Study in Poland

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

DESCRIPTION

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.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

General requirements for admission to degree programs in Poland are the same for both university-type and non-university HEIs.The Degree programs are offered by the higher education institutions in Poland.Requirements for Undergraduate (Bachelors) Programs in Polish The Under graduate Program or usually called as Bachelor Program, is also known as the first-cycle studies.Access to first-cycle studies,leading to the professional title of licencjat or inzynier (Engineer),as well as long-cycle studies, leading to a Master degree (magister or an equivalent degree), is open to holders of an upper secondary school certificate (Matura certificate) or an equivalent entitling the holder to enroll in such programs in Poland. Additional entrance examinations may be conducted by HEIs only if this is necessary to assess knowledge or skills that are not assessed by the Matura examination or the applicant holds an upper secondary school certificate obtained abroad.

Requirements for Graduate (Masters) Programs in Polish The Graduate Program or usually called as Masters Program,is also known as the Second-cycle studies.Access to the second-cycle studies is open to holders of a licencjat or inzynier (Engineer) degree,a Master degree (magister or an equivalent degree)or the equivalent of the Polish higher education diploma entitling the holder to enroll in such programs in Poland.Requirements for Doctorate Programs in Polish Access to the doctoral programs is open to applicants who hold a Master degree (magister or an equivalent degree) or the equivalent of the Polish higher education diploma entitling the holder to enroll in such programs in Poland.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applying in Poland universities are very easy. There is Some important required documents that we must follow during admission in Poland universities which includes:

DOCUMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE OR BACHELORS PROGRAMS

Notarized secondary school certificate or an official duplicate issued by the candidate high school,

filled out application form,

4 passport-size photographs,

copy of candidate ID (passport),

certificate of the English language proficiency optionally (unless the high school courses were taught in English);

medical certificate with no contraindication for studying,

admission fee payment receipt.

DOCUMENTS FOR GRADUATE OR MASTERS PROGRAMS

Undergraduate program diploma or an official duplicate issued by the university,

candidate CV with the details about the school and professional career optionally,

one academic reference and one personal reference optionally,

filled out application form,

4 passport-size photographs,

copy of the candidate ID (passport),

proof of English language proficiency(unless the first degree was taught in English),

medical certificate with no contraindication for studying,

admission fee payment receipt.

DOCUMENTS FOR DOCTORATE PROGRAMS

Legalized master diploma and transcript of records

Research Proposal

Bachelor Diploma and transcript of records

Certificate validating Sufficient knowledge of English(Certificate recognized by CUE)

Application Form.

Copy of passport or official Identification Document (ID).

copy of visa/ residence permit/ Karta Polaka (if applicable)

2 photographs (45mm x 65mm and 35mm x45mm) The photograph should be good quality . Copied, scanned or paper photos are not applicable.

medical certificate

copy of health insurance

copy of insurance

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

It is not necessary for students to speak fluently Polish when they start studying in Poland.Universities offer a wide range of courses taught in English.If students wish to study in Polish,before they will enroll they are required to provide a certificate of proficiency in Polish language.Most of the universities organize summer schools in polish language, literature and culture.

During the semester foreign students can visit Schools in Polish language and culture based on the universities. To study at Poland, you will need to demonstrate a required level of English language proficiency. In addition to the more common language qualifications - such as IELTS, TOEFL, (I)GCSE, O level, IB and A and AS level English - the University also considers a number of other English language qualifications 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.

DEADLINES

The Deadlines for nomination are: For Winter Semester-We can apply Upto July end For Summer Semester- Its 15th October