Located in the beautiful port city Szczecin (Stettin), PUM is home to 666,000 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students across 12 major disciplines in allied health sciences, dentistry, and medicine. The students come from all over the world.
International students can choose to study medicine or dentistry in English.
As Poland’s one of the oldest universities, with its long traditions and diversity of disciplines, PUM embraces its mission to contribute to the vast medical field through world-class research and innovation.
PUM academics are research-active and many are renowned experts in their fields. They’re engaged in cutting-edge research on human genomics, well-being, diseases, and ground-breaking therapies, to name a few.
University Accreditation
Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, as a state university, is fully compliant with national strict norms, standards, and requirements in higher education. The university’s activities are externally assessed at least once every 5 years by The Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA).
The Polish Accreditation Committee is a full member of:
- Central and East European Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA) – since January 2002
- European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA) – since December 2005
- International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) – since May 2007
- European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) - since January 2009
PKA also signed bilateral agreements with:
- ANECA (Spain)
- NVAO (Netherlands)
- ÖAR (Austria)
- ANQA (Armenia)
- SKVC (Lithuania)
- FIBAA (Germany)
- NEAA (Bulgaria)
- CSR (Slovakia)
- AQAS (Germany)
In 2012, the U.S. National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), conducted a review that confirmed that standards and processes used to accredit medical schools in Poland are comparable to those used to accredit medical schools in the U.S. That decision was validated in 2021, as an outcome of the subsequent evaluation procedure.
Programs for International Students
English Program
Candidates who do not speak Polish can apply to study one of the three programs taught entirely in English:
- 6-year degree in Medicine
- 5-year degree in Dentistry
Asklepios Program
German citizens who speak fluent English can pursue a 6-year MD degree taught in English and German language.
Asklepios Program is run in association with Asklepios Klinikum Uckermark GmbH in Schwedt. Students of this program train in hospitals in Schwedt/Pasewalk during their fourth, fifth, and sixth years of studies. PUM strives to expand the cooperation shortly and add hospitals in Brandenburg/Havel and Lübben/Teupitz to the list.
The Plan of Studies includes additional courses taught in German and by German tutors
Certified/True copies
Certified copies mean that the photocopies you submit are true to the original. We accept certified copies made by:
- Notary Public
- Diplomatic mission officer (consulate, embassy)
- Court
- Lawyer or barrister
- Other legal institutions authorized to certify public documents
We do not accept copies certified by:
- School, college, or university
- Bank
- Post office
- Other public institutions not authorized to certify public documents
Before you begin your studies
Arriving in Szczecin
You can reach Szczecin by sea, land, or air. By air:
You can fly to Szczecin-Goleniów airport or any Berlin airport. From there, you can get to Szczecin with various bus companies:
- Berlinia Interglobus • FlixBus • PKS By sea:
The closest port cities are Świnoujście and Kołobrzeg. If you’re coming from a Scandinavian country, you can take a ferry to any of these cities, and then take a direct train to Szczecin.
Getting around Szczecin
Szczecin has very good public transport. You can move around with buses, trams, or taxis. Rental bikes and scooters are also available.
Orientation Days and Pre-Courses
All prospective 1st-year students take part in online preparatory courses that normally take place in September. The main aim of the courses is to refresh student's knowledge in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and to teach some survival Polish.
Dormitory
Each prospective student can stay at PUM dorms during the Summer (until mid-September at the latest) to take part in the Orientation Days. You will be charged for each night you spend in the dorms.
Epidemiological tests
As a prospective student of medicine or dentistry, you must complete epidemiological examinations (salmonella shigella stool test).
The examination consists of:
- a visit to a GP
- delivering stool samples to the Sanitary-Epidemiological Station (one sample per day for three consecutive days)
You will receive from the Dean’s Office staff all the necessary documents, i.e., epidemiology booklet, referrals, and examination schedule.
Living expenses
Housing
Prices depend on location, apartment size, and apartment standard. Before you move in, be sure that the landlord hands you a contract in English - read it carefully! Also, do check what’s included in your rent.
Accommodation | Avg. Price Range |
1 bedroom (city center) | 1700 - 2000 PLN |
1 bedroom (outside center) | 1500 - 1900 PLN |
2-bedroom (city center) | 2300 - 2900 PLN |
2-bedroom (outside center) | 2100 - 2800 PLN |
3-bedroom (city center) | 2900 - 4200 PLN |
3-bedroom (outside center) | 3100 - 3500 PLN |
Food
There are several chain store brands present in Szczecin that sell quality and affordable groceries (Biedronka, Netto, Lidl, Kaufland, ABC, Groszek, Lewiatan, Carrefour, Stokrotka, Tesco, Żabka, Odido).
There are also regular markets where you can get fresh vegetables or meat directly from the farmers.
Utilities & Other expenses
Public transport in Szczecin (buses and trams)
Apart from single tickets, you can buy periodical tickets which allow you to travel by buses and trams as often as you want within a set period:
- For 1 month For 3 months • For 1 semester Current prices: ZDiTM website
Staying safe
The most common crime is petty theft so carry only what you need and keep your valuables in a safe place.
- Avoid leaving your backpack, computer, purse, suitcase, or wallet unattended in public
- Keep your doors and windows locked or secured, especially when you are
- Get to know your neighbors so you can ask them for help (should you ever need it).
Seeing a doctor
Students of PUM are not health-insured by the university. That's why you need to have proper insurance valid in Poland (arranged in your home country or purchased in Poland). PUM students may see the general practitioner (GP) in the outpatient clinic (located in the same building as the Dean’s Office). GPs will help you when you do not feel well or need a referral to a specialist.
If you experience a health emergency, you should go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Be aware that waiting times at the hospital can be several hours.
In Poland, some medication is available “over the counter” at pharmacies (not covered by health insurance). Others will require a prescription from your GP.
To see a doctor, you’ll need to make an appointment at the registration counter. During your visit, make sure that you have your health insurance card or documents with you, as well as your passport or national ID.
Types of courses, exams, and teaching approaches
Lectures
Lectures usually range from 45 to 90 minutes and may involve up to 150 students. This type of course is fairly formal. Although professors may have different expectations, it is generally acceptable to, for example, have a beverage on the desk.
During longer lectures, you are allowed to leave the classroom for washroom breaks without asking for permission. If you arrive late, take a seat as quietly and quickly as possible without disrupting the class. When you have to leave before the lecture finishes, let your tutor know before class begins.
Whenever you’re in doubt about the accepted classroom etiquette, ask your tutor/professor during their office hours.
Seminars/Tutorials
Seminars provide an opportunity for discussion in smaller groups. You will usually be expected to participate in these group discussions. In some cases, you will be graded for your active participation and presentations.
Labs
Preclinical subjects are taught at the laboratory (lab), which includes hands-on practice (in addition to lectures or tutorials). Labs are conducted in small groups under the supervision of a tutor. In some courses, you must pass the lab to get the grade or credit. Labs and tutorials are usually mandatory. In some cases, you will receive a grade for active participation.
Problem-based learning (PBL) classes
The PBL approach applies to clinical courses. In a PBL class, rather than listening to a lecture, you will solve problems that you may face in real-life situations. Students mainly deal with real patients' cases. Most of the time, you will work in small groups under the general guidance of your tutor.
Online lectures (LMS Moodle e-learning)
Some courses will be streamed online so that the students can safely continue their studies without the need to sit in a classroom.
CET (Center for Theoretical Exams / University Examination Center)
CET is an interfaculty unit where students can sit their test-based exams fully online. They can do it on-site or remotely at home. The rules for performing exams on-site and from home are different. The center can accommodate 67 students at once.