The profession of physician is highly prestigious and enjoys social trust, however there are fewer and fewer practitioners in the field. This shortage will soon be a serious problem. In July 2015, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University obtained the necessary entitlements to offer medical studies and commenced educating future doctors in October 2016. This is the very first non-public university in Poland to do so.
Graduates obtain the professional title of medical doctor.
The Faculty of Medicine of our University has been included in the World Directory of Medical Schools. This is a list of verified Schools of Higher Education, Colleges and Faculties that educate in the field of medicine. The entry required approval by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, which we obtained on February 5, 2021. The entry on the list allows e.g. our students to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®). This examination is necessary for foreigners wishing to practice as a medical practitioner in the USA.
Recruitment has been extended until 26 September 2025
Our studies are based on a worldwide educational experience and reflect modern trends in this field The curriculum consists mostly of integrated modules which combine the content of different traditional disciplines. The modules related to basic sciences are based on body systems – the nervous and the muscular system, the circulatory and the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, the urinary and the reproductive system – and contain elements of anatomy, histology or physiology. Clinical subjects are also integrated in modules such as cardiology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology, which include topics from internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, radiology etc. Such an approach makes it easier for students to adopt a holistic and multi-dimensional medical mindset.
Early contact with the patients combined with humanistic teaching Starting from the first year students are exposed to patients in the module: “First encounter with the sick person” The biological, chemical and physical aspects of medical education are complemented with more general and humanistic subjects such as “How to be a medical doctor?”, “History of medicine” and “Death as seen from a biological, social, and cultural perspective”.
Practical training comprises altogether over 1,200 hours within the course of the 5-year-long medical programme realized either in a direct contact with patients (so-called bedside teaching), or in various laboratory practices (e.g. microscopical laboratory, biochemical and diagnostic laboratory, laboratory of medical simulation, etc.) . After each year of studies students are obliged to take 4 weeks of summer clerkships amounting to 600 hours in total (20 ECTS credits). On top of it 30 weeks of practical clinical rotations are scheduled for year 6. The summer clerkships as well as the final clinical training in year 6 will be held at healthcare centres selected by the University. The practical skills acquired during the 6 years will be tested in an OSCE practical examination.
The programme is student-friendly, while at the same time guaranteeing that the learning outcomes defined in the Standards for medical education are met. Additionally, a study system based on tutoring ensures that students have the assistance and support of their supervisors at every stage. The University has well equipped laboratories and a nice campus located close to the city center. Its main strength however is its staff, competent and friendly towards students.
The basis for admission to the Medicine program conducted in English is that the candidate meets one of the following conditions:
Candidates’ results are considered in the course of the recruitment process based on the submission of documents confirming their entitlement to apply for a Bachelor’s or long-cycle Master’s program in the Republic of Poland, namely:
a) a certificate or other document issued by a school or educational institution operating within the education system of a European Union Member State, an OECD Member State, or an EFTA Member State (European Free Trade Association) – a party to the European Economic Area agreement – entitling the holder to apply for a Bachelor’s or long-cycle Master’s program in those countries;
b) the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization based in Geneva;
c) the European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma issued by the European Schools in accordance with the Convention on the Statute of the European Schools, concluded in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994 (Journal of Laws of 2005, No. 3, item 10);
d) a certificate or other document issued abroad by a school or educational institution recognized by the country in which it operates or whose education system it follows, covered by the provisions of international agreements (e.g., Ukraine, China).
Results obtained based on all the above-mentioned foreign documents are converted according to a separate Rector’s ordinance.
Furthermore, candidates applying for the Medicine program conducted in English are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language at a level not lower than B2.
The University verifies the candidate’s language proficiency based on a document submitted during the recruitment process, in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 30 July 2025 on the types of documents confirming language proficiency in which studies are conducted (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 1045), available at:
https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20250001045
.
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Physicochemical Principles of Life | 5 | 70 |
| Microscopic Structure of the Human Body | 3 | 35 |
| The Musculoskeletal System | 6 | 88 |
| Fundamentals of Diagnostic Imaging | 2 | 20 |
| Biology of Prenatal Development | 5 | 61 |
| Becoming a Doctor | 2 | 25 |
| Psychosocial Determinants of Behaviour | 3 | 45 |
| Developing Effective Learning Skills | 1 | 15 |
| Biological, Social and Cultural Aspects of Death | 1 | 15 |
| Medical English / Medical Polish | 2 | 30 |
| Physical Education | 0 | 30 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Training *1 | 0 | 5 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Components of Living Matter | 4 | 60 |
| The Nervous System and Sensory Organs | 5 | 86 |
| The Circulatory and Respiratory System | 5 | 93 |
| Human and the Environment | 2 | 45 |
| Cytobiology | 3 | 39 |
| Preparation for Nursing Practice | 1 | 20 |
| Encounter with the Patient | 1 | 28 |
| History of Medicine | 1 | 20 |
| Medical English / Medical Polish | 2 | 30 |
| Physical Education | 0 | 30 |
| Electives *2 | 2 | 30 |
SEMESTER I
*1 – e-learning
SEMESTER II
*2 – The distribution of hours for individual forms may vary depending on the specifics of the subject
—
Summer Clerkship in Patients Care – 120 hours – 4 weeks – 4 ECTS
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Metabolism and Homeostasis | 3 | 30 |
| The Gastrointestinal System | 6 | 82 |
| The Endocrine System and Skin | 4 | 50 |
| The Genitourinary System | 6 | 78 |
| Spatial Organisation of the Human Body | 3 | 44 |
| Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Disease | 2 | 30 |
| Medical Interview | 2 | 30 |
| Informatics and Tele-medicine | 2 | 45 |
| Medical English / Medical Polish | 2 | 30 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| General pathology | 6 | 91 |
| Genetics | 3 | 45 |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology and Parasitology | 3 | 45 |
| Defence Mechanisms of the Human Body | 4 | 63 |
| Physical Examination | 1 | 36 |
| Fundamentals of Scientific Thinking | 2 | 45 |
| Public Health | 2 | 30 |
| First Aid and the Fundamentals of Ambulance Practice | 1 | 36 |
| Medical English / Medical Polish | 2 | 30 |
| Electives* | 2 | 30 |
SEMESTER IV
* – The distribution of hours for individual forms may vary depending on the specifics of the subject.
—
Summer Clerkship in Outpatient Care – 90 hours – 3 weeks – 3 ECTS
Summer Clerkship in Emergency Care – 30 hours – 1 week – 1 ECTS
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Organ Pathology | 8 | 95 |
| Pharmacology I | 7 | 90 |
| Introduction to Clinical Medicine * | 10 | 170 |
| Fundamentals of Laboratory Diagnostics | 3 | 45 |
| Hygiene and Epidemiology | 2 | 45 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Pharmacology II | 7 | 105 |
| Pulmonology | 4 | 70 |
| Cardiology I | 4 | 75 |
| Dermatology | 4 | 60 |
| Assessment of Life-Sustaining Systems | 2 | 40 |
| Introduction to Psychiatry | 3 | 45 |
| Analysis of Selected Laboratory Diagnostic Data | 2 | 30 |
SEMESTER V
* – in the following fields:
Paediatrics – 50 hours
Internal Medicine – 30 hours
Surgery – 90 hours
10 ECTS
SEMESTER VI
Summer Clerkship in Internal Medicine – 120 hours – 4 weeks – 4 ECTS
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Cardiology II | 6 | 75 |
| Gastroenterology I | 6 | 75 |
| Psychiatry | 5 | 61 |
| Gynaecology | 4 | 75 |
| Emergency medicine | 3 | 57 |
| Clinical Immunology and Allergology | 3 | 50 |
| Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care | 3 | 45 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Neurology | 6 | 105 |
| Gastroenterology II | 5 | 80 |
| General Surgery and Traumatology | 6 | 90 |
| Obstetrics | 4 | 75 |
| General Paediatrics | 3 | 60 |
| Electives* | 2 | 30 |
SEMESTER VIII
* – The distribution of hours for individual forms may vary depending on the specifics of the subject
—
Summer Clerkship in Intensive Care – 90 hours – 3 weeks – 3 ECTS
Summer Clerkship in Paediatrics – 30 hours – 1 week – 1 ECTS
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Oncology | 5 | 65 |
| Nephrology and Urology | 4 | 68 |
| Infectious Diseases | 4 | 60 |
| Ophthalmology | 4 | 60 |
| Otorhinolaryngology | 4 | 60 |
| Sexology and Fertility Disorders | 3 | 45 |
| Forensic Medicine with an Introduction to Forensic Sciences | 3 | 50 |
| Palliative Medicine | 2 | 30 |
| Introduction to Dentistry | 1 | 15 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Family medicine | 7 | 130 |
| Geriatrics | 3 | 45 |
| Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders | 5 | 75 |
| Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System | 3 | 46 |
| Haematology | 3 | 50 |
| Medical Deontology and Medical Law | 2 | 25 |
| Advanced Patient Communication | 1 | 20 |
| Electives* | 2 | 30 |
SEMESTER X
* – The distribution of hours for individual forms may vary depending on the specifics of the subject.
—
Summer Clerkship in Surgery – 90 hours – 3 weeks – 3 ECTS
Summer Clerkship in Gynaecology and Obstetrics – 30 hours – 1 week – 1 ECTS
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Internal Medicine PCT - 1* | 8 | 120 |
| Surgery PCT* | 8 | 120 |
| Emergency Medicine PCT* | 4 | 60 |
| Gynaecology and Obstetrics PCT* | 4 | 60 |
| Selected Specialty PCT | 6 | 90 |
| Clinical Medicine | 3 | 50 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Internal Medicine PCT - 2* | 8 | 120 |
| Paediatrics PCT* | 8 | 120 |
| Family Medicine PCT | 4 | 60 |
| Psychiatry PCT* | 4 | 60 |
| Selected Specialty PCT | 6 | 90 |
| Clinical Medicine | 3 | 50 |
SEMESTER XI
* – Completion test in the form of a multiple-choice test
—
COURSE:
Clinical medicine – 50 hours
Selected aspects of clinical medicine – 20 hours
The most common chronic diseases – 18 hours
Life-threatening conditions – 12 hours
SEMESTER XII
* – Two-stage examination: a theoretical part in the form of a multiple-choice test and a practical part in the form of an OSCE
—
COURSE:
Clinical medicine – 50 hours
Selected Aspects of Clinical Medicine – 6 hours
Pain as a Clinical Problem – 14 hours
Practical Clinical Skills – 30 hours
By choosing to study at UAFM, you can be sure that the tuition fee will not change throughout the duration of your studies. You can pay the tuition fee once for the entire year of study or spread over a semester payment. This allows you to decide how you want to plan your expenses.
| Year of study | Annually | Per semester* |
| I | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| II | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| III | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| IV | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| V | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| VI | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| Year of study | Annually | Per semester* |
| I | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| II | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| III | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| IV | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| V | 15000 € | 7650 € |
| VI | 15000 € | 7650 € |
EU and other countries group
This group includes citizens of the countries member states of the European Union and the following countries citizens: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latin America, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Other countries
The citizens of all the remaining countries.
In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships.
Any student who has achieved a high grade point average may apply for a merit-based scholarship.
In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships in the amount of PLN 1,000 per month, depending on academic performance, or PLN 800 / PLN 1,200 per month, depending on scientific, artistic, or sports achievements.
The scholarship can also be awarded for scientific or artistic publications, participation in scientific research or development work, participation in internships, practical training or courses beyond the study program, participation in scientific conferences, and participation in scientific, artistic competitions, exhibitions, or festivals.
A sports scholarship may be granted to a student who stands out with sporting achievements at least at the national competition level or is a member of the national team. Scholarships may also be awarded to athletes representing the university in academic competitions. A first-year student may receive a scholarship based on sports achievements from the 12 months preceding the start of their studies.
Young athletes may receive financial support in the amount of PLN 800 or PLN 1,200 per month.
A scholarship for students with disabilities may be awarded to a student who holds a certificate of disability, a degree of disability, a ZUS medical certificate, a certificate of classification into an invalidity group, or a certificate of permanent or long-term inability to work on a farm.
In the academic year 2024/2025, depending on the degree of disability, approximately 100 scholarships were awarded for students with disabilities, in amounts ranging from PLN 850 to PLN 1,250 per month. In 2023/2024, about 80 scholarships were awarded in the same amounts.
Emergency financial aid is a form of one-time financial support. Any student who has temporarily found themselves in a difficult life situation due to unforeseen events beyond their control may apply for it. Emergency aid can be awarded twice during one academic year; however, it cannot be granted twice for the same event.
In the academic year 2023/2024, we granted 215 emergency financial aids for a total amount of PLN 389,900. Depending on the student’s situation, the amounts ranged from PLN 500 to PLN 3,500 as a one-time payment.
Academic Year 2023/2024:
· 500 Rector’s Scholarships
· 215 emergency financial aids
· 188 social scholarships
· 83 scholarships for students with disabilities
In 2024, we spent nearly PLN 8,800,000 on scholarships.
