Study in Poland
There are at least five good following reasons why you should choose Poland as a country to study : A very good quality of studies for competitive price , Poland is a dynamically developing member state of European Union with young society, strong economy and good prospects for the future, Study programs provided in English language, International students can apply for legal work during studies Poland is beautiful, safe and friendly country to live, study and work
Country Facts
Poland is situated in Central Europe. It is bound by the Baltic Sea, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia and Ukraine. The country is mostly part of the Great European Plain, while to the south, the plain rises to the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains. There are 38.2 million inhabitants in the country. The official language is Polish. The capital of the country is Warsaw.
Higher Education System
At present there are a total of 121 state higher educational institutions and not less than 210 non-state higher educational institutions in Poland, which offer a very wide range of different courses and programmes (private schools of higher education must receive permission to operate from the Ministry of National Education; they acquire a legal status when registered by the Minister of National Education). Among the higher schools, there are both university-type and non-university type (professional education) institutions. State and non-state higher professional (vocational) schools train students in professional specialisations and prepare them for specific professions by including 15-week internships and school practice in the mandatory curriculum.
Graduates of higher professional courses are awarded the title of Bachelor of Arts/Science or Engineer (Bachelor of Engineering) after 3 to 4 years of study. Graduates of university-type higher educational institutions are awarded the title of magister (Master of Arts/Science) or its equivalent after taking standard 5-year MA/MSc level courses or 1.5 to 2-year complementary MA/MSc level courses (intended for holders of the professional title of Bachelor of Arts/Science or Engineer received either at university-type institutions or institutions of higher professional education).
The academic degree of doktor (Ph.D.) is awarded to a person who has passed his/her doctoral examinations and submitted and defended a doctoral dissertation (holding the title of magister or its equivalent is a necessary condition for successively obtaining the doktor’s degree).
Everyday Life
The very first thing which comes into our mind is about the economy of Poland.Well Poland is a modern EU country that left communism a quarter of a century ago. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit you can make as much money as you want in Poland.The economy of Poland is the sixth largest in the EU,the largest of the post communist countries.Over the 20 year history of index Poland economic freedom score has advanced by about 16 points,a top-20 improvement.Before the late recession its economy grew a yearly growth rate of over 6.0%.According to the central statistical office of Poland,in 2010 the polish economic growth rate was 3.9%,which was one of the best results in Europe.Poland has taken steps to restore fiscal discipline a challenging economic environment. The polish Zloty is the currency of Poland.The Zloty, which literally means golden is the currency of Poland.The currency show that the most popular Poland zloty exchange rate is the EUR to PLN rate. The currency code for Zlotych is PLN,and the currency symbol is zt.The modern Zloty is subdivided into 100 groszy.In the future,Poland plans to adopt the European currency Euro.Currency can be exchanged in many banks or currency exchange shop.They are easy to be found in the city centers,airports,railway stations,places of tourist attractions and in some hotels
Cost of Living
Poland is a country where cost of living is lower than in other countries.Students should remember that average costs are different in each city.
Shopping
Shopping centres are available in every bigger town in Poland. Usually, they are open 7 days a week, often from 8.00 to 21.00,although,there are also shops open 24/7.Local shops where you can buy food and fresh products are mostly open from Monday to Friday usually from 7.00 or 8.00 to 18.00 and on Saturday to 14.00 in other cities than Warsaw.They are usually closed on Sundays. Bazaars are very popular in Poland. You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables there, as well as many other items. Bazaars are most frequently open from Monday to Saturday, and are often located at large housing estates.
The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate thousand-year history.Its unique character developed as a result of its geography at the confluence of various European regions.In the 19th and 20th centuries the Polish focus on cultural advancement often took precedence over political and economic activity.Because of rapid industrialization and urbanization,as well as a certain distrust of rural conservatism during the years of communist rule,Poland traditional folk culture has been seriously undermined since World War II.Nowadays,Poland is a highly developed country;however,it retains its tradition. Poland national culture emerged as a synthesis of Latin and Byzantine influences and was further engendered by the numerous European occupations, throughout its history.Poland is a mix of eastern and western cultures.Similarly, the influences from the traditional folk and modern art intertwine in Polish culture. In Polish culture,everyone can find something of interest.Especially among students,interest in culture has become fashionable.Polish modern art is more and more popular in the world.It has been highly esteemed in Europe for a long time.In Sort we can say that Poland is a true state of culture.
Transportation
Almost every city or town in Poland,not only the major ones,has its own network of public transport.Most of them stick to using only buses,some of them also add trams to be cooler,and in Warsaw you can also use subway.In the large cities in Poland the public transportation system is well developed.Travelling around a city is easily done using buses or trams.In small towns local and regional bus services are widely provided. Anyway,it might be hard for you in the beginning to get to know the time table of buses or trams.So, first of all you have to get familiar with the public transport of the city. In order to travel via means of public transport you need to buy yourself a ticket first.But the fact is that there are cities where you simply can not buy tickets inside the trams or buses themselves.Instead,you can get ticket in the official sales points listed by the public transport operators in each city, shops or kioska and finally,the vending machines.Apart from buses,trams you can call for a taxi or hail one on the street.The taxi ranks are usually located near railway station, airports,shopping centre or near the city attractions.Beware that some of the private transport companies are not registered as taxis.They may have a taxi sign, yet the phone no is usually missing from the side of the car.It is better to call for a taxi from one of the many corporations or just use one which use a phone no clearly written on the side door of the car.
Structure of Studies
Poland traditions of academic education go back to 1364.The Cracow Academy, one of the oldest in the world, took after academies in Bologna and Padua, and was the second university in Central Europe after the school in Prague. Today, the Polish higher education system is developing dynamically. After the United Kingdom, Germany and France,Poland holds the fourth place in Europe in terms of the number of people enrolled in higher education.Higher education institutions in Poland provide study programmes in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.Students obtain qualifications at three levels and two profiles (academic and practical).Higher education institutions run full-time, extramural, evening and external courses.Full-time courses are defined as the basic type of studies.
The Higher Education Institutions in Poland are divided into state (public) and private (non-public) institutions.There are two main categories of higher education institutions:university-type and non-university institutions.The degree system based on the three-cycle structure has been successfully implemented together with the European Credit which is known as Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).The European standard in higher education makes it easier for students to obtain recognition of their qualifications in other countries.
1ST CYCLE
First-cycle studies leading to the professional title of a licencjat or inzynier.Bachelor degree programmes,at least 6 semesters,leading to the professional title of licencjat or at least 7 semesters,leading to the professional title of inzynier.This is the Polish equivalent of the Bachelor degree.These are focused on preparing students for future employment,or for continued education within Master degree programmes.To obtain this degree,students must earn at least 180 ECTS (Transfer and Accumulation System) credits.The duration of this course is 3 to 4 Years.
2ND CYCLE
Second-cycle studies - Called as Master degree programme (1.5 to 2 years) following the first cycle studies and leading to the professional title of Master.These are focused on theoretical knowledge as well as application and development of creative skills.Master degree holders may enter a doctoral programme (third-cycle studies).To obtain this degree, students must earn 90-120(Transfer and Acumulation System ) ECTS credits.The duration of the course is 1.5 to 2 years.
LONG CYCLE STUDIES
It is also known as the Single long-cycle studies.These study program basically based on an integrated study program, which contains both basic studies and in-depth specialization.The Master degree programmes which consist 10 to 12 semesters leading to the professional title of magister or an equivalent degree. Its depends on the study course profile.To obtain this degree,students must earn at least 300 ECTS credits (10-semesters studies) or at least 360 ECTS credits (12-semesters studies).
3RD CYCLE STUDIES
3RD Cycle Studies are also called as Doctoral degree programmes.The total duration of these Programmes is 6 to 8 semesters.These Programmes are accessible to graduates of the Master degree and leading to the PhD degree.These Programmes are offered by the university-type schools as well as some research institutions which belongs to the departments of the Polish Academy of Sciences,along with research and development institutions.The PhD degree is awarded to candidates who submit and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation before the thesis committee,and who pass the doctoral examination.
Scholarships
Poland offers various scholarship programs for polish students and as well as international students to.Studying in Poland means quality education at a low cost and also we can apply for various scholarships and discounts for international students.For example,the Polish Government Scholarship will not only pay our tuition fees but also give us a monthly allowance,which will cover some of our everyday living costs.The Government Scholarship is granted for a specific period of time. However,we may apply to extend it to cover the total time of our studies in Poland.Scholarships for Foreigners The Ministry of Science and Higher Education sets from time to time a quota of scholarships for persons undergoing education in Poland under international agreements or under decision of the minister responsible for Higher Education.Foreign students scholarship applications falling within the quota are transmitted by Polish consular/diplomatic missions to the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange. The final decision of scholarship,is taken by the Minister of Science and Higher Education
Scholarships under inter-school agreements Some Polish and foreign higher education institutions have agreements on temporary exchange of students and academic and research staff.In each case the HEIs involved agree the rules for granting scholarships.A foreign student seeking a scholarship in Poland must meet specific inter-school exchange requirements.Some HEIs have their own scholarship programs.European Union scholarships we can also come to Poland on one of European Union programs in which Polish HEIs are actively involved, in particular the SoCRATES educational programs which creates opportunities for cooperation at all levels and in various fields of education.
How to Apply
A large part of the Polish higher education market is made up of private colleges and universities.There are about 310 privately owned universities and colleges and 138 state schools of higher learning.There are both publically and privately founded universities in Poland. Public higher education is free for Polish students, and for international students that apply on the same terms as polish students.The higher education system is one of high quality and all leading universities offer programs thought in English, within study areas such as medicine,engineering,humanities,business and finance.More than 100 higher education institution in Poland currently offer study programs in English.
Admission to the study programs study are administrated by the institutions of higher education,and candidates apply directly to the institution of their choice. In order to apply for selected study program commencing in October for fall semester and February for spring semester,a candidate should contact the admission office of the selected University directly by e-mail (phone/fax) or through one of its foreign recruitment offices.In case a candidate requires a visa to stay and study on the territory of European Union, he or she should apply for selected program adequately earlier,so that decision concerning visa issuance is made before the fall/spring semester begins.It is best to contact the international relations office well before the course starts in order to find out all the necessary details about the application procedures and other important information.
Technical Studies
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS POLAND - TECHNICAL STUDIES
The Polish government wants to boost the number of graduates from technical faculties.The Ministry of Science and Higher Education allocated 210 million zloty (US$60 million) to create special scholarships for students at the nation polytechnics and universities.With the help of the Technical studies,more and more high school graduates will decide to pursue their studies at technical faculties.Since 2008 when a pilot version of the scholarship programme was launched, additional funding of 650 million zloty has been pledged to technical education.
The faculties of Poland universities belongs to IT studies, chemistry, mathematics, mechanics, physics, power and building engineering, as well as biotechnology and mechatronics. There are many technical universities in various cities across the country. Polish Technical universities are famous for their high quality of teaching and research projects, which is why many young Poles and international students residing in Poland score so high in international contests.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The students must have graduated from the Secondary School or College without that the students will not be accepted in Poland. The students must have knowledge about the Subjects of Physics, Chemistry , Biology and Mathematics .Good knowledge of both written and spoken English is a prerequisite for admission.
APPLICATION FORM
You can get all the information you need about application forms, dates and what documents to submit from the university you want to apply to.All the submitted documents should be originals or certified copies.If the documents are not written in English,they must be accompanied by translations (into English or Polish) certified by an approved institution.It is good to apply in good time before the application deadline.The application date is usually long before the start of the semester.Make sure that you complete your application correctly.
VISA REQUIREMENT
You can get all the information you need about application forms, dates and what documents to submit from the university you want to apply to. All the submitted documents should be originals or certified copies.If the documents are not written in English,they must be accompanied by translations (into English or Polish) certified by an approved institution.It is good to apply in good time before the application deadline.The application date is usually long before the start of the semester.Make sure that you complete your application correctly.
CLASSES
The classes consists both of lectures and Practical teaching. You have to be prepared to study a lot outside the classes. Both the Literature and the classes are in English. The studies will not be a problem if you have a big interest for Technical Studies.
FINANCE
The private universities have more places to offer.All the teaching at these universities is in English.The private programmes cost more money than the public universities.At the private programmes you pay a tuition that can vary from university to university but normally it is between 9 000 and 100 000 Euros per year.
Technical Universities in Poland are among the most internationalized in the country.They accept many international students from different countries from all continents.What makes technical universities so special are also the links connecting them with the business industry.Every ninth president among the top 500 corporations in Poland is a graduate of the Warsaw University of Technology
Business administration is highly career oriented and teaches about the various aspects of managing scarce resources in a business entity and supports a business by planning,decision making,Project management as well as with the allocation of human resources and finances.The reason why Polish universities are doing so well is that they offer very high quality programs,which are less costly than similar programs in western Europe and they provide students with good professional preparation for meeting the market demands. Polish business universities are well known in the region, which is reflected by their positions in the rankings. Warsaw School of Economics and Kozminski University take place a high rank in the Financial Times rankings. Other universities of economics in Poland are also well known and take high positions in different rankings,like the Eduniversal ranking. Business schools in Poland cooperate with the best universities in the World.Warsaw School of Economics forms part of the CEMS Alliance, which is a group consisting of the best business schools in the world.The Kozminski University is the only institution in Central and Eastern Europe which is AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accredited.Also Poznan University of Economics and Cracow University of Economics educate highly-qualified managers and economic experts and are famous for their academic expertise and research.
Business schools in Poland offer a wide variety of study programs.You can normally choose to specialize in:ECONOMICS
Being a social science,economics investigates not only the production and distribution of goods but also the human behavior which is linked to economical conditions and developments.The main assumption of economics is the general scarcity of resources to fulfill the needs of economic entities.Graduates who understand the commercial and economic environment and who are also highly numerate are in short supply.If you enjoy solving problems and you are interested in the practical application of economics and mathematics,this degree course could be what you are looking for.It will give you a thorough grounding in mathematical,statistical and computational skills,and a sound knowledge of economic theory- together with a good understanding of economic issues.There are various Universities who Offered the best Econimics Courses.The Warsaw School of Economics and Lazarski University is one of them.
MANAGEMENT
A Master degree in Management gives you the skills and knowledge needed to get to the top of the business world. Subjects covered in the Management programs reach from human resources, finance,information and strategy management to marketing. There are various Universities who Offered the best Management Courses.The Kozminski University and Warsaw School of Economics is one of them.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
The aim of the programme is to broaden students knowledge of international business environment and prepare them for careers in international companies,with special focus on Central and Eastern European markets.The International Business Program is a 2 year second-cycle study programme with specialisation in international management.This programme started in 2000 and is run in English.The courses are provided by the staff of the Faculty of Management as well as staff from many foreign universities with which the Faculty cooperates.There are various Universities who Offered the best Management Courses .The Poznan University of Economics, Cracow University of Economics,Warsaw School of Economics,Lazarski University and Kozminski University is one of them.
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
This is a practical programme based around the key requirements of international accounting and finance bodies,aiming to provide a fast-track route for becoming a professional accountant.You will learn the latest techniques in risk management and will focus on business analytics,ensuring you build expertise in dealing with large amounts of data.You will be trained to work to the most professional,ethical and exacting of legal standards.You will learn to apply inventive, intellectual rigour to a wide variety of situations,whether ensuring the quality of an entity work or collecting and analyzing complex data in order to make the right decision.There are various Universities who Offered the best Management Courses.The Kozminski University,Warsaw School of Economics,Cracow University of Economics is one of them.
DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAMS
These programs give possibilities of obtaining a foreign and a Polish diploma through just one study program,which is an unequaled advantage on the labor market which is offered by Lazarski University, Cracow University of Economics,University of Lodz,Warsaw School of Economics,Kozminski University
MBA PROGRAMS
These programs enable professionals to familiarize with various business-related fields of study and furthermore establish professional connections offered by Cracow University of Economics,Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University,University of Lodz,Warsaw University of Technology,Warsaw School of Economics,Kozminski University
Jobs
Poland offers a huge amounts of jobs for graduates and as well as students.For searching job in Poland,you can start with the national daily papers and weekly job supplements that are published in the majority of Polish dailies.Obviously, there are many other places where you can find current job vacancies.
Poland is one of the few countries in the European Union (EU) that has been able to increase its gross domestic product (GDP)in the midst of the global economic downturn. The majority of the country workforce is in the services sector,while around 30% are in industry,working in automotive manufacturing,chemicals and food processing,among other sectors. Approximately 16% of the workforce is employed in agriculture. The number of foreign people working in Poland.The foreigners has increased steadily since 2010, mostly in the agriculture,construction, retail and wholesale trade sectors (OECD, 2012).Youth unemployment is a big problem in the country, but there are opportunities available for people with highly sought-after language or IT skills in industries such as telecommunications,computer science and logistics.Other areas of recent growth include education,banking and finance,business services,tourism and management.
JOB VACANCIES
There are lots of job vacancies in Poland. You can Search job vacancies with the daily papers and weekly job supplements. You should also try notice boards in supermarkets. sometimes you can find some temporary job offers like helping with housework or dog-walking there. When you are looking for a job, you should also bear in mind that your wages depend on where you live. Naturally,the best wages are offered in big cities,regardless of the type of a position.The minimum wage in Poland is 317 euro per month. A student can earn about 10-15 PLN [2.5 - 3.75 euro] per hour.
HOW TO FIND JOB IN POLAND
Public Employment Services
In order to take advantage of all the offered job advertisements available at a poviat labour office, you have to be registered with it as a job-seeker or an unemployed. Registration will provide access to closed job offers. In order to register, you need the following documents: The identity card or another identification document along with a certified registered address of residence. A diploma, school graduation certificate, school certificates or a certificates of completion of a course or training. Employment records for the entire employment period. All the other documents necessary to determine the rights, if any.
Non-public employment agencies
All non-public employment agencies should be entered in the register of entities that operate employment agencies, which is confirmed by a certificate issued by the marshal of a voivodeship. A list of agencies can be found on the website of the informational webpage of labour offices .This list is also available at the poviat labour office, voivodeship labour office or at the Information and Career Planning Centres.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS IN POLAND
Work experience and internships in Poland As the job market is competitive and youth employment is relatively high, work experience could give your CV the boost it needs to help you stand out from the crowd. Internships and summer work placements for students can also be arranged by: AIESEC UK - for students and recent graduates. IAESTE UK - for science, engineering and applied arts students.
VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND
Volunteering in Poland is another way to improve your employability in the eyes of prospective employers. The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a Special Voluntary program which was founded by the European Commission.The Opportunities vary from placements concerned with sport and culture to others focused on social care and the environment.Travel, accommodation,food and insurance are covered by a European grant for successful applicants, who also get given a personal allowance each month. Another organization that may have volunteering opportunities available is Volunteers for Peace. You may also be able to arrange to volunteer by sending speculative applications to organizations in the sector in which you wish to work. Employment contract The primary form of employment in Poland is represented by an employment contract. At the same time, it is the most beneficial contract as far as additional rights are concerned, meaning the employee entitlements. The matters related to the employment contract are regulated by the Labour Code. There are some rule that you have to follow when entering into an employment contract with an employer.An employment contract should be entered into in writing, and it should specify the parties to the contract,the type of the contract,the date of its conclusion and the terms and conditions of employment and the salary
Employment contracts for a probation period.
Employment contracts for a definite period.
Permanent employment contract.
Sometimes the employment contract can be terminated.For terminating the contract we must follow some rules, includes:
By mutual agreement of the parties.
By submission of a declaration of one of the parties by giving a termination notice.
By submission of a declaration of one of the parties without prior termination notice.
When the contract duration has expired.
When the work under the concluded contract has been completed.
Gross infringement of basic employee obligations by an employee.
Loss of rights through the fault of the employee that are necessary to carry out the work at the occupied post, or through no fault of the employee.
In case of employee incapacity to work due to a disease that has lasted for a specified time pursuant to the Labour Law provisions.
In case of employee justified absence at work due to reasons other than a disease for a period longer than one month. Sometimes an employee may terminate an employment contract without prior termination notice:
If a medical certificate confirms that the work carried out by an employee has detrimental impact on their health,and the employer does not transfer them within the deadline specified in the medical certificate to another type of work that is suitable for their health condition and professional qualifications.
If the employer commits a gross infringement of basic obligations against the employee.