In Polish educational system, higher education institutions are universities educating graduates of secondary high schools and technicians who passed the Matura examination. Studies are two-stage: three-year studies of I stage and two-year studies of II stage. I stage studies ends with receiving the title of the professional graduate with a bachelor degree or the engineer, on the II stage - master degree. However, some specializations have the form of uniform undergraduate courses leading to a master degree and they end with the master degree or the doctor, e.g. dentist, or wet. Finishing the II stage of the university graduation or uniform undergraduate courses allows for carrying education on doctoral studies. Obtaining the master degree gives the possibility of studying on the postgraduate education. Postgraduate education enables to supplement the knowledge from different field. The postgraduate education usually lasts 2 semesters, they can however last longer, even until 4 semesters.
Selected departments of the higher education institutions can be entitled to give university titles of the Doctor, the Ph. D, and Professor. Higher education institution, that has at least one entitlement to grant a university title of the Doctor, has the status of the academic university, while institutions that does not meet such condition - of a professional college.
Learning in higher education institutions can be held under different procedures. Full-time studies, on which the learning is held since Monday to Friday, can be distinguished. Learning on evening studies is held in afternoon or evening hours, also since Monday to Friday. Next form of studies is an extramural studies on which the education is held under the weekend procedure.
Higher education institutions can be either public or private. Learning at public universities is usually cheaper. Educating in the system of full-time studies is most often free of charge for Polish citizens, payments can be charged for educating on evening and extramural studies. At private universities tuition fees for learning are being paid in each of modes predicted in articles of university association.
