Admission to M.Sc. studies in Urban Planning
Instructions on how to apply for M.Sc. studies in Urban Planning.
| INFORMATION ABOUT THE OCTOBER 2026 ADMISSION FOR URBAN PLANNING: Registration starting date: 5 May 2026 The deadline to create a new application: 25 May 2026 Online interview: 16 - 18 June 2026 Application results: 24 June 2026 Beginning of classes: 1 October 2026 Link to the Online Recruitment System IRK |
STEP 1: Create an account in the Online Recruitment of Candidates (IRK) and upload the Entry Documents
| NOTICE: In IRK, you can have only one account. |
| IMPORTANT: When registering, you may select Urban Planning and Architecture for a fee of 150 PLN, and then choose any additional courses that interest you. Please note that additional courses require a separate payment. Please remember that M.Sc. Urban Planning should be selected only as your programme no. 1 (or no. 2 if Architecture is your no. 1). |
| APPLICATION FEE NOTICE: Payments are to made to individual student bank accounts. The account number will be available after creating an account in IRK. |
THE ENTRY DOCUMENTS:
1. Bachelor's Degree – the original and, if necessary, its translation into English or Polish (combined in one file).
The Diploma should be final. However, temporarily (until 21 July) we also accept provisional diplomas and graduation certificates.
2. Transcript of records – your results/grades, if necessary, with the translation into English or Polish (combined in one file).
3. Passport – the page(s) with your personal information, photo, and signature.
4. Proof of payment of PLN 150 application fee.
5. One picture/photograph – the passport format photo.
THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR URBAN PLANNING to be uploaded in section Competencies in IRK:
1. A motivation letter – Statement of objectives should be written in prose. It should clearly identify the reasons for studying urban design and planning on the Msc level as well as choosing URBS program and Warsaw Faculty of Architecture. It should describe the aspired professional area in which you would like to work after you graduated. The motivation letter shall particularly give information about the applicant’s professional qualifications and motives to study Urban Design and shall emphasise personal abilities, skills, and interests of being highly suitable to study in this degree programme. Motivation letter should be part of the portfolio.
2. Curriculum Vitae – CV should indicate: experience /evidence of professional qualifications like relevant vocational training or practical activities in the form of extracurricular activities at school or university, relevant internships, completed apprenticeships or other relevant work experience (including not completed apprenticeships). Please compile the relevant professional qualifications on your curriculum vitae in table format and attach the respective supporting documents to prove your abilities and skills, provided that they give specific information on your suitability for the chosen degree programme. The experience in /evidence of soft skills as further knowledge and skills relevant for succeeding postgraduate study. For example: special linguistic competence, cross-cultural competence (e.g. stays abroad during studies or occupational activities, internship abroad), interdisciplinary competence (experience in cross-disciplinary working methods) or social skills (voluntary service in initiatives, organisations, societies, etc.). The experience in /evidence of hard skills.
CV should be part of the portfolio.
3. Three to five work samples – should demonstrate the candidate’s ability and experience to highlight your suitability for the chosen degree programme. It may consist of architectural/urban design course works, other university works, graphic skills, interests, professional practice (if any). The spectrum of presented work may be very wide, the aim is to present the Admission Committee current achievements and thus also premises for future successful studies in the field of urban design and planning. While the portfolio can include evidence of digital skills, the uncritical eye-catching renderings or „eye candies” would not be useful. All work done in collaboration or in university or professional teams should clearly indicate the candidate’s contribution and role. The portfolio should be prepared in electronic form as a pdf file, A4 page horizontal format. The file size should not exceed 35 MB.
PLEASE NOTE: A MOTIVATION LETTER, CURRICULUM VITAE and WORK SAMPLES SHOULD BE COMBINED IN A PORTFOLIO AND SUBMITTED AS ONE FILE. The portfolio should be prepared in an electronic form as a pdf file, A4 page horizontal format. The file size should not exceed 50 MB.
Name of the file: Portfolio_surname_firstname.pdf
STEP 2: Complete the MS Teams interview
Selected candidates will be notified about the form and date of the MS Teams interview by e-mail. The dates of interviews will be set individually.
Ms Teams interviews dates: 16-18 June 2026
STEP 3: Wait for the decision of the Faculty
After the interview, if the decision is positive, you will receive the "qualified" status.
If the Faculty's decision is negative, your application will be sent to the program of your next priority.
Publication of results: 24 June 2026
STEP 4: Upload the Admission Documents
By 19 August 2026, candidates with the "qualified" status will be asked to upload:
1. Legalization of/Apostille on your Bachelor's degree diploma.
2. Eligibility Statement – a proof that you can continue studies on the Master (graduate) level.
*If you need to get the Recognition Statement from NAWA on a foreign diploma, the additional Eligibility St. from your university is not required. More info below.
3. Proof of English Proficiency – Medium of Instruction Letter or one of the English proficiency certificates listed here.
4. Tuition Fee Payment – proof of the tuition fee payment for the 1st semester of studies. Due to visa regulations in some countries, you can also pay for the 2nd semester tuition fee in advance.
*IMPORTANT:
According to the law of 4 April 2025 regarding, among others, the rules for admission to Polish universities, obtaining a final acceptance letter will require some candidates to fulfil the following condition:
- submit the Recognition Statement on a foreign diploma issued by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
The process may take up to 90 days (or more), so we strongly recommend that you apply for the recognition in advance in: THE SYRENA SYSTEM OF NAWA
*The requirement of getting the Recognition Statement does not apply to candidates whose Bachelor's degree diplomas were issued by the EU, OECD and EFTA members (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States), China and Ukraine.
If all documents are correct, you will receive a Visa Letter and the Certificate of Acceptance in the IRK System.
NOTE: For information on visa requirements, please visit the website of a Polish consulate for your country.
STEP 5: Arrival & registration
Before the classes start, you will be asked to register personally at the International Students Office and at the Faculty. Check more information about Registration here.
