Step One: Choosing a University
In Poland, there are public and private higher education institutions where instruction is conducted in Polish and English. Foreign students are only offered paid tuition, but it is comparable to the fees at our universities. For example, the cost of one year of study in the currently popular specialty "real estate management" at Nicolaus Copernicus University (Toruń) is about $1,000 per year.
First of all, clearly define your area of interest. After three years of study at a Polish university, you will receive a European bachelor's degree (for technical specialties, four years are required). What next? You have two paths. The first is to enroll in another European university and continue your studies to a master's degree. The second path is less problematic: stay at your alma mater and obtain a master's degree (one and a half to two years).
Polish universities offer full-time, evening, and distance learning. Overall, the educational process differs little from that in our country. The only exception is distance learning: a distance student is required to attend classes once every two weeks and take two exam sessions – in winter (January) and spring (May). By choosing this form of study, you pay less, and the diploma will not differ from that of full-time or evening students.
Step Two: Learning the Language
The Polish language is very similar to Ukrainian, akin to Belarusian, and when we hear Polish speech, we easily recognize familiar words: dom, brat, siostra, ulica, niebo. Polish belongs to the Slavic language group and ranks third in number of speakers after Russian and Ukrainian. So for our applicant, learning Polish will not pose particular difficulties, except for phonetics. Therefore, while grammar and spelling can be mastered on your own if desired, pronunciation will always be problematic.
There are many courses for people with different levels of language proficiency. You can study Polish in short-term courses in Poland or within your home universities. Those choosing the first path should keep in mind that the cost of preparatory courses in Poland with accommodation is about $300–400 and they last one to two months (for schoolchildren after 10th grade, summer courses are organized). Those wishing to learn Polish in Kyiv can contact the Polish Embassy, where preparatory courses exist; after completing them, you can take the state exam in Polish as a foreign language. Polish can also be learned in some language centers in the capital. But if you still cannot overcome the language barrier, there remains the option to take a Polish language course upon admission, as most Polish universities offer this opportunity.
Step Three: Preparing Documents
To enroll in a Polish university, whether private or public, you need the following set of documents: a visa, a medical certificate, a legalized high school diploma, and confirmation of completion of preparatory Polish language courses. Young men also need to attach a registration certificate for military registration.
After choosing where to study, you need to contact the university by email or regular mail and receive an invitation for an interview. While waiting for a reply, you need to obtain a medical certificate of health. It is best to ask the doctor to type it or, at the very least, fill it out in block letters by hand. Then, together with the diploma and certificate, go to a translator, after which you notarize the translation.
When you receive a positive response from the chosen university, immediately go to the interview. But before that, do not forget to obtain a visa at the Polish Embassy and bring the package of documents we discussed above. Upon arrival, you discuss all the terms of study and, as a rule, upon confirmation of payment, you are enrolled without exams. The exception is creative professions. For example, when applying to the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, you will be asked to take a drawing exam. After that, you return to your home country and submit proof of enrollment to the Polish Embassy, and you will be issued a student visa.
Step Four: Settling In at the New Place
Upon arrival in Poland, the first thing you need to do is find housing. Polish universities do not provide free dormitories but offer assistance in settling in – for example, they may offer a paid dormitory at the university ($40–100 per month). Or you rent housing on your own (from $100 and up). In dormitories ("academics"), living conditions are quite decent: rooms are arranged in blocks, they have a bathroom, a built-in kitchen, and a refrigerator. Often rooms have internet access, and there is always a TV and telephone.
The university issues a residence permit for one year, which will be extended if your studies are successful.
Step Five: Earning a Living
A scholarship is not awarded to a student entering the first year; it is only granted after the first year of study. And if you complete it with good grades, the university will offer one of several types of scholarships: social, incentive, individual, or academic.
Of course, the lack of a scholarship in the first year of study is a serious drawback. But there are no hopeless situations. A full-time student has the right to work – but only three months a year and without leaving Poland. The university may also offer some earnings. But it is worth trying to find a job on your own as well. It is clear that you will not immediately become a bank director, but you can always count on a junior position if you want. You will have to accept this for a while, especially since making a career during your studies in an unfamiliar country is a difficult task.
In Poland, specialists in banking and engineering, sociology, computer science, medicine, and philology are in demand. After graduation, representatives of these professions can count on employment.
Is it possible for our applicant to study in Poland for free? We asked this question to Zygmunt Młynar, a specialist from the international department of the Poznań University of Technology: “An applicant from the former Soviet Union is entitled to free higher education in two cases: if he comes to study with us on the basis of interdepartmental agreements at the ministerial level, or provides documents confirming his Polish origin. Then he can apply directly to the rector's office. In other cases, education is paid.”
How much money is needed to live in Poland?
Poland is an agricultural country, so food prices are quite reasonable. It is most advantageous to buy groceries in supermarkets and cook yourself. You can eat in the student cafeteria, which will cost an average of $3-5 per lunch. Study materials, use of the library, and internet access are provided free of charge. The cost of living for a student is $200-250 per month.
To ease the preparatory work when entering a university, you can use the services of intermediary companies, which for a certain fee will oversee your relations with the institution and help with paperwork. However, you will still have to run around. In any case, getting into a Polish university is still significantly easier than into educational institutions in other European countries.