Popular Consultant
Emrul Hasan
Professional Consultant
Well, well, well……Hello there my friend! And I know why you are here! To expand your mind by exploring yet another gratifying country. Do you know how many countries we have explored so far? Let me hand that calculation over to you.
So, today your very own, most favorite, super cool,.........(Well, you can add a few more adjectives by yourself, you know!), your BuddyBee is going to gift you a trip to Poland, a large country with a rich history, vibrant culture, and welcoming people. I am sure that you are going to love the country and if you are thinking about your higher studies in Poland, you will be able to see the options by yourself during the trip. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s pack our backpacks and fly to explore Poland! What say?
Hey, I know Buddy that you are thinking about your higher studies in Poland and that’s why you are here. But what if I ask you some of the reasons why?
Don’t get stressed. Even if you are not sure yet, I can assure you that you will get all your answers by the end of this trip. At first, let’s find out some of the top reasons why my Buddy should consider Poland for his/her higher studies! Let’s go!
⦁ SO MANY OPTIONS
In Poland, there are more than 1.1 million students currently studying at almost 400 universities. Other than Polish and English, there are hundreds of languages that are taught here. Even more exciting fact is that while studying in Poland, you will have a chance to enter a competition with NASA or become a part of a prestigious scholarship program in areas of humanities (like ancient and modern languages, literature, and philosophy). Isn’t that enchanting!
Polish business schools also deliver world-class education in management and finance (also as double-degree programs) all recognized and accredited internationally. There are also a lot more colleges for arts as well as faculties of humanities and polytechnics, all of them equipped with ideal laboratories and super-computers. See for yourself Buddy – over a million students can’t be wrong, can they?
⦁ STUDY IN THE CENTRE OF EUROPE
You know what Buddy? There are actually so many perks of studying in Poland. Let me tell you one by one. Hold your breath! :)
⦁ Poland is the place where you can earn a diploma that will open up doors to the best companies in Europe and some of the best in the world.
⦁ The country has many other perks, such as the fact that its medical schools are accredited in the US and that, while studying in Poland, you will have access to the European Union’s study programs and are able to do internships or traineeships abroad.
⦁ With top-quality, internationally recognized degrees, almost no other region in the world can set your career off to such a promising start, my Buddy.
⦁ Also, do not forget that Poland has a favorable geographic location that has an excellent transport connection to the whole European Union at your fingertips! [1]
⦁ LIVE IN A CITY THAT'S BURSTING WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES
In Poland, you can choose to study in the European Capital of Culture Wrocław, artistic Kraków, hipster Warsaw, multicultural Lublin, academic Poznań or beautiful coastal Gdańsk. There’s something for everyone in each city, from student pubs to vegan restaurants and art galleries.
So my Buddy, you better be ready to meet and interact with the crowd at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, explore Krakow’s Wawel Castle, during winter you can go skiing in the Tatra Mountains or sailing in the Masurian Lake District.
⦁ IDEAL FOR A STUDENT BUDGET
Hey, you must be worried about the cost. Hmmm! So, BuddyBee’s here with a great news. Poland is truly ideal for a student on a tight budget. International students can study at the 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 are average at 3000 EUR per year. [2]
Poland’s cost of living is also surprisingly low and in fact lower than in most other European countries. Here in Poland, a place in a student dormitory may cost less than 100 EUR per month for a shared room, cinema ticket starts from 2.50 EUR, and lunch in the cafeteria starts from 2 EUR. Overall, depending on the city on what lifestyle you desire, you might get by on less than 500 EUR per month.
Now that we have jotted down all of the reasons why Poland is a great destination for my Buddy’s higher education, let me clarify some of your queries that I’m sure are popping into your head!
⦁ UNIVERSITIES
Poland has approximately 500 universities and other institutions for higher education. About one-third of the higher education institutes are public and the remaining two-thirds are private. Poland welcomes international students and has significantly increased the number of foreign students in recent years.
Higher education institutions in Poland tend to specialize and are broken into a wide variety of categories, including:
⦁ University
⦁ Technical University
⦁ Academy of Agriculture
⦁ Academy of Economics and so on.
Altogether, there are 15 different types of institutes. [3]
⦁ TUITION AND PROGRAM DURATION
Polish students attending full-time programs receive free tuition at state institutions. Some foreign students may also study at no cost; however, others must pay a tuition fee of 2,000 EUR per year for Master’s programs.
Master’s programs normally last for 1.5 to 2 years; however, MSc degrees may require 2.5 years of studies beyond your Bachelor’s degree. In addition to courses, students in most disciplines must complete a thesis or project and defend it before receiving the Master’s degree. [6]
⦁ ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic year has 2 semesters, each concluding with an examination period.
⦁ Fall Semester runs from October through Mid-February
⦁ Spring Semester runs from Mid-February through June
⦁ POST-GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
EU citizens can work for any company in Poland after graduation without a work permit. Non-EU students may seek employment and once they are offered a job, may apply for a work permit.
Graduates of Master’s programs in Poland may also remain for Doctoral programs and Research if they are admitted to an academic program.
Hope BuddyBee has answered all your probable queries. Hope you are not tired yet, my young navigator! If you are good to go, we can now finally move forward to the detailed application process. I know Buddy, application processes can be a lil hectic, but don’t you worry! BuddyBee’s going to break down the whole complex process into some simple steps one by one so that you can keep track of where you are right now. Come along, Buddy!
⦁ APPLICATION PROCESS IN POLISH UNIVERSITIES
The application process in Polish universities is actually simple! You just need to pay attention to the steps below, gather the necessary documents and prepare the document translations.
1. CHOOSE A PROGRAM
The most popular disciplines for studies in Polish universities include:
⦁ Information Technology (IT)
⦁ Business Management
⦁ Logistics
⦁ Psychology
⦁ Economics and
⦁ Law
No matter what your inner passion is, choosing a study program is the initial step that you should take in order to gain admission. Here’s a trick! First, make a list of all the programs you are most interested in and then, check which universities offer those programs. Simple!
2. CHECK THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the level of studies and the higher education institution, the admission requirements may differ. But you don’t have to worry even a bit about that. BuddyBee’s consultants will guide you through the whole application process of your preferred university.
3. PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
Alright, Buddy, this is the least fun part, saying in advance okay! But this will lead you to your dream Polish university! Don’t get lost in your dreams, huh! We have to make that a reality, okay?
So, before you start, consult your university department and services and also the Polish Embassy for the document translations in Polish, if necessary. Overall, this is a list of documents that you need to submit for gaining admission, although different rules might apply depending on the program and institution:
⦁ A fully signed and filled application form
⦁ A valid passport and passport-size photographs
⦁ Previous high school diploma or degree certificates, depending on the level you are applying for
⦁ Sufficient English or Polish language proficiency provided through language test results
⦁ A curriculum vitae if you are applying for a Master’s [4]
It is important to know that in order to be eligible for any academic studies in Poland, your degree must be officially certified. For additional information and in order to know if there is a bilateral agreement between your country of origin and Poland, contact your Polish Embassy before proceeding with your application. Again, you can also consult BuddyBee’s consultants.
4. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
The most difficult part is done! Now that you have gathered, translated, filled, and signed all the necessary documents, it is finally time to submit your application. In Poland, you can either apply online, through an online application system or via email.
⦁ For online applications, you simply need to upload the required documents
⦁ For email applications, you need to scan and send the documents
In some instances, you may have to pay the application fee as well.
5. APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA
Well done! If you have come this far, you really have made it! And you are officially a student in Poland. After having your letter of admission received from the university, you need to be fast and apply for your student visa as an international student.
But….. But….. If you are from an EU/EEA country, you won’t need to apply for a student visa in order to study in Poland. Rather, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence permit to cover the duration of your stay.
If you are from any other country, then you will need to apply for a visa to travel to Poland. This visa is only valid for three months, however, so you will then need to obtain a temporary residence permit to cover the duration of your studies. In order to apply for a visa, you will need to go to the Polish embassy or consulate in your home country. [5]
6. ARRIVE IN POLAND
Hey Buddy! This is it. When you got your admission letter and you hold your Polish student visa, you are ready to go! The next thing to do is to decide on the type of accommodation you wish to apply for. Is it a student dormitory room or a private or shared accommodation? Learn some basic words in Polish, then pack your bags (I know, you won’t be able to pack light, so not gonna tell you that huh!), book a flight and arrive in Poland!
As they say in Polish:
“Pamiętaj, iż twoja własna determinacja, by osiągnąć sukces, liczy się bardziej, niż cokolwiek innego na świecie.”
– Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.