to obtain a license to practice. All the programs follow the Polish Qualification Framework and European Qualification Framework.
Top Veterinary Colleges in Poland
Before applying for veterinary schools in Poland, students should make sure that they are recognized and accredited by EAEVE. This ensures that students receive quality education and clinical training to make them competent veterinarians. The following 6 veterinary universities in Poland offer their programs in English.
| University Name | CWUR National Ranking 2022-23 | Degree Offered | Deadlines |
| Jagiellonian University** | 1 | MSc Veterinary | – |
| University of Wroclaw | 8 | DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) | 17 September 2023 |
| Warsaw University of Life Sciences | 21 | MSc Veterinary | June-September |
| University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn | 29 | MSc Veterinary | April-July |
| Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences | 34 | MSc Veterinary | July 1st (winter semester) and December 15th (summer semester) |
| University of Life Sciences of Lublin | NA | DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) | 1 March to 31 June 2023 and 1 July to 15 September 2023 |
**Note: The Jagiellonian University has collaborated with the University of Agriculture in Krakow to form an intercollegiate University Centre for Veterinary Medicine.
Tuition Fees and Cost of Studying Veterinary in Poland
Poland is one of the friendliest and most affordable countries among the EU countries. Therefore many international students prefer to study in Poland. The following table contains a list of tuition fees for all 6 Polish veterinary schools.
| University Name | Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
| University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn | 7,900 |
| Warsaw University of Life Sciences | 9,030 |
| University of Life Sciences of Lublin | 7,203 |
| Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences | 7,996 |
| University of Wroclaw | 7,470 |
| Jagiellonian University | – |
In addition to tuition fees, prospective veterinarians should also consider the cost of living in Poland, which can add up to 4,000-7,000 USD per year. This amount can vary depending on the student’s spending habits and where they are staying. The following categories make up the cost of living in Poland:
| Category | Cost in USD*/year |
| Rent | 1,000 to 1,920 |
| Food | 2,400 |
| Transport | 168 |
| Utilities | 216 to 276 |
| Health insurance | 184 |
| Personal expenses | 1,500 to 2,000 |
Admission Requirements for Veterinary Program in Poland
Some Polish veterinary universities offer admissions on a rolling basis, for example, the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. But most universities accept applications in the fall. Students can apply to each university separately as Poland has no centralized application system. All Polish veterinary schools accept applications online through their website. Students just have to fill out the form and upload relevant documents. Here are some typical admission requirements for Polish veterinary colleges:
- High school or secondary education (12+ in biology and chemistry)
- Official transcripts
- University entrance test or personal interview
- Letter of recommendation
- Motivation letter
- Student visa (we offer visa services to more than 20 countries including Poland)
- Resume
- Proof of English language proficiency (B2 level or IELTS score 5.5, or TOEFL 70)
- Health certificate
- Proof of financial stability
Scholarships to Study Veterinary in Poland
There are a lot of scholarships available for international students to study in Poland. The Polish government, foreign country governments, and some global organizations provide funds for these scholarships. The scholarship amount varies and it can either cover tuition fees and/or living costs. Students can apply for the following scholarships to study veterinary in Poland.
- Visegrad Scholarship Program
- Fulbright Program
- CEEPUS exchange program with Central and Eastern Europe
- Erasmus+
- Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program
- Program of Fellowships under the Polish National Commission for UNESCO
- Scholarships for citizens from developing countries
Career Scope After Studying Veterinary in Poland
After graduating from a veterinary school in Poland, veterinary doctors have to register with the Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber to obtain a license. A licensed veterinarian can treat farm, companion, and exotic animals. Polish veterinarians can work in the following settings:
- Veterinary hospitals
- Veterinary clinics
- Research centers
- Academics
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Poultry farms
- Animal food production companies
- NGOs catering to animals
- Inspection stations
Veterinarians can go for specialist training in the field of veterinary medicine. They can access specialized training only after completing two years of practice. There are a total of 19 veterinary specializations in Poland. Each specialization takes 2 years to complete. After completing the specialization and an exam, vet doctors receive the title of a veterinary specialist. In Poland, veterinarians have to engage in the Continuing Education Program to gain credits to renew their licenses. On average, veterinarians get paid 23,447 USD* per year as their starting salary (Source: Salaryexplorer).
Conclusion
Poland is among the best and most affordable places to study veterinary medicine. The program is offered as a master’s degree called MSc Veterinary/DVM, leading to the title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. It lasts for a duration of 11 semesters or 5.5 years. Since veterinary medicine in Poland is a regulated profession, vet graduates must register with the Polish Veterinary Medical Chamber to get a license to practice. A veterinarian degree from Poland is valid in the European Union.
Gyanberry has partnered with many Polish universities. You can apply via Gyanberry Gyanberry, a platform that takes care of everything from choosing the best university to finding accommodation once you are accepted to your choice of university.
*Note: The tuition fees and other costs are converted on the basis of the current exchange rate, i.e., 1 Euro = 1.08 USD and 1 PLN = 0.23 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
