Things to consider before studying in Poland

HOUSING & LIVING COSTS

Housing and the cost of living in Poland are very cheap, especially when compared to other European countries. It is not only the high quality of teaching and security, but also the low cost of living in Poland that makes the country very attractive to European and international students. Here is a good place to start your accommodation search from.
Students in Poland spend around 200 EUR per month on accommodation, food and transport expenditures. Eating and drinking out is very economical.

Monthly transportation usually cost around 21 EUR, which is very cheap compared to transportation fees in other European countries. Student accommodation in Poland is super student-friendly, with prices starting from 50 EUR per month for a collective room in student dormitories and 100 EUR for a single room. Each university gives a different style of dormitories and options.

Students also have the advantage to live in private accommodation. The cost of living differs depending on the city. In big cities like Warsaw or Kraków, the monthly cost of booking a flat is higher, reaching up to 330 EUR. In smaller student cities like Gdańsk, Poznań or Wrocław, the cost is cheaper.
A very nice way to meet new people in Poland and minimize the cost of living is by sharing a flat with citizens. That way, you will only have to pay around 148 – 198 EUR per month.

TUITION FEES & SCHOLARSHIPS IN POLAND

Tuition fees for degree programs in Poland differ, but education for international students is still far cheaper than in many other European countries.

Are you a European citizen? If yes, then Poland is an excellent choice to pursue your studies. Do you want to know why? Tuition fees in Poland for full-time studies are free of charge at the Higher Education Institutions (HEI).

Tuition fees in Poland are for non-European students, but they are very cheap compared to other popular study destinations in Europe. The overall cost of a Bachelor’s degree for an international student can reach up to 6,000-7,000 EUR, and for a Master’s up to 7,500 EUR. It all depends on the program and the level of studies.

Be mindful that MBA programs, programs in medicine and dentistry and programs in private Polish institutions cost more. However, in some study programs, relying on the level, you will be asked to prove your Polish language skills but don’t worry, they are many English-taught programs is offered as well!

LANGUAGE & CULTURE IN POLAND

Poland is a country rich in history and culture, it has a thousand-year history and solid bonds to traditions, keeping its cultural heritage complete.
The Polish nation is a developing, hard-working nation, paying special attention to hospitality, as demonstrated by the Polish saying ‘’A guest in the house, God in the house.’’

Some celebrated people that the Poles are proud of include Frederik Chopin, Pope John Paul II, Marie Curie, John III Sobieski, Robert Lewandowski, Wisława Szymborska and Roman Polanski.

Polish Language

Poland ranks 16th in the EF English Proficiency Index and therefore, you won’t have any problem communicating in English effectively with Polish people.

On the other side of the coin, learning a different language comes with numerous benefits and will get you out of your comfort zone, enabling you at the same time to familiarize yourself with the Polish culture. Polish is considered one of the hardest languages to learn, but why not be courageous and try it out? It will be highly regarded by Polish people, who will definitely be impressed! Polish language is a West Slavic dialect spoken by more than 50 million people and is the sixth most spoken language of the European Union. The Polish alphabet contains 32 letters.

If you learn the Polish language, you will have the chance of better understanding the fundamentals of Czech, Slovak, Serbian or Ukrainian languages additionally since they share common linguistic features. Interested?

APPLICATION PROCESS IN POLISH UNIVERSITIES

The application process for Polish universities is very simple; you just need to read the steps below, gather the necessary documents and prepare the document translations, if applicable.

1. Choose a program

The most prominent disciplines for studies in Polish universities include Information Technology (IT), Business Management, Logistics, Psychology, Economics and Law. Choosing a study program is the primary step you should take in order to gain admission. Make a list of all the programs you are most curious about and check which universities offer these programs.

2. Check the admission requirements

Depending on the level of studies and the higher education institution, the admission requirements might be different. First of all, make a detailed plan and then carry out some research on your own or contact your closest Polish Embassy, as they can show you through the university application process. In addition, contact the university student services of the universities of your choice, as they are there to help you with queries connected to study programs and the criteria you need to fulfil.

3. Prepare the necessary documents

At this point, you are expected to put together all the necessary documents that you need to submit for gaining admission, although distinct rules might apply depending on the program and institution. Below are most of the essential documents you will need:

• A fully signed and filled application form
• A valid passport and passport-size photographs
• High school graduation certificate
• High school transcript of grades
• A certificate confirming access to higher education in your country
• A certificate confirming English language knowledge on B2 level
• A curriculum vitae.

It is crucial to know that in order to be qualified for any academic studies in Poland, your degree must be officially certified. You can find out more by interacting with people in the Study in Poland group here on Setlinn.

4. Submit your application

After you have gathered, translated, filled and signed all the needful documents, it is finally time to submit your application. You can either apply online, through an online application system, or via email. For online applications, you simply need to send the required documents. For email applications, you need to scan and send the documents. In some cases, you will have to pay the application fee as well.

5. Apply for a student visa

At this point we can say you have made it, and you are formally a student in Poland. After you have received your letter of admission from the university, you need to quickly apply for your student visa as an international student.

Contact and visit your closest Polish Embassy or Consulate for guidance and in order to start the visa process as soon as possible. Before that, make sure what kind of visa you will need to apply for and start gathering the documents, arrange at the same time the translations in Polish language.

6. Arrive in Poland

Seeing that you have gotten your admission letter and your Polish student visa, you are ready to go! Now you will choose the type of accommodation you wish to apply for. Do you want a student dormitory room or a private or shared accommodation? Make research and also contact your university student services if you are struggling to get student accommodation. Learn some important words in Polish, then pack your baggage’s, book a flight and arrive in Poland!

POLAND WEATHER

Mainly there are four seasons in Poland – spring, summer, autumn and winter, whereas some people discover two additional seasons, described as early spring and early winter. Spring begins in March, bringing sunny days and, sometimes, rain and light dew, with daily temperatures.
The summer can be truly hot, it begins in late May / June and lasts until the end of August.

During the autumn the weather is often changeable, you are likely to enjoy quite warm temperatures from September to October, while November brings rains and lower temperatures.

In winter, days become visibly shorter. It is cold and cloudy and brings constant snowstorms and relatively low total precipitation.
The temperatures in Poland are determined by seasons and the geographical location, the warmest areas in Poland are the Silesian Lowland and Sandomierska Upland, while the coldest spot is in the north-eastern edge of the country in Suwalki.

The finest times to visit Poland are May – June and September – October, when it is still warm and the number of tourists is lower. It is when you can enjoy the best walking conditions and know some of Poland’s most amazing places.

In regard to clothes to wear, lightweights are recommended in the summer months, while medium to heavy weights are advised in winter. Waterproofing is important throughout the year.

Do you plan to study in Poland this year? Let us connect and have a chat. I am also planning my study in Poland journey and would love to connect with people interested too.