However, not all students may like the Polish higher education system. For example, although they don't expel you from university for failing an exam, the student must pay and retake the course for the subject they failed.
Hunting for a Polish university
Those Ukrainian applicants who choose this country for higher education are lucky. The fact is that in 2005, Ukraine and Poland signed an intergovernmental Agreement on the academic recognition of educational documents and equivalence of scientific degrees. In simple words, this means that all Polish universities recognize the Ukrainian certificate. Therefore, this document is quite enough to start applying to one or another higher education institution in Poland right after finishing school. Moreover, applicants do not even need to take external independent testing.
Studying here is fully computerized
CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY. First, each candidate for student needs to choose an educational institution. This can be done online at www.studyinpoland.pl. This information resource was created specifically to attract foreign students to Polish universities. By the way, that's why there is even a page in Ukrainian. In addition, each university has its own page on this site. There you can find general information about it with a link to the official website, tuition fees, offered specialties, as well as scholarship opportunities for foreign students.
You can continue your search on a similar website – www.studiamagisterskie.info.
ADMISSION PROCESS. The university race in Poland starts at the end of May and lasts until mid-July. If we compare the admission process in this country with other European countries, it is no exaggeration to say that Polish universities are much less demanding of our students than, for example, British or German ones. For example, the package of documents required for admission is much smaller here. In most universities, the applicant only needs to submit a completed online application form (it is on the website of the chosen university), the original certificate with a supplement (for future master's students – a bachelor's diploma with a supplement) and its notarized translation, a medical certificate, and a certificate of Polish language proficiency (not always required).
However, there are nuances in this matter that can make the preparation of necessary documents costly. For example, educational documents must have an apostille (special stamp) from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sports, confirming their authenticity (cost – 111-339 UAH per document). Also, for instance, state universities in Poland require that documents be translated only by a special sworn translator registered in the National Register of Sworn Translators of the Ministry of Justice of Poland (their list at www.ms.gov.pl). Their services cost 35 zlotys (about 7.75 euros) per 1125 characters. If the translation is done in Ukraine, it must be notarized at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland. And that is expensive – 30 euros per page.
And finally, reviewing the applicant's documents is paid. So, if applying to a state university, you have to pay 200 euros. If it is a private university, this amount can be much less – 70-400 zlotys (15.5-89 euros).
Endurance tests
In most cases, foreigners in Poland are admitted based on documents without entrance exams. However, according to experts, sometimes exceptions to the rule are possible. For example, some universities may ask a candidate to take a subject-specific test (depending on the chosen specialty) or have a Skype interview to check their knowledge of Polish.
LANGUAGE ISSUE. By the way, confirming knowledge of Polish at level B1 or B2 is mandatory. There are two other ways besides the interview (not all universities conduct it) to do this. The first is to complete a one-year course at one of the language schools in Poland, whose certificate can be used to apply to any university. A full list of such schools is on this website – nauka.gov.pl. The second is to take an exam and obtain a certificate from the State Commission of Poland. You can register for it at: certyfikatpolski.pl. By the way, sample tasks are posted there that can be downloaded.
As for the test itself, it consists of written (reading, writing, grammar, listening comprehension) and oral parts, and the minimum score required is 119 out of 200. The test costs depending on the level – 60 euros (for level B1) or 80 euros (for level B2). All test takers will also need to pay 20 euros for the certificate itself.
The exam is held in Ukraine only 1-2 times a year. Typically in autumn or spring. This is because in our country there are not many people willing to take Polish, and the exam is conducted only when at least 20 people from the country are gathered. So it is possible that an applicant, if required to have this particular certificate, may have to go to take the exam, for example, in Warsaw, where it is held much more often.
Money for studies
The price for a Polish diploma is relatively low. On average, foreigners will have to pay 2000-4000 euros per year at a state higher education institution, while at a private one you can get by with 1000-1500 euros. And those Ukrainians who have a Pole's Card (a document confirming affiliation with the Polish people) can even study there for free.
DISCOUNTS AND FREE SPOTS. Moreover, Polish universities are ready to make concessions. For example, a student can write an application to the rector asking for a tuition discount. According to our students in Poland, they sometimes managed to lower the price from 3000 to 1000 euros per year. Moreover, it is possible to study at Polish universities completely for free. For instance, this year the Warsaw University of Technology allocated over 60 free spots for Ukrainians, and the Lodz University of Technology – 25. Information about such free opportunities from various Polish universities regularly appears on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland (www.kijow.polemb.net).
STUDY IN WROCLAW. Also in Poland there are various educational projects for foreigners that offer free study as a prize to winners. For example, the non-profit project Teraz Wroclaw (study-in-wroclaw.pl), whose winners get the opportunity to study for free at universities in the city of Wroclaw, obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree. The competition itself starts annually in February, and documents (completed university application form, certificate or bachelor's diploma with apostille, translation of documents, and medical certificate) can be submitted until the end of June. Then all scholarship candidates must undergo a 15-minute interview in Polish via Skype. After that, the commission members send the entire package of documents with interview results to the selected universities. And in early August, they announce their verdict.
The number of winners for each university may vary. For example, the University of Wroclaw selects 35 people, the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences – 13-14, and private universities give only 2-3 free spots. Winners of Teraz Wroclaw are only exempt from tuition fees, and they must cover all other expenses on their own.
“EASTERN SCHOLARSHIPS”. There is also a scholarship for those who want to get a master’s degree – a two-year program at the University of Warsaw in “Eastern European Studies” (www.studium.uw.edu.pl). Only humanities graduates who already have a master’s or specialist diploma can participate in the competitive selection.
The scholarship competition starts annually in December. First, all potential scholarship holders are selected based on documents. They need to submit a completed application form, diploma, CV, motivation and recommendation letters, a list of scientific publications or any scientific achievements and implemented projects, and a document proving Polish language knowledge by mid-March. Then, from mid-April to the end of May, those who pass the first stage will take a written exam and undergo a qualification interview. And only in mid-June the commission announces the list of 25 winners. The scholarship covers tuition fees, an intensive Polish language course, study materials, a research tour of Poland, and monthly all scholarship holders will receive about 1300 zlotys (288 euros). As for the actual study under the program, it begins in October.
THE LANE KIRKLAND SCHOLARSHIP. In addition to academic scholarship programs leading to a higher education diploma, Poland offers many programs for professional development. For example, one of these is the one-year Lane Kirkland program (www.kirkland.edu.pl). Each year, about 50 scholarship winners are selected who go to study and conduct research at one of the universities in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw or Lublin. Activists, journalists, university teachers, experts, politicians, employees of government and municipal institutions, heads of public organizations, managers and initiators of cultural events who are interested in obtaining additional education in such fields as economics and management, public administration, law, social and political sciences, international relations, humanitarian aid, etc. can apply for this program.
The competition starts annually in January, and document submission ends in March. Already in April, participants selected based on documents are invited for a qualification interview, and final results are known in May. The scholarship covers all student expenses: tuition fees, health insurance, housing and study materials costs, and a round-trip ticket. Additionally, every month all scholarship holders receive 1750 zlotys (about 390 euros).
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. Poland also offers scientific scholarships. For example, the Krzysztof Skubiszewski program (research internship at the University of Warsaw or another university), the Polish government scholarship for young scientists (information about these two programs is at www.studium.uw.edu.pl), and the Jagiellonian University scholarship (www.uj.edu.pl\/funduszestypendialne). There are also creative scholarships, the most popular of which is Gaude Polonia (www.polinst.kiev.ua). It is intended for people working in various forms of art and translators of Polish literature. All winners undergo creative practice at one of the cultural institutions in Poland, work on their creative project, and receive a monthly scholarship of 3000 zlotys (665 euros). And the best way to track information about all Polish scholarships is on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.
To be continued. <\/em><\/p>
Lyudmila KOLB,
“Segodnya”.<\/strong><\/p>