The UK higher education system works differently from the Polish one. Shorter Bachelor’s degrees, a one-year Master’s and, for those who need a run-up before first year, a Foundation Year. If you’re thinking about studying in England, this article will help you understand what to expect.
Bachelor’s degree — three years, one subject
A UK undergraduate degree usually takes three years full-time (four if the course includes a mandatory placement year or a semester abroad). From day one you focus on a single subject — there’s no Polish-style „general education” component, and the vast majority of your classes relate directly to your chosen course.
On graduation you receive a degree with a classification: First Class (≥70%), Upper Second (2:1, 60–69%), Lower Second (2:2, 50–59%) or Third (40–49%). This grading matters to employers and to Master’s admissions.
Master’s degree — one year after BA
A UK Master’s typically takes one year (1.5–2 years part-time or by research). That’s much faster than in Poland — which is why more and more Polish students decide to do their Master’s in England right after a Polish Bachelor’s.
Foundation Year — the „warm-up” for those who need it
The Foundation Year is an optional preparatory year that comes before the first year of a Bachelor’s degree. It’s designed for students who:
- don’t meet the language or academic entry requirements for their target course,
- want to switch direction after Polish matura (for example, from humanities to a technical degree),
- need a gentler transition into the UK academic system.
On completion of Foundation Year you progress automatically into the first year of the Bachelor’s. Total length: four years instead of three. It’s worth considering if you don’t yet feel ready to jump straight into BA.
Level 3 — your Polish matura already counts
Level 3 is the UK qualifications band equivalent to the Polish matura. If you’ve passed matura, you hold a Level 3 qualification. The same band includes British A-levels, BTEC and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
This means that as a Polish secondary school leaver you already meet the basic entry requirement for UK universities — specific course requirements remain (mathematics for engineering, biology for psychology, and so on), along with a language exam.
What happens after graduation?
A UK degree opens the door to the Graduate Visa — a two-year (or three-year for PhD graduates) visa that lets you work in the UK after finishing your studies, without needing a job offer up front. It’s one of the strongest arguments for choosing to study in England.
Want the full guide? Download our free ebook „Study in the United Kingdom” — it covers applications, costs and degree pathways in detail.