This year, several more higher education institutions joined the project, meaning that the universities' offers have become more diverse. The project's geography has also expanded significantly, and now the city welcomes future students not only from Ukraine but also from Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Both schoolchildren and even those who have already completed university are considering going to study in Wroclaw. And why wouldn't they? Wroclaw is worth it.
Wroclaw - 293 sq km of positivity
Wroclaw is a city of 5 rivers, 12 islands, 112 bridges, and numerous parks. Just imagine - green areas cover about 35% of the city's territory! Just a hundred years ago, vineyards flourished in the vicinity of Wroclaw. Not surprising, as it is the warmest place in Poland: spring arrives three weeks earlier and summer ends three weeks later than in the northeast of the country.
There really is something to see here – picturesque landscapes, masterpieces of Gothic and Baroque architecture. It's worth coming here even just to see what is perhaps the most beautiful and original Market Square in all of Poland, the mysterious Tumski Island, the city's pride the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Botanical Garden, and the Japanese Garden.
The fourth largest and the largest western city in Poland, Wroclaw is today considered a symbol of modernity and success. Its leadership in development pace and the number of foreign investments is good evidence of that. In recent years, Wroclaw has experienced a real investment boom – LG Philips, VOLVO, Toyota, Siemens, HP, Whirlpool, and many others have come here. Over the next five years, the city plans to create about 100,000 new jobs.
Wroclaw is also the Polish capital of youth culture, an entertainment center with many clubs, bars, and discos, and a venue for major festivals and exhibitions.
Perhaps it is this constant pursuit of the new, openness to initiatives that attracts students to Wroclaw (there are over 136,000 of them in 23 higher education institutions). The city breathes confidence that everything will be okay!
European capitals are very close: you can reach Berlin in 2.5 hours, get to the Sudetes in an hour, and be in the Alps in 8 hours.
However, Wroclaw never needed to strive for Europe – they say it has always lived here. Wroclaw has become a living monument to the European idea, which speaks of the strength inherent in diversity and multiculturalism. That is the strength of modern Wroclaw too. It doesn't matter where you come from. Just as it doesn't matter whose city Wroclaw is – Polish, Czech, or German. Wroclaw is, above all, Wroclawian – its own and of its residents. The interweaving of many cultures and people from different countries is precisely what makes the atmosphere in the city especially friendly and hospitable. Any visitor will tell you – no one feels like a stranger for long in Wroclaw. It takes just a moment to dissolve into it, and after some time, it will be hard to imagine yourself without this city. Ask those who already study in Wroclaw…
… and a European diploma
Last year, about 150 Ukrainians responded to the invitation to come study in Wroclaw, and only 23 of them were lucky enough to become students. The project organizers are confident that this is just the beginning. After all, the main result of the program will be visible when the first graduates appear. Although even now, it's hard for the students to name even one reason why one shouldn't come here…
“Thanks to studying in Wroclaw, I quickly realized that here I can gain more knowledge, broaden my horizons, fulfill myself as a specialist, and influence my future. Wroclaw is my city,” says Kyiv resident Oksana Oleynik. A year ago, after successfully graduating from the National Aviation University, she worked in a prestigious capital firm and earned well. Despite that, she left everything and went to study in Wroclaw. She simply read about the “Teraz Wroclaw” project in a newspaper and decided to take a risk. Now Oksana is a postgraduate student at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. She regrets nothing and believes it is an excellent chance to do what she didn't manage to do as a student.
First-year German philology student at the University of Wroclaw, Liliya Ostrovskaya, came to Wroclaw from a small Ukrainian town in the Khmelnytskyi region almost immediately after school. She says she always dreamed of studying at one of the Polish universities. “It wasn’t easy,” Liliya admits, “but when I learned that I would study in Wroclaw, I felt like the happiest person on earth!”
According to the young people, what attracts them to Polish higher education institutions is, first of all, the education system itself, its more democratic and individual approach. The distance between student and teacher is much shorter here, and you can easily call a professor on their mobile or send them an email. You can choose and attend any course that interests you, even if it is in a completely different faculty. As long as you have the desire to learn. Moreover, in neighboring Poland – a country close both geographically and mentally – there is an opportunity to obtain a diploma recognized in European countries. Not to mention the possibility of good jobs and high earnings in the future.
It is for these reasons that, according to project coordinator Alla Vitvitska-Dudek, the costs of living and studying at Wroclaw universities are fully justified. “Wroclaw is a big European city. It has prestigious higher education institutions and a corresponding diploma. It also means access to information, international contacts, and good employment prospects,” explains Ms. Alla. “Let's be honest, for example, in Ukraine, you also have to pay, and not a little. But it is not always clear what for and how much more you will have to pay. Here, everything is clear and transparent.”
Today, «Teraz Wroclaw» offers those wishing to study in Wroclaw two paths to become a student. The first is free education for those with high grades in their certificate, good knowledge of Polish, and who successfully pass an interview. The second is paid, costing on average about 2.5 thousand euros per year depending on the chosen specialty and educational institution. For example, in private universities, the situation may be different. There they may afford to reduce tuition fees to 1 thousand euros, and some may even have a chance to receive a scholarship.
«Of course, living and studying abroad may seem far from rosy to young foreigners. But this is a good opportunity to test one's independence. In addition, all people who come here to study under the project are under our care. We try to support them in everything,» says the coordinator of «Teraz Wroclaw». – We have a lawyer who helps to prepare all necessary documents and settle all formalities at the university. Help in finding a job.»
7 steps to success in Wroclaw
Still, the main goal of the «Teraz Wroclaw» project, according to Ms. Witwicka-Dudek, is to help with admission to higher education institutions in Wroclaw, orient in the flow of offers from universities, and provide as much necessary information as possible. Because often young people simply do not know where to start – what documents are needed, what is required for admission, and generally how to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. Here are some tips from «Teraz Wroclaw»:
Step one. It is necessary to decide on the educational institution where you would like to study. For this, it is best to read about universities on the Internet. Almost each of them has its own website, including in English.
Step two. Choose a direction and profile, form of study – depending on one's own interests, abilities, opportunities, and needs. It should be noted that foreign students who will study under a contract (i.e., pay for tuition) are enrolled without entrance exams. However, the admissions committee may still inquire about grades in the certificate. For example, at the Polytechnic Institute, they will pay attention to grades in physics and mathematics. Bachelor's level education in all specialties consists of 6 semesters (3 years), master's – 4 semesters (2 years).
Step three. Realistically assess your knowledge of foreign languages. The main language of instruction in Wroclaw universities is, of course, Polish, but in some specialties you can also study in English. However, to live in Poland, at least minimal knowledge of Polish will be needed. In addition, some higher education institutions conduct their own Polish language proficiency test for admitting foreigners. Therefore, those who are completely unfamiliar with Polish are best to take language courses or enroll in the Summer School of Polish Language at the University of Wroclaw. The intensive program, starting in August, lasts 1.5 months. After successful completion of such a preparatory course, foreigners typically study without problems at any of the higher education institutions in Wroclaw.
Step four. Preparing a package of documents. Perhaps the most labor-intensive of all stages. It is best to seek help from the «Teraz Wroclaw» office or directly from the university's international cooperation department.
For admission to a higher education institution, the following main documents are required:
* Original secondary school certificate;
* Translation of the secondary school certificate into Polish, made by a sworn translator;
* Certificate that based on the certificate, there is the right to study in the country where it was issued (in translation into Polish);
* Medical certificate;
* If the education is paid, then receipts for payment of the entrance fee and the first semester of study are required (entrance fee 200 EUR);
* Copy of the foreign passport;
* Completed applicant questionnaire.
Applicants also fill out an application form of the appropriate type (individual for each university), indicating the specialty, sources of funding, and other necessary information. Along with other documents, the application is sent by mail. Before that, it is advisable to send scanned versions in advance by email. This will allow receiving a preliminary response about enrollment and speed up the review of original documents.
Step five. The admissions committee reviews the applicant's documents and makes a decision on enrollment in the chosen faculty. If the decision is positive, the future student will be sent an original invitation to study.
Step six. With the invitation, the student applies to the consulate of the Republic of Poland for a visa. Once in Wroclaw, you need to apply for a residence permit for a specific period and obtain a so-called residence card.
Step seven. The student arrives in Wroclaw, completes all formalities, and begins studying.