Guide · Poland
How to write a motivation letter for a Polish university
For an English-taught Master's in Poland, you apply to the university directly, through its own online system — at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the IRK registration system. Each programme decides which documents it wants and how it scores them.
Some Polish programmes score applications in points, and the motivation letter can be a large part of them. At the Jagiellonian University's MA in European Studies, motivation is worth up to 30 of 100 points.
Checked against official sources: October 2026
- 6,000
- characters for the motivation, Jagiellonian MA in European Studies
- 30/100
- points for motivation in the same programme
- 2–5
- the most common Polish grading scale
Your first letter is free — no credit card needed.
At a glance
- Length
Up to 6,000 characters
The Jagiellonian University's MA in European Studies asks for an explanation of your motivation of at most 6,000 characters. Your programme's limit always counts.
- How it is scored
30 of 100 points
In the same programme, motivation — for the programme, and the relevance and originality of your academic interests — gives up to 30 points. The rest of the application gives up to 70, of which 50 are for the grades in your transcript.
- Language
English at B2
For an English-taught programme, you need a document confirming English at least at B2. In the Jagiellonian MA in European Studies, candidates without one are invited to an interview; Polish is not required.
- Dates
Rounds, spring to September
The Jagiellonian MA in European Studies admitted for 2026/27 in two rounds: from 23 February to 24 June 2026, and until 2 September 2026. Places go until they are filled, so early applications are advised.
- Your diploma
Apostille
A foreign degree certificate needs an apostille or legalisation. The Jagiellonian University advises starting early, because these documents can take time to get.
- Grades
2 to 5
Each Polish university sets its grading scale in its study rules. The most common one: 5 very good, 4 good, 3 satisfactory, 2 fail — sometimes with plus grades or decimals. Give your own grade on its original scale.
How to structure it
Opening: the programme and your reason
Name the programme and the university, and give your main reason, tied to a concrete experience.
Your background
Your degree, your grade on its original scale, your thesis and the experience that prepared you.
Your academic interests
What you want to study and why it matters — the Jagiellonian University scores the relevance and originality of your academic interests.
Your goal
Where the degree leads you, in one or two realistic sentences.
Closing
A short formal closing: “Yours sincerely,” and your name.
Example: motivation letter for the Jagiellonian University
Excerpt from a sample letter for a fictional applicant with a Computer Science degree. The programme welcomes applicants from other fields who can show an interest in European Studies. The numbers in the margin match the steps above.
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
During my internship as a data analyst at a logistics company, I built Python dashboards that cut the weekly reporting time from six hours to one. One pattern kept returning in the data: shipments that crossed borders inside the European Union were delayed far more often than domestic ones, even without customs checks. I could measure the delay, but not explain the rules and institutions behind it. That is why I am applying for the MA in European Studies at the Jagiellonian University.
My Bachelor's in Computer Science, completed with a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0, taught me to work with data. In my thesis, I predicted delivery delays from 50,000 shipment records. What I want to add now is an understanding of how the European single market actually works — the part of the story my data could not show.
[…]
Yours sincerely, Alex Weber
Common mistakes
Generic interests
“I have always been interested in European politics.”
“Shipments crossing EU borders were delayed far more often — I want to know why.”
When originality of academic interests is scored, “I am interested in Europe” earns nothing. Bring a question of your own.
Going over the limit
A 7,500-character letter
5,800 characters
6,000 characters is the maximum. Count before you upload, and cut what doesn't earn points.
One letter for every programme
“I would like to study at a Polish university.”
“I am applying for the MA in European Studies at the Jagiellonian University because …”
Each programme scores its own criteria. A letter that fits every programme explains none of them.
Converting your grades yourself
“My GPA of 3.6 corresponds to a Polish 4.5.”
“I completed my Bachelor's with a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0.”
Give your grade on its original scale. The university assesses it itself, and your own conversion may contradict your transcripts.
Leaving the apostille to the end
Requesting the apostille after admission
Apostille requested in spring, letter in parallel
An apostille or legalisation of your diploma can take time — the Jagiellonian University warns about it. Start it when you start the letter.
Your CV in sentences
“From 2021 to 2022 I worked as a tutor, in 2022 I did an internship…”
“I could measure the delay, but not explain the rules behind it.”
Your CV and transcript are already in the application. Use the letter for your motivation and interests — that is what earns the points.
Questions
How long should a motivation letter for Poland be?
As long as your programme allows — at most 6,000 characters at the Jagiellonian University's MA in European Studies. Without a limit, about one page is enough.
How much does the letter count?
It depends on the programme. At the Jagiellonian MA in European Studies, motivation gives up to 30 of 100 points — more than a quarter of the result.
Do I need Polish?
Not for an English-taught programme like the Jagiellonian MA in European Studies. You need English at B2 or an interview instead.
Is it OK to use AI for a motivation letter?
Rules differ between universities. Use an AI draft as a starting point: check every fact, change anything that doesn't sound like you, and follow your university's rules.
Sources
Documents checklist
Documents you need to study in Poland