When you need nostrification, when you don't, and how to avoid it slowing your admission.
Before a Polish university accepts your foreign diploma, it usually needs to be recognised — through nostrification or equivalent recognition. This guide explains the step that quietly delays many applicants.
What recognition means
Recognition (nostrification) confirms that your foreign school certificate or degree is equivalent to a Polish one for the purpose of further study. Without it, a university may not be able to enrol you.
When you need it
- A foreign school certificate for bachelor's admission.
- A foreign degree for master's admission.
Some documents are recognised automatically under agreements; others need a formal procedure — confirm your case early.
The documents involved
- Original certificate or degree with a transcript.
- Sworn translation into Polish.
- Apostille or legalization, depending on the country.
Why it causes delays
Translation, apostille and any formal recognition each take time, and they stack. Applicants who start documents only after choosing a university often miss deadlines.
Start early — in parallel
Begin recognition and translation before you finalise your university choice. The documents are reusable across applications, so early work is never wasted.
FAQ
Is recognition always required? Not always — some diplomas are recognised under agreements; confirm yours. How long does it take? Weeks, sometimes longer with apostille and translation. Can you handle it for me? Yes — we manage documents and translation.
How we help
We assess whether recognition is needed, prepare and translate documents and manage the procedure. Informational only — rules vary by country and document.