Applying to secondary school: regional deadlines and how to get the application right

Deadlines differ across the country

Each region's education superintendent (kurator oświaty) sets the admissions timetable. Examples for 2026/2027:

• Mazowieckie: applications 14–27 May (until 16:00), documents 3–7 July, qualified lists 17 July, admitted lists 22 July;
• Wielkopolskie (including the joint Poznań and Poznań county system): applications 11–29 May (until 15:00), adding the certificate and exam result 3–7 July;
• Śląskie: applications 11 May – 22 June (until 15:00), completion 26 June – 10 July, qualified lists 15 July, confirmation 15–20 July, admitted lists 21 July.

What the application includes

Applications are usually filed through the powiat's or city's online admissions system and then — depending on the system — printed, signed and delivered to the first-choice school, or signed electronically. At least one parent or legal guardian must sign.

• Chosen schools and classes in order of preference.
• Foreign languages, if the school offers a choice.
• Documents confirming additional criteria (e.g. large family, disability), if relevant.
• For technical and vocational schools — the school issues a referral for a medical check; the medical certificate is needed when confirming the place.

Order matters

The system places a candidate in the highest-ranked class for which their points suffice. If they get into the first choice, later choices are ignored. So put what the pupil really wants at the top, not what seems 'safe'.

Because exam results only come out on 3 July, many regions allow changing the application after results (e.g. in Silesia until 10 July). Check whether your region allows this.

Checklist

Before the deadline, go through these points:

• Check how many admissions systems your list involves — schools in different powiats may need separate applications.
• Save the login and password somewhere safe — you will need them in July.
• Take a photo or copy of the signed application.
• Put in your calendar: the deadline for adding the certificate and exam result, and the deadline to confirm the place.
• For sports, bilingual and arts classes, check the dates of aptitude tests.

If something goes wrong

A candidate who isn't admitted can, within a set time, ask the admissions committee for a written justification and then appeal to the headteacher. After the main round, superintendents publish information on free places and schools run a supplementary round — in Silesia applications in this stage are accepted from 23 to 29 July.