A proven way of migration for many foreign citizens is to enter the university of the country to which they intend to move. Very often, the choice falls on Polish educational institutions: diplomas are highly rated in Europe, and the cost of training is much lower than in France or Austria. If your focus is on the capital of Poland, keep in mind that Warsaw universities are in the top 6 places in the ranking of higher education institutions in the country.
What are the advantages of studying in the capital
Warsaw is not only the capital, but also the largest settlement in the Republic of Poland, located in the central part of the state in a picturesque area on both banks of the Vistula River. Today this city, in addition to its administrative purpose, has the role of a real cultural, educational and scientific center of the country.
The unique atmosphere of the city is created by its old part - Warsaw Starowka. This is the only rebuilt architectural monument in the world that has been added to the list of cultural sites of UNESCO.
Warsaw is very popular among young people, which is facilitated by a huge number of entertainment centers, stadiums and magnificent parks.
About 300 thousand students are currently studying within the walls of Warsaw universities.
Higher educational institutions of the capital are of interest to students from all over the world for several reasons:
- affordability - Polish higher education is rightfully considered the most loyal in Europe in terms of cost;
- a wide range of areas - faculties and specialties are presented in all their diversity, from banking and psychology to tourism;
- developed infrastructure - there is all the study and comfortable living for students;
- affordable housing;
- the opportunity to spend leisure time interestingly and cheerfully;
- a diploma quoted in any EU country;
- cooperation with other European universities - students have the opportunity to take part in one of the exchange programs and study for 1-2 semesters, for example, in Germany;
- close linguistic environment - Polish belongs to the West Slavic group of the Slavic branch of the Indo-European family, while Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian belong to the East Slavic group of the same family. This testifies to the phonetic proximity of the adverbs and the ease of their mastery;
- lack of exams upon admission. The points of the school certificate are practically not taken into account, you only need to provide a certificate of passing the language exam and a certificate confirming the availability of a sufficient amount for study and accommodation. The exception is the Academy of Fine Arts and some other creative universities, where you need to present a portfolio and demonstrate your abilities;
- the ability to travel around Europe.
Education in higher education in the Polish state takes place within the framework of the Bologna Process.
State universities
State universities in Warsaw are the target of many applicants. The main thing is to choose the right direction and specialty.
Warsaw State University
One of the largest universities in the country, founded in 1816, is Warsaw State University. The number of employees reaches 6 thousand people, 50% of them are teachers. The number of students is about 56 thousand people. Here you can get a specialty at one of the following faculties:
- philosophy;
- journalism;
- stories;
- biology;
- psychology;
- pedagogy;
- economics;
- informatics;
- rights;
- physics;
- chemistry and others.
The training is available in Polish and English.
The University of Economics
One of the oldest universities in Poland, which has occupied leading positions in European rankings for many years, is the University of Economics. Founded in 1906. He specializes in areas such as economics, management and social sciences. Offers to obtain a bachelor's, master's degree. Here you can also complete postgraduate studies or get postgraduate education.
It is the only Polish university included in the CMS - International Association for Management Education.
Faculties:
- economics;
- finance;
- business and management;
- international economic relations;
- social policy;
- management and others.
Medical University of Warsaw
The Medical University of Warsaw was founded in 1809. Today its pupils are about 9 thousand students, who are taught by about one and a half thousand teachers. Of these, 158 have the title of professor.
In addition to bachelor's and master's degrees, here you can get a doctorate degree or continue your education in the so-called postgraduate format.
All scholarly regalia awarded by the university are recognized in Europe, Canada, the USA and most of other countries. In the ranking of higher educational institutions in Poland, this university ranks second.
Politechnical University
On the basis of the Technological Institute in 1915, the Polytechnic University was created. Known for close contacts and cooperation with other specialized universities in different countries of the world. Takes leading positions in the ratings of the best higher schools in the world with a degree in Information Technology.
The largest research center in the field of mechanical engineering operates on the basis of the university. Students are involved in various kinds of projects in the field of IT, energy and engineering.
Main faculties:
- mechanical engineering;
- architecture;
- geodesy and cartography;
- electronics and information technology;
- transport;
- mechanics and others.
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Warsaw University of Life Sciences is one of the ten most prestigious Polish universities. Founded in 1816. Today it is recognized as the best agricultural higher educational institution in Poland and is the fourth in Europe.
About 26 thousand students study at the university. The teaching staff has a little more than a thousand employees, of which 250 are professors. Faculties:
- agriculture and biology;
- veterinary medicine (this is the best veterinary institute in Europe);
- forestry;
- wood technology;
- zootechnicians;
- horticulture, biotechnology and landscape;
- food sciences;
- nutrition and consumer sciences.
| University | Number of faculties / specialties | Correspondence branch | Availability of programs in English or other languages | Cost, euro / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw University | 37 / more than 100 | + | + | from 2000 |
| University of Economics | 22/70 | + | + | from 3,500 |
| University of Medicine | 4/15 | - | + | from 3 300 |
| Politechnical University | 19 / about 300 | + | + | from 2000 |
| University of Life Sciences | 13/37 | + | + | from 2000 |
Private educational institutions
When talking about educational institutions in the capital, the word "private" should not cause any concern. They are in no way inferior to public higher schools and enjoy the same well-deserved prestige.
Leon Kozminsky Academy
The best business school in Eastern and Central Europe is the Leon Kozminsky Academy. The university ranks 36th in the world ranking. School graduates are highly regarded by local and foreign companies.
Students of most of the master's programs receive diplomas from two universities at once - Polish and foreign. For example, when studying on the course "International Management", a diploma from a British university in Bradford is also issued. Based on the specialty, you can also count on a diploma from the School of Business at Audiencia in Nantes (France) and EADA in Barcelona (Spain).
Vistula University
Private Finance and Business Academy Vistula University was founded in 1996.The main building of the university is located in the capital, another building is in the city of Minsk-Mazowiecki. The Academy is one of the most prestigious universities in the country in the private sector. Out of two hundred teachers, 50 have the title of professor. Teaching is conducted in Polish and English.
The university has a developed partner network, which gives students the opportunity to do internships in large companies around the world and successfully find promising jobs.
Faculties:
- economics;
- finance;
- computer science;
- English philology and others.
Lazarski University
A private university specializing in business programs, Lazarski University, is very popular with foreign students. Today students from 30 countries of the world study here. It is considered the most international university in the country with a good reputation in the field of law and business.
The university prepares future politicians, diplomats, economists, lawyers and marketers. The teaching system in higher education is focused on practical knowledge. The employment rate of graduates reaches 76%.
University of Social Sciences and Humanities
A relatively young educational institution (founded in the 90s of the last century) and one of the largest universities in the country is the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The number of students is about 14 thousand people. Those who excel in their studies can count on an internship abroad and quick employment even at the stage of study.
Teaching is conducted in English and Polish. Those interested can study Spanish, Arabic, Norwegian and Swedish. It offers students 5 campuses and administration assistance to those who want to rent an apartment.
Faculties:
- journalism;
- national security;
- pedagogy;
- international relations;
- psychology;
- rights;
- linguistics and others.
University of Ecology and Management
One of the best and most respected educational institutions in Poland is the University of Ecology and Management. The first faculties of architecture and ecology were opened here, later such specialties as engineering, informatics, construction, and urban studies appeared.
The university has its own publishing house, which prints literature on ecology and construction, has modern classrooms and fully equipped laboratories. There is a center for employment assistance at the university.
The Graduate School of Ecology and Management offers numerous exchange programs. The university has three main faculties: management, ecology, architecture.
What else is good to know
In the table you will find a summary of the private universities listed above.
| University | Faculties / specialties | Distance learning | Programs in English | Minimum price, euro / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kozminsky Business School | 14/22 | + | + | 600 |
| Academy of Social Sciences | 22/72 | + | + | 850 |
| Lazarsky University | 6/23 | + | + | 430 |
| Vistula Universität | 6/31 | + | + | 650 |
| University of Ecology and Management | 3/39 | + | + | 1056 |
The Imperial University of Warsaw, founded in 1869, deserves special attention. Its branch was opened in the Russian Empire and became the tenth higher school in the country. The first faculties of the university were: theology, administrative sciences and law. Later, the university began to offer programs in four areas: legal, medical, history and philology, physics and mathematics.
The Polish-Japanese Higher School of Information Technology, the University of Finance, the Film School, Collegium Civitas and the Academy of Music also enjoy a well-deserved reputation.
What to do to go to university
The admission conditions for foreign citizens are, in principle, the same as for residents of Poland, although individual requirements may still differ depending on the university. There are no quotas for the number of applications accepted.
For admission, you need to prepare a package of documents:
- High school graduation certificate with apostille.
- Certificate of passing an examination for proficiency in Polish or English (depending on the training program).
- Internal passport and its copy.
- Bank statement confirming the availability of funds.
- Foreign passport and its copy.
- 2 passport photos.
Most universities carry out enrollment based on the availability of funds and a certificate. The medical university will also count the graduation score in chemistry, physics and biology.
In creative departments, you need to submit a portfolio and complete a specific task directly on the exam. The exact list of requirements contains the official website of the educational institution you are interested in.
If everything goes well, the university will send a confirmation of admission and an invitation. With these documents, you can go to the Polish mission for a visa.
Is it possible to get free education in Poland
The cost of studying in Poland in 2021 depends on the university: in a public educational institution, it may not exceed 1 thousand euros per year, but a private one will cost more. It is quite logical that foreigners are interested in the question of whether it is possible to reduce costs?
The probability of minimizing the bill for payment is for those who own the Pole's Card, and for those who enter a higher school, which initially offers discounts to applicants. Information about this must be requested even during the application process.
Scholarships allow you to cover the cost of training. Almost all universities have good funding, so they are willing to provide students with incentive payments for excellent studies.
However, some nuances should be taken into account:
- the scholarship is not paid to freshmen;
- to apply for a scholarship for the second year, you need to show good results at the end of the first year;
- the amount of the scholarship can fluctuate in the range of 30-100% of the tuition fee. You can get this amount of encouragement only if your academic performance is at least 4.4 points.
This type of scholarship is called academic. In addition, there is also a social stipend, but it is not provided for foreigners. But they may well count on a personal one (for academic achievements).
Another opportunity to offset training costs are grants. They are issued by both Polish and international organizations. But grants are provided on a competitive basis: just being an excellent student is not enough to receive them, they are issued for specific projects and developments.
How much will it cost to live in the capital of Poland
Going to study abroad, you should not discount other expenses accompanying student life.
| Cost item | Price in EUR (minimum) |
|---|---|
| Lodging | 115 |
| Nutrition | 80 |
| Public transport | 17 |
| clothing | 16 |
| Electricity and communication | 44 |
| Sports and recreation | 14 |
| Renting a room in an apartment | 114 |
| 1-room apartment rental (periphery) | 210 |
It is important to remember that the Polish capital offers a variety of leisure options, so this expense item will be one of the most expensive for a student. So, say, lunch for one person in an inexpensive restaurant will cost 3.75 euros, and a gym membership for a month - 20.53 euros. And although students are thrifty people, it is still better to plan the cash reserve taking into account the items of expenses listed above.
Study in other universities in Poland
Educational institutions located in other cities of the country compete with the capital's universities. Their ranking in descending order is as follows:
- Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Founded in 1364. Is on the state form of financing. The leading directions are the humanities, natural sciences, and art. Ranked 400th in the world ranking for teaching quality.
- University of Lodz. State university located in the city of Lodz. It stays in the top ten of the best establishments in the country. About 31 thousand students study here. Foreigners make up about 2%.
- Nicolaus Copernicus University. Located in the city of Torun.Is on government funding. The cost of a year of study here is about 2,800 euros.
- Wroclaw State University. Founded in 1702. More than 27 thousand students study at 12 faculties. The share of foreigners is 3%.
- Technological University in Krakow. Located in the suburbs, it has about 36 thousand students. Tuition fees - from 1,200 euros per year.
Finally
Warsaw can be confidently called the best Polish city to spend your student years there. It offers its guests a large selection of top-rated higher schools, opportunities for self-development, successful employment in the future and interesting leisure activities.
All universities in the capital of Poland are divided into two categories: private and public. At the same time, neither the first nor the second are inferior to each other in terms of the quality of education, technical equipment and teaching staff.
The best state educational institutions are considered to be the University of Warsaw, economic, medical, polytechnic and agricultural. Among the best private higher education institutions are the Vistula Higher School, Kozminsky University and the Ecological University. The cost of training in the capital's universities ranges from 800-4700 euros (and more) per academic year.
