Liceum

Liceum, in Poland, refers to a form of secondary education that provides general, non‑vocational schooling and prepares students for higher education. The term is most often used for Liceum ogólnokształcące, the general high school.

The program typically lasts four years and is undertaken by students aged about 15 to 19, following eight years of compulsory education. On completing the program, students take the matura exam, a standardized culmination that serves as the primary qualification for university admission in Poland and is recognized by many higher education institutions abroad.

Curriculum and profiles focus on broad academic preparation. Core subjects usually include Polish language and literature, a foreign language, mathematics, science, and social studies, with regional and school differences in elective offerings. Many licea provide profiles or streams, such as sciences, humanities, or languages, and some offer bilingual or multilingual instruction to deepen proficiency in foreign languages.

Assessment is centered on the matura, which consists of written and, in some cases, oral exams in selected subjects. Performance on the matura determines eligibility for admission to universities and other higher education programs, with higher scores often widening access to competitive faculties.

In the Polish education system, liceum is one option after primary education; other pathways include technikum and vocational schools, which emphasize specialized training for the labor market. The term liceum is used in Poland to denote a general secondary school, while related terms in other countries (lycée, lyceum) describe similar institutions with comparable aims.