Admissions
Admission criteria for the BA program in American Studies comprise a high-school diploma and an adequate grade in High-level English at the school-leaving exams. MA admission criteria include an undergraduate degree and an adequate score at the entrance exam.
BA Program (1st degree)
Admission criteria
Admission requirements for the BA program in American Studies include, but are not limited to, a high school diploma and an appropriate grade in “extended level” English on the High School Leaving Examination. These criteria vary depending on the type of exam taken. Detailed admission requirements and application instructions can be found on the University of Warsaw’s Internet Recruitment System (IRK):
To apply for our program, you need to set up an account in the IRK system, follow the instructions, and pay an application fee by the required deadline:
The full-time American Studies first-cycle program is co-financed by the European Social Fund under the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 (contract number: ERS.01.05-IP.08-0365/23-00) as part of the “Integrated Teaching Development Program – ZIP 2.0.”
Admission Overview
- Registration opens on June 5th, 2025 and ends on July 9th, 2025
2. The limit of students to be admitted is 180
3. The ranking list will be announced online in the Internet Registration of Candidates (IRK) on July 22, 2025
4. The required documents should be submitted at the American Studies Center, Dobra 55, Warsaw
First round: July 23-25, 2025
Second round (waiting list): July 28, 29, 2025
Third round (waiting list): July 30, 31, 2025
Candidates with Polish diplomas are not required to take oral exams. The additional oral exams for candidates with foreign diplomas will be conducted online on July 18, 2025. A detailed schedule will be announced at a later date.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How to register?
You need to set up an account in the IRK system (https://irk.uw.edu.pl/pl/ ), choose the program(s) you want to be admitted to, and pay admissions fees by the required deadline. - Is this a paid program?
The BA program is free for students from Poland, the EU, EFTA, and the Swiss Confederation. For other students, the tuition is 5250 EUR per year (to be confirmed by the Rector). - What are the deadlines for registration?
The online registration for the BA program of the year 2025/26 starts on June 5th, 2025. Here’s the link to the registration platform https://irk.uw.edu.pl/pl/ .The registration will close on July 9th, 2025. - How difficult is it to be admitted to the American Studies Center?
The ranking list is based on the results of the high-school-leaving exam. - How competitive is the selective entry admission at the ASC?
There have been 2.4 candidates per place lately. - What are the required English language qualifications?
B2 level is the minimum requirement. - Are there any “native speakers” among the faculty, i.e., faculty members for whom English is their mother tongue?
Yes, several of our permanent faculty are scholars from the United States and Mexico. Additionally, we host visiting professors from the United States and European countries every semester, under the Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Program and bilateral exchange agreements with other universities. - Is all instruction in English?
- Yes, all classes at the ASC are in English.
- When should I apply for housing?
Applications for housing should be filed as soon as you get access to the USOSweb. For more go to: https://bpm.uw.edu.pl/ - What is the most important factor in the admissions process?
To be successful, the candidate must have a high grade in English at the “extended” level. - Are there any limits imposed on the number of places offered this year?
We are allowed to admit 180 candidates. There are also 5 more places for students transferred from other universities. - What are the differences between the program offered by the ASC and that of the Institute of English Studies at the University of Warsaw? Both programs are very different. The ASC offers an American Studies program. It does not teach English, the methodology of teaching foreign languages, linguistics, or translation. Its objective is the study of the culture, politics, and economy of the United States.
- Can one become a translator after graduating from the ASC?
The American Studies Center does not offer any practical translation skills classes. That said, many of our alumni specialize in translations of American texts, which require a good knowledge of American culture and society. - What are the requirements for BA dissertations?
You will find a full answer to this question here. - What is the program’s full curriculum?
The curriculum is described here.
MA Program (2nd degree)
There are two stages of the admissions process: (1) submission of a research statement and (2) oral exam in which candidates are asked questions related to the submitted statement. The purpose of the admissions process is to select candidates who will benefit from our research-oriented program.
In your research statement (300-400 words), describe your research plans in the field of American Studies. Remember to write in English and answer the following questions:
- What area(s) of research in American Studies would you like to explore and why? Be specific, for instance, “protest culture in the United States,” “American war literature,” “race and ethnicity in American film”;
- Have you already done research in this area? If so, what research problems have you addressed? What sources have you used (name between 3-5)?
- How will your future research build on your previous knowledge?
- What are some of the research questions you plan to address? Please remember that the questions should be clearly stated and focused.
- What is the significance of your research? In other words, why is it worth pursuing?
The research statement will be evaluated based on your ability to articulate ideas/research interests in written English, your ability to identify relevant and interesting research problems, and the relevance of your research interests to the American Studies curriculum. It does not commit you to a particular topic as your future MA project at the ASC. You may modify or change it as you develop your knowledge and skills.
If you include all of these elements in your research statement and receive at least 25 out of 50 points, we will invite you to take part in the oral exam. This exam between you and the committee will take place online and will focus on the topic discussed in your research statement. During the exam, we will discuss the topic you have identified and the initial research you have done, including the academic sources you have listed. The committee will be looking for someone who can formulate arguments, who is aware of the basic concepts related to their topic of interest, and who seems to be a good fit for our research-based interdisciplinary American Studies program. You may also receive a maximum of 50 points at this stage. Overall, the candidates with the highest scores out of 100 will be admitted.
Admission Overview
- The limit of students to be admitted is 70
- Registration opens on June 5th, 2025 and ends on on July 9th, 2025
- Oral exams will be conducted on July 16-17, 2025 (online)
- The results will be announced online in the IRK system on July 22, 2025
- The required documents should be submitted at the American Studies Center, Dobra 55, Warsaw
First round: July 23-25, 2025
Second round (the waiting list): July 28, 29, 2025
Third round (the waiting list): July 30, 31, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the limit for the number of places available in the year 2025/26 in the MA program?
We can admit 70 candidates and have reserved 3 places for students transferred from other universities. - Is this a paid program?
The MA program is free for students from Poland, the EU, EFTA, and the Swiss Confederation. For other students, the tuition is 5250 EUR per year (to be confirmed by the Rector). - Do I have to register for the exam, besides registering in the IRK online system?
You need to submit your Research Interests Statement in the IRK system. If you qualify for the second stage of the admissions process, the oral exam, you will be informed of its date and you will receive a link, but you do not need to register for the oral exam separately. - If I registered in the IRK for the first round of admissions to the MA program and took the exam but did not get in, do I need to register again for the second round of admissions?
Yes, you always register in the IRK for the round of admissions that is open at the moment. If we have places available after the first round of admissions closes, we will organize the second round. You will not be automatically registered for the second round, you need to register in the IRK again for the new round of admissions.
Coordinators
