Each year more and more students choose to study in Poland. These students are attracted to its high-quality education institutions, low tuition fees, and equally low cost of living. Located in the center of the Northern Europe, Poland geographically and culturally is the junction of Eastern and Western Europe. Poland has been the nation of survivors since the foundation of the first Polish state more than 1,000 years ago. Today, Poland is the largest of the former Eastern European states and the most populous new member of the European Union.
Education System in Poland
Poland’s education system dates back to the middle Ages. Jagiellon University, for example, was founded in the 14th century, and today is one of the oldest universities in Europe. There are over 400 courses held in English in Poland, many of which are in undergraduate level. Poland has several high quality universities, including Jagiellonian University and Warsaw University. Warsaw University is ranked first in the Top Coder international IT ranking, outperforming such high quality American universities as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The number of higher education institutions in Poland has quadrupled over the past ten years, while the number of students increased fivefold. International students who choose to study in Poland will have the opportunity to receive a distinguished education in a quickly developing academic environment. Poland’s medical schools, in particular, are attracting an increasing number of international students. Many international students who have been unable to get into a medical schools in their home country choose to study medicine in Poland. Although these courses are taught in English, Polish speaking skills are likely to become necessary by the end of the period, when students begin working with patients. All leading universities in Poland offer high-quality programs taught in English, including medicine, engineering, humanities, business, and economics.
Tuition and Cost of Living
As with many other EU countries, Poland offers inexpensive and sometimes free tuition to EU students. For example, English language courses offered cost between 1500€ and 3000€ per year. The majority of courses in Poland cost significantly less than in other countries, with the notable exception of medical courses, which have fees of around 10000€ per year.
The low cost of living in Poland makes the country one of the best educational destination for international students living on a budget. In addition, the cost of living in Poland is far lower than in Western or Northern Europe, which means that the total cost of a university education is significantly less in Poland than anywhere else in Europe.
Accommodation
The majority of universities in Poland come with dormitories. However, due to the low cost - which can be as low as 100€ per month for a shared room - the demand for such accommodation is high. Many students in Poland choose to live in shared apartments or houses, with costs ranging from 150 – 250€ per month, depending on the location.
Working in Poland
International students have the permission to work while studying in Poland as long as they are enrolled in a university or college. However, finding work in Poland without Polish language skills might be difficult. Even if you do find a job, wages are low and student jobs generally get paid around 3€ per hour. For this reason, many international students choose to return to their home countries during summer breaks to work.