PolandvsUnited Kingdom
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Poland
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$633
Salary/mo
$1,645
United Kingdom
50
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,764
Salary/mo
$3,024
AI insights unavailable
Study Abroad GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Key Comparison Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Quick Verdict — 2026
Poland wins for students (GoScore 55 vs 50). A 2-year master's costs $22,782 in Poland — 74% less than United Kingdom, saving $64,914.
United Kingdom wins for working professionals (GoScore 57 vs 51). Professionals in United Kingdom retain $441/month after expenses — $11/month more than in Poland.
United Kingdom is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 58). PR takes ~5 years in United Kingdom vs ~5 years in Poland.
Poland vs United Kingdom: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Poland — tuition ($7,590) plus living ($15,192) — is $22,782. In United Kingdom: $87,696 ($45,360 tuition + $42,336 living).Poland is 74% cheaper, saving $64,914 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Poland, 20 hrs/week at $8/hr earns $607/month — covering 96% of outside-city rent. In United Kingdom, the same hours earn $1,154/month — covering 92% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Poland retains $430/month from $1,645. In United Kingdom: $441/month from $3,024. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $660. Tech salaries: $3,795/mo (Poland) vs $5,670/mo (United Kingdom).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Poland: PR pathway ~5 years. United Kingdom: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Poland) and 24 months (United Kingdom). Student visa fee: $127 vs $618.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Poland) and 6.0 (United Kingdom).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇵🇱 Poland | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 55 | 50 |
| Work GoScore | 51 | 57 |
| Settle GoScore | 58 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,795 | $22,680 |
| Monthly student budget | $633 | $1,764 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,645 | $3,024 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $886/mo | $1,890/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 24 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 61 / 100 | 54 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Poland & United Kingdom
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇵🇱 Poland
- 1.
Warsaw's tech sector grew 40% between 2019 and 2023 — Poland is now home to the EU's 5th largest startup ecosystem.
Source: Startup Poland 2024
- 2.
Poland issued more work visas to non-EU nationals than any other EU country in 2023 — reflecting one of Europe's most open labour markets.
Source: Eurostat 2023
- 3.
Polish university fees for international students are €2,000–4,000/year — up to 10× cheaper than UK fees for comparable engineering and IT degrees.
- 4.
Poland's GDP grew at an average of 4.5% per year from 2000 to 2023 — the fastest sustained growth of any EU member state.
Source: World Bank 2024
- 5.
Copernicus, Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska), and John Paul II were all Polish — reflecting a deep culture of scientific and intellectual achievement.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 1.
The UK Graduate Route visa requires no employer sponsorship — graduates can work in any job for 2 years (3 years for PhD holders) after completing their degree.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration 2021
- 2.
Indian students surpassed Chinese students as the largest international student group in UK universities in 2022 — with 126,535 new visas issued.
Source: HESA 2022-23
- 3.
The NHS surcharge (£776/year) paid with a UK student visa grants full access to the National Health Service — comprehensive healthcare at minimal cost.
Source: UKVI 2024
- 4.
London has been ranked the world's top student city for 10 consecutive years by QS Best Student Cities.
Source: QS Best Student Cities 2024
- 5.
4 UK universities — Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and UCL — appear in the global top 10 (QS 2025).
Source: QS 2025
Popular Comparisons
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Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative — verify official sources before making relocation decisions.