They prefer to pay 46,000 per semester. Medical loan interest is at a record low.
- Medical students in Polish can apply for a loan with the possibility of its subsequent cancellation.
- Repayment begins 12 years after graduation. For the Ministry of Health to forgive the loan, certain conditions must first be met.
- Although the rules for debt cancellation are simple, fewer and fewer medical students decide to take out a loan dedicated to them
- Since 2022, 4,266 students have taken advantage of the offer. Most of them in the first year
Although the Ministry of Health raises enrollment limits for unpaid medical studies each year, some people choose paid programs. Prices vary, and tuition fees at individual universities can vary by several thousand złoty per semester.
For example, at the renowned Lazarski University , a full-time medical student will pay as much as PLN 37,000 per semester (the first year of studies, then the price increases to PLN 46,000), while at the Academy of Social and Media Culture in Toruń, also commonly known as Father Rydzyk's University, it's only PLN 21,000. At the Medical University of Białystok, part-time studies cost PLN 22,000 per semester, and at the Pomeranian Medical University – PLN 29,000.
For the past four years, students have been helped finance their studies by a special medical school loan. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) as the financial operator, with Pekao SA acting as the direct lender.
Since 2022, 4,266 students have taken advantage of the offer. The total amount of loan agreements amounts to PLN 900 million. Interestingly, however, the largest number of people took out a loan in the year it was launched: 1,658.
In subsequent years, interest began to decline; in 2023, 1,312 students decided to take out a loan, in 2024 - 1,206, and in 2025, only 90. However, recruitment for part-time studies and recruitment at private universities is still ongoing in most cases, and their results are usually announced later than for full-time studies at public universities.
As a reminder, students can only use their loans to pay for their studies (the money is paid directly into the university's account). They can borrow a maximum of PLN 22,000 per semester. This amount is announced annually by the Minister of Health, and despite inflation, it has remained virtually unchanged for three years.
Only students of paid part-time medical programs at public universities and full-time or part-time students at private universities are eligible to apply for the loan. However, the loan is only available for programs taught in Polish.
"A medical study loan is granted to a borrower only once for the duration of their studies, for no longer than six years. However, it can be used at any stage of their studies – from the first year onwards, for example, from the third year onwards, or only in the final semester. The condition is that the application be submitted before the start of the semester for which the funds are to be disbursed," explains Tatiana Kuwak-Frentzel, information and PR expert at BGK.
The borrowers include students from virtually all universities offering paid medical courses. The largest number of students on loans are studying at the Silesian University (414), followed by:
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Medical University in Warsaw - 294 people,
- Medical University of Gdańsk - 292 people,
- Medical University of Białystok - 284 people,
- Silesian Medical University in Katowice - 279,
- Medical University of Warsaw - 271 people,
- K. Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznań - 244 people,
- Medical University of Wrocław - 241 people,
- Krakow Academy of A. Frycz Modrzewski in Krakow - 233 people.
The loan interest rate is variable and depends on the margin, which the lending bank sets according to its own rules. Information available on Bank Pekao SA's website indicates that in July 2022, the interest rate was approximately 9.86% per annum, while on June 25, 2025, it was 8.36%.
Importantly, BGK covers the interest costs for the duration of the studies. Loan repayment begins 12 years after graduation. The Ministry of Health also offers the option of full loan forgiveness. To avoid repayment, however, a young doctor must, after graduation:
- practice as a doctor in Poland in a medical entity providing services financed from public funds for 10 years within the period of 12 consecutive years from the completion of studies (this period is shortened if the loan was granted for less than 6 years of studies), with a total working time corresponding to at least the equivalent of one full-time job, and
- obtain the title of specialist in the field of medicine considered a priority on the day of commencement of specialization training.
The Ministry of Health also waives the obligation to repay the loan if the borrower becomes permanently incapable of repaying the loan, for example, due to an illness that prevents them from practicing medicine. It may also partially waive the loan:
- in the event of a particularly difficult life situation of the borrower,
- in a situation where the borrower continues specialist training but has not completed this training or has not obtained the specialist title for reasons beyond his control, within the period specified in the Act (entitling him to full write-off).
However, such conditions do not hold students back as predicted. According to experts, there are several reasons. Commenting on the matter for Rynek Zdrowia, Damian Patecki of the Supreme Medical Chamber noted that in an era of rising limits at full-time universities, "anyone who wants can increasingly study medicine for free." He also explained that loans "further tie young people down, providing no guarantee for their future, and are not entirely cost-effective for them."
In turn, "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna" recently pointed out that uncertainty about working conditions and pay may also impact the decision to take out a loan for studies. "However, there are increasingly louder rumors that the Ministry of Health may abandon the annual salary increase. This means that residents will not be able to count on a raise. This is especially true given the potential future increase in the number of doctors in Poland, which could negatively impact earnings," the newspaper wrote.
rynekzdrowia
