Over 227,000 Ukrainians Now Study in Polish Schools
Ukrainian students and Polish-language learners are gaining new school, exam, and textbook options across both countries.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Language Learning
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Over 227,000 Ukrainian citizens attend Polish schools in the 2026/2027 academic year, while more than 107,000 pupils in Ukraine study Polish, a 16% rise since 2021/2022.
Why it matters
Growing Polish-language study on both sides of the border shapes how students can continue their schooling, sit exams, and access educational materials across countries. Ukraine and Poland's education ministers met in Lviv to review these developments.
Polish schools have offered Ukrainian as a second foreign language since September 2025, and since 2024 applicants have been able to receive NMT questions translated into Polish, except for language and literature subjects. Since 2023, 51 Polish-language textbook titles for grades 5-8 have been published with funding from Ukraine's state budget.
The players
Andrii Butenko
Ukrainian minister who met with Polish counterpart Barbara Nowacka in Lviv to review education cooperation.
Barbara Nowacka
Polish minister of education who met with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Butenko in Lviv.
The details
Ukrainian is now available as a second foreign language in Polish schools, while Polish is taught at 577 educational institutions in Ukraine. Applicants taking Poland's National Multi-subject Test (NMT) can receive questions translated into Polish, except for language and literature subjects, and temporary examination centres operated in nine Polish cities. Textbook funding from Ukraine's state budget has supported the publication of Polish-language materials for grades 5-8 since 2023.
Timeline
September 2025: Polish schools began offering Ukrainian as a second foreign language.
2023: Funding for Polish-language textbook publication began.
2024: NMT questions translated into Polish became available to applicants.
2026/2027 academic year: More than 227,000 Ukrainian citizens attend Polish schools.
Education Landscape
Poland's matura examination remains the central secondary-school exit exam, and offering it in Ukrainian marks an extension of that system to a new language group. The 16% rise in Polish study in Ukraine since 2021/2022 continues a pattern of growing cross-border language learning in the region.
Students and families considering Polish schooling or Polish-language exams should check with the relevant school or examination authority about language options and translated test materials. Applicants who need NMT questions in Polish should confirm availability with the examination body before registering.
The takeaway
Polish and Ukrainian education systems are increasingly connected through shared language instruction, textbooks, and examinations. Students interested in these options should ask their school or examination office which language and translation supports are currently available.
Further reading
Explore more on Language Learning and how students build skills in new tongues.
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