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Ukrainian Language on the Polish Matura: How It Works and Where It Came From

The schedule of final exams in Poland for May 2026, published by Centralna Komisja Egzaminacyjna, draws attention not only for its dates and subjects. Among the listed languages is Ukrainian as a foreign language, available at the extended and bilingual levels.

 |  Секретар Фундації  | 

At first glance — just one option among many languages. But there is a much deeper context behind it.

What Is the Matura and Why Does It Matter

The Polish matura is the equivalent of Ukraine’s ZNO/NMT, but with a different approach.

It is not a “speed test” but a full written exam that:

  • takes place over several weeks
  • has different levels of difficulty
  • directly affects university admission

Students choose which subjects to take at the advanced level — these choices determine their future academic path.

And here Ukrainian appears not as an exception, but as part of the system.

When Ukrainian Entered This System

Ukrainian is not a new phenomenon in Polish education.

It is taught:

  • in schools for national minorities
  • in bilingual classes
  • as a foreign language in select secondary schools

Formally, the option to take Ukrainian on the matura has existed for many years — as part of Poland’s policy supporting national minorities.

But it only began to gain real significance much later.

What Has Changed in Recent Years

After 2014, and especially after 2022, the situation changed dramatically.

Ukrainian in Poland:

  • stopped being a “niche” language
  • became widespread in the school environment
  • gained new practical relevance

Today it is taken not only by representatives of the Ukrainian minority, but also by:

  • Ukrainian students attending Polish schools
  • graduates of bilingual programs
  • sometimes even Poles who chose it as an additional language

How It Looks in the Schedule

In the 2026 exam schedule:

  • May 14, 2:00 PM — Ukrainian language (as a foreign language)
  • available levels: extended (pr), bilingual (dj)

This is a full exam that can be submitted for university admission — on equal footing with other languages.

Why This Matters

This line in the schedule is not about an exam.

It is about the changing role of the Ukrainian language in Europe.

Not long ago, it was the language of:

  • a local minority
  • or emigration

Today it:

  • is part of another country’s public education system
  • is becoming a tool of academic mobility
  • is recognized at the level of state institutions

And importantly — not as a symbol, but as a practical choice made by students.

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