Obtaining a diploma does not always mean the immediate loss of the validity of the student ID. Graduates of undergraduate and engineering programs can use the document until October 31 of the year of graduation, even if they do not intend to continue their studies. The situation is different after defending a master’s thesis, when the ID generally loses its validity upon completion of studies. We explain whether you need to return the ID to the dean’s office, what discounts remain available after the defense, and what happens to the document when you start second-cycle studies.
In short – the most important information:
The validity period of the ID card after completing studies depends primarily on its level. There is no single rule that would allow all graduates to use the document until the end of October.
According to Article 109 of the Higher Education and Science Act, a person who has completed a first-cycle degree retains the student rights until October 31 of the year of graduation.
A similar principle is contained in the regulations on studies, which govern the validity of credentials.
Type of completed studies | Until when is the ID valid? |
Bachelor's degree studies | Until October 31st of the year of graduation |
Engineering studies | Until October 31st of the year of graduation |
Master's degree studies II level | Until the completion of studies |
Unified Master's Degree Programs | Until the completion of studies |
Resignation or removal from the list | To the loss of rights on the basis of the regulations |
In practice, this means that two people defending thesis papers on the same day may find themselves in a completely different situation.
A graduate of the bachelor's degree can continue to use the valid ID, while a person completing the master's degree will no longer have such authorization.
First-degree studies often end in June, July, or September. However, many graduates plan to continue their studies in master's degrees, which begin only in October.
The legislator therefore provided for a transitional period during which a graduate retains certain rights of a student despite completing the first-cycle studies.
Example: If you defend your bachelor's thesis on June 25, 2026, your credentials may remain valid until October 31, 2026.
This applies to both those who start their master's degree later and to graduates who complete their education at this stage.
It also does not matter whether you studied at a public or private university. The regulations regarding the validity of identification documents apply in both cases.
Yes. If you completed your first degree before the holidays, you can use the valid ID between July, August and September, as well as between October and the date specified in the regulations.
However, this does not mean that you automatically retain all the benefits available during your studies.
For example, during this period, you cannot continue receiving a social scholarship or a rector scholarship solely on the basis of the regulations regarding the protection of a student's rights after completing the bachelor's degree.
In the case of second-cycle studies and unified master's degrees, the rules are different.
The student ID card loses its validity upon completion of studies. This usually occurs on the day of the złgraduation exam, although regulations provide for specific rules for determining the date of completion of certain courses.
Let's say that the student defended their master's thesis on June 15, 2026. Their license does not expire until October 31. Therefore, they cannot continue to benefit from the discounts just because the plastic ELS has a hologram with a later date.
The mere fact of possessing a document does not mean that the rights are being exercised.
The ability to physically hold the card must be distinguished from the right to use it as a valid document.
For example, the University of Warsaw informs that the student is not required to return the ID card that has expired.
However, it is worth checking the procedures of your own university, especially if the card is also an identification card for access to buildings, the library, or other services.
A token ELS cannot be used to confirm outdated credentials.
It happens that during card billing or document collection, students receive a request to present their ID.
In such a situation, the most important thing is to distinguish between the date of completion of studies and the validity date of the document.
Upon completion of the first-cycle studies, the certificate remains valid until October 31 of the year of completion of studies. Therefore, the diploma exam itself does not immediately invalidate it.
If the deanery demands an early refund, it is worth:
There is no need to report the fictitious loss of the document or to obtain an additional ID just to avoid submitting it.
The best solution is to explain the situation directly to the dean's office.
Yes. Maintaining the validity of the degree after completing the first degree allows you to continue to enjoy certain benefits.
However, not all promotions are subject to the same rules. It is worth distinguishing between statutory entitlements to cheaper rides and discounts offered by private companies.
Graduates of first-cycle studies may be entitled to a statutory deferral of payment of tuition fees from October 51% to 31 of the year of completion of studies.
The age limit related to the student rail pass still applies – up to the age of 26.
The concession covers certain rail journeys, including single tickets and corresponding monthly name-based tickets.
For example:
Therefore, if you complete your bachelor's degree in June and have not exceeded the age limit, you can still benefit from the statutory rail discount during the holiday period.
Graduates of first-cycle studies also retain certain rights to discounts on public transport until October 31st.
In the case of the statutory student discount in public urban transport, it amounts to 50%.
However, it should be remembered that transport providers may offer additional types of discounts based on local regulations. Therefore, it is always worth checking the current fare applicable in a given city.
There are no uniform rules for commercial promotions.
Some companies honor valid student ID, others require a current status of being a student at a university or apply additional age restrictions.
Before purchasing a ticket or taking advantage of a promotion, it is best to check the terms and conditions of the promotion.
This issue often causes misunderstandings.
Maintaining a student's rights until October 31 does not mean that the graduate still has the status of a student in all areas of law.
This is of particular importance for people working under a contract of assignment.
As a rule, students under the age of 26 who conclude a contract for a commissioned work are not subject to mandatory social and health insurance for this reason.
After obtaining the license, the situation changes. Completing studies means losing the status of a student for the purposes of these insurances, even if the ID card remains valid until October.
Example: You are 23 years old, you are defending a bachelor's degree in June, and you work under a contract of assignment. Upon completion of your studies, the employer should in principle have you enrolled in the appropriate insurance policies. You cannot rely solely on a valid ID to maintain your exemption from contributions.
If you start your master's studies in October, you will again obtain the status of a student according to the rules applicable at the university.
Many people who complete their first-cycle studies plan to continue their education with a master's degree. The question then arises: can the previous qualification be used also at the next stage of education?.
The answer depends primarily on the university.
If you continue your studies at the same university, it is often possible to continue using your current plastic ELS.
For example, the University of Warsaw indicates that a graduate of a first-cycle degree who is admitted to a second-cycle degree at the same university can keep their current card and extend its validity.
The procedure usually involves updating the data in the university system and confirming the validity of the document.
If you are starting your second-cycle studies at a different institution, you will need to obtain a document issued by the new university.
From the 2025/2026 academic year, the basic form of identification is the mLegitimation available in the mObywatel application. The physical ELS card is issued to students upon request or to individuals without a PESEL number.
Therefore, after accepting admission to a new university, it is worth checking:
It should not be assumed that a document issued by the previous university will be automatically updated by the next one.
Digital mLegitimation in the mObywatel application is a separate document and is subject to the validity rules applicable to student IDs.
This means that:
In the case of mLegitimation, the validity is confirmed by an electronic certificate of the student. In the case of physical ELS, the university updates the data recorded in the chip and places a corresponding hologram.
The latest and archived sticker designs can also be found in collectors' collections. An example is ELS student holograms in collectible versions, covering various editions and dates.
Such copies are purely for collectors' purposes. They are not used to confirm a student's status or to independently extend the document's validity.
If your ID has expired, you can ask the university if it can be kept as a souvenir.
For many graduates, the ELS is part of their memories from their studies, just like the transcript, diploma, or photos from the graduation ceremony.
However, it is worth remembering a few rules:
Yes. The student ID card remains valid until October 31st of the year of graduation after completing the first degree. This applies to both bachelor’s degree graduates and engineering students.
No. After completing a second-degree or unified master's degree, the certificate does not have an extended validity period until the end of October. The right to use it ends upon completion of the studies.
The degree certificate remains valid until October 31st after completing the first degree. If the university demands its return earlier, it is worth asking for the reason and explaining the situation to the dean.
Yes. Graduates of first-cycle studies can benefit from the statutory 51% -to-31 October 2020 rail discount period for studies completed by that date, provided they meet the remaining conditions, particularly regarding age and documentation of entitlement.
Not in the legal sense. The graduate retains certain student rights until October 31st, but this does not mean that they continue to have the status of a student for the purposes of exemption from mandatory ZUS contributions under the assignment contract.
Often this is the case if you continue your studies at the same university. For example, the University of Warsaw allows you to extend your current ELS. In case of changing universities, you need to obtain a document in accordance with the rules of the new institution.
Yes. Digital Student ID is subject to the same rules regarding the validity of student ID. After completing the first degree, it can remain valid until October 31st of the year of graduation.
The Warsaw University, among others, confirms this possibility. However, it is worth checking the rules applicable at your own university, especially if the ELS card was also used as a key to access buildings or other services.
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The Hologramykolekcjonerskie24.com editorial team has been specializing in the topic for over 10 years. collectible holograms and patterns related to educational documents. We are preparing practical guides on ELS student holograms, doctoral ELDs and school-based ones, and their dates, variants, safeguards, and histories.
The published content is based on reliable sources regarding the Polish education system, applicable legal regulations, regulations of the relevant ministries, and official information provided by universities, schools, and public institutions. We regularly update the materials to reflect changes in regulations, document templates, and policies applicable in Polish education.
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