Poland is a large country with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and welcoming people. Thanks to recent efforts in internationalization, Poland is attracting ever more students from abroad. The country offers world-class education at modest tuition fees and a remarkably affordable cost of living.
Located in Central Europe, Poland borders on Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (via its Kaliningrad exclave). Warsaw, Poland’s capital and largest city, is a modern, exciting hub with many universities offering a wide range of courses. Other major university cities include Cracow, Poznan, Lodz and Wroclaw.Higher education in Poland has a history dating back nearly 800 years, and the country is home to over 400 institutions – many of which now also offer study programmes in English. Polish academic traditions reach back to 14th century. The Jagiellonian University in Kraków was established in 1364, as the second university in Central Europe. Today’s Polish universities continue the glorious traditions of their predecessors. Warsaw University ifor example is ranked first in the Top Coder international IT ranking.
The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Poland are divided into two main groups: state (public) and private (non-public) institutions. These institutions are further divided into two main categories: academic and vocational institutions. All types of HEIs are controlled by the Polish Accreditation Committee, which is an independent institution, acting to ensure and enhance the quality of education.
TThe academic institution conducts first-cycle (bachelor’s degree) and second-cycle (master’s degree) studies or long-cycle studies. It may also provide education for doctoral students (PhD) too. In general, it takes 3 academic years to complete bachelor studies (6 semesters), whereas master studies, depending on the field of studies, last from 1,5 to 2 academic years (3 or 4 semesters accordingly).
Intakes:
In most cases the academic year at Polish universities consists of 2 semesters of 15 weeks duration each. Fall semester starts in the beginning of October and lasts till mid-February, with two-week break for Christmas holidays and with a one-week vacation period in February. Spring semester starts in mid February and lasts till the end of June, with one-week break for Easter holidays. Summer vacation lasts from the beginning of July to the end of September.
Requirements:
To qualify all international applicants must first meet the minimum requirements for entry into higher education in their own country, have a matriculation certificate or equivalent document; command of English (at least on an intermediate level) is also required.
Some departments of the arts, physical education, departments preparing students for the teaching profession, medical and technical universities may organize additional aptitude tests.
Since Poland ratified the Lisbon Convention on Recognition of Degrees in 2004 recognition of Polish diplomas has become easier inter-nationally.
Popular Universities:
Education and Living Costs:
Tuition Fees:
Poland is an attractive destination for students. International students can study at public universities in Poland at an average cost of 2,000 EUR per year for a first degree, while fees for higher degrees and vocational programs average at 3000 EUR per year. Fees at public and non-public HEIs are established by the institution itself.
The tuition fees range from EUR 2000 to 6000 per year and depend on the institution and study program. For MBA programs the cost is about EUR 8000-12,000 per year.
Living Expenses:
Depending on your personal situation, lifestyle and habits you may have different needs. In practice, you will need at least 1200-2500 PLN per month in order to cover the cost of decent accommodation, pay for the local transport, and even go out occasionally. This amount should cover the costs of rent, food, clothing, personal hygiene, local transport, study materials, telephone and other expenses.
Scholarship Opportunities
All international students may apply for scholarships within bilateral agreements on direct cooperation offered through Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange. There are many scholarships available within limits defined in bilateral agreements.
They are financed either by the Polish or the foreign partner’s government, often with the aim to enhance exchange within a specific field of study. The amount of a scholarship depends on the type of research undertaken.
If you are a non-EU citizen you must have a valid passport and visa (if required). Find a Polish consulate that can process you application. Set a visa appointment with the consulate.
Prepare the necessary documents:
- Visa Application form
- Travel document (passport),
- Biometric photos
- Travel cum Health insurance
- Sufficient means to support yourself
- Documents confirming the purpose of your stay.
Please note that some consulates can require specific documentation, so get the needed information. Submit all the documents including a printed and signed application form and the visa fee. The process usually takes up to 15 days for it to be reviewed.
There are English courses available for international students, so you don’t have to speak Polish. If you prefer to study in Polish you will have to complete a Polish language course before you start studying.
Most Polish universities provide accommodation for international students in their own dormitories, but the number of rooms is limited. The host university should help students in finding appropriate accommodation.
In Poland students have got 51% discount on travelling with PKP (railway) and public transport in all cities. In many pubs, beauty shops, gyms, Xerox or restaurants there are discounts available or “happy hours” where after showing student card a student receives a discount. Some schools offer their students possibility to install Microsoft Windows, MS Office and other programs necessary for studying for free. However, this is each university an individual offer. As a member of European Union, Poland takes part in students’ exchange program LLP Erasmus. All students may benefit from it. Apart from international exchanges there is a possibility to try to study at another Polish university within the MOST program.
There are many banks in Poland that have special offers for students and people up to 26. Choosing a bank one should pay attention to the additional fees for a debit card, account management, the amount of free ATMs in the city, additional charges for transfers or withdrawals from ATMs of other banks. The full list of banks is here (link). Students most willingly chose accounts in BZ WBK and mBank due to the low costs of the account and the number of free ATMs.