Long and short-term academic programs are available in Poland across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Poland. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Poland an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Poland and apply.
Scholarships in Poland
- The University of Warsaw Scholarships for International Students
- DAAD Scholarships to Poland
- The Ignacy Łukasiewicz Scholarship Program
- SWPS University Scholarships and Financial Aid
- University of Lodz Scholarships
- Kozminski University Scholarships and Discounts
- University of Silesia Scholarships
- Warsaw University of Technology International Students Scholarships
- Vistula University Scholarships
- Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences
Fellowships in Poland
- UNESCO/Poland Co-sponsored Fellowship
- Humanity in Action the Warsaw Fellowship
- The PACIFIC Programme: Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- IWM Fellowship Programs
- Fellowships at FASPE
- POLONISTA- Scholarship and Fellowship Program
Grants & Awards in Poland
- EEA & Norway Grants in Poland
- Poland National Science Center Postdoctoral Grants
- National Science Center of Poland Funding Schemes
- EMBO Installation Grants
- Jagiellonian University in Krakow Research Grants
- SWPS University Grants
Summer Programs in Poland
- NAWA Summer School
- University of Notre Dame Poland Summer
- Jagiellonian University in Krakow Summer School
- SWPS University Polish Language Summer School
- Kozminski University International Summer School
- Vistula University Summer Course of Polish Language
- Torun Students Summer Program
- Summer Schools at WUST
- Opolski University Summer
Poland as an academic destination
The Polish education system has a history of more than 650 years which gave the generation of individuals who had a high impact in developing different life spheres. The country especially highly praises Maria Sklodowska-Curie, the famous worldly scientist who became the first woman lecturer in Sorbonne University and received two Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics for conducting pioneering research in radioactivity.
International students have opportunities to receive a quality education in the country, which is slightly different from that of US or EU countries. One of the unique characteristics of Poland's academic structure is that not all of its academic programs have the 3-grounded division into Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. levels.
While in the 2007-2008 academic year, several academic directions shifted to a 3-grounded system, others, such as Law, Pharmacy, Psychology, Medicine, and Dentistry, still contain only Master's and Ph.D. degrees. Master's degree lasts for 5-6 years for the faculties without Bachelor's opportunities and 2-3 years for faculties with a Bachelor's degree.
That is to consider for you, as an international student, that for the mentioned fields in the country, you can't get a purely undergraduate degree. Read below about other aspects of study abroad in Poland for international students.
Universities of Poland
Poland is extremely rich with universities. There are more than 500 universities in the country, the majority of which are privately funded. Within that variety of universities, more than 20 are included in the global university rankings.
Below, see the list of the most popular internationally ranked universities in the country, which are excellent choices if you want to receive an internationally competitive education and diploma.
- University of Warsaw
- Jagieollonian University
- Warsaw University of Technology
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
- University of Wroclaw
- AGH University of Science and Technology
- Adam Mickiewicz University
- Wroclaw Medical University
- Medical University Gdansk
- Nicoleaus Copernicus University
The mentioned universities also provide the majority of the education or research funding opportunities in the country. Check the above-presented links to Polish scholarships and grants to utilize the opportunity of studying in the top Polish universities with low or no costs.
The history of Polish universities began in the 14th century, establishing the country's first educational institution. Jagieollinain University started its operations in 1364 and is the home for notable alumni, such as the famous worldly astronomer Nicolas Copernicus. The university's main campus is ready to welcome you to Poland's second city Krakow.
There are English academic programs for international students to feel convenient while studying. However, the Polish language belongs to Slavic languages, and therefore it's not one of the countries you will see the majority of locals speaking free English. In the most popular touristic attractions, you will not experience a language barrier when communicating in English. However, for many other spheres of communication with locals, it's encouraged to learn at least the basics of the Polish language.
Student expenses in Poland
There is a significant difference in student expenses based on the student's nationality, as education is completely free for Polish, EU/EEA citizens, and those who hold a Karta Polaka (Polish Charter). Other students pay tuition fees ranging from 2,000-3,000 EUR per academic year. MBA programs cost higher and can reach up to 12,000 per year.
For other living costs in the city, students might need up to 550 EUR per month. This amount is higher for the capital Warsaw or Krakow, where because of the higher costs of accommodation, the monthly living expenses can reach 850 EUR per month. Depending on your chosen university, the student dormitory residence can cost less than 100 EUR a month.
Research opportunities in Poland
In 2018, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education passed the Constitution for Science. This act particularly emphasizes the need to create favorable conditions in the country for research activities.
Ministry of Science and Higher Education is the primary coordinator of education and research development in the country. It's also the main funding body of research projects collected during the Ministry's open calls.
Researchers can involve in scholarly activities by applying for universities (mainly public) research projects, applying directly to research institutions, or cooperating with the different commercial organizations in the country that make investments to develop their field-specific aspects.
Poland has six main directions of research, including:
- Physical sciences & engineering
- Social sciences & humanities
- Technical sciences & energy
- Earth & environmental sciences
- Medical, biological & agricultural sciences
Poland is a rich spot for research and study opportunities. No less important is the country's overall attractiveness as a tourist destination, which is very famous among many tourists worldwide. The combination of academic and entertainment opportunities will make your experience in the country unforgettable, and we hope this section of ARMACAD will help you in that as well.