Poland’s academic year is divided into two semesters, they are enough
from February to June
from October to February.
Normally, a course begins in the winter semester and the other courses are based on this order. At almost all universities, academic performance is assessed using the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). An equivalence agreement between the German and Polish governments ensures that the periods of study, achievements and exams are recognized. Poland is also a signatory to the Bologna Agreement. When studying at a private university, it is very important to have it officially recognized by the Polish state accreditation commission, Polska Komisja Akredytacyjna.
Degrees in Poland
As part of a higher education reform, the Polish courses of study have been changed in recent years and the consecutive degrees licencjat (licentiate) or inżynier (engineer), magistr (master’s degree) and doctor (doctoral degree) created.
The licencjat, which is customary in the non-technical subjects, lasts three years and is roughly equivalent to the German bachelor’s degree. It ends with a written paper and its oral defense. This title is also awarded by non-university institutions such as teachers’ colleges.
The inżynier -Studies in engineering typically involves an additional year, since it is particularly practical. An exception in the Polish study system is the six-year medical course, which is completed with the title lekarz and a corresponding specialization in human, dental or veterinary medicine.
The licencjat can be followed by the two-year magistr, which roughly corresponds to a German master’s course. As part of a postgraduate course, you can then acquire a doctorate. It includes an independent scientific work, various written exams and the oral defense of the dissertation.
Requirements for studying in Poland
According to searchforpublicschools, the basic requirement for studying in Poland is the general university entrance qualification. In the case of an undergraduate degree, the Abitur grade is also decisive. At some institutions there are additional entrance exams, which foreign applicants usually do not have to take. Since the entrance tests, further requirements and application deadlines differ depending on the university, interested parties should inform themselves in advance at the respective student secretariat of the university of their choice.
Language skills for studying abroad in Poland
In Poland, the majority of courses are offered in Polish, but the number of English-language courses is growing rapidly. There are also German-language and a few French-language and Russian-language offers. In any case, students should have appropriate language skills. Some universities in Poland require a one-year preparatory course in Polish. The state test for Polish as a Foreign Language consists of a written and an oral test. The English-language courses usually require minimum scores in standard tests such as the IELTS test or TOEFL.
Studying in Poland – costs and financing
The public universities in Poland do not charge tuition fees, but only so-called matriculation fees of around EUR 170. This applies to both Polish citizens and those from EU member states who take part in an exchange program. Foreign self-financiers, however, have to pay tuition fees of around EUR 1,000 per year.
The situation is different with English-language courses and at private universities. Then you can expect tuition fees of around EUR 4,000–14,500 per year. These fees vary depending on the subject and type of degree.
Cost of living while studying in Poland
The cost of living in Poland is comparatively moderate. Of course, they depend not only on the individual lifestyle, but also on the city and region chosen. While life in the capital Warsaw is expensive, it is very cheap in Krakow, for example. Accommodation in a student residence costs around EUR 60–100 per month in a multi-bed room and EUR 150–250 in a single room.
Other options for accommodation while studying in Poland are host families, shared apartments with fellow students or individual apartments. The prices here are around EUR 200 below the German average. Groceries, hot meals and public transport tickets are also cheaper in Poland than in Germany.
Study abroad in Poland: financing options
There are various funding options for studying in Poland:
The federal government has set up the BAföG abroad. Students who are not eligible for funding in Germany can also claim this.
There are numerous political, cultural and private institutions that provide financial support for studying abroad in Poland.
Student loans are also a way of financing your studies abroad.
