Education of children abroad in Poland. Schools abroad. Video: enrolling in a Polish university, personal experience

Education in Poland is significantly inferior in quality to other EU countries. But a higher education diploma is accepted everywhere in Schengen and provides ample career opportunities for graduates. The government is developing various international exchange programs and foreign language courses to attract students from all over the world.

Poland is one of the small countries that recently became a member of the Schengen Union. The state has a rich history, its own unique traditions, mentality and a local language that is quite easy to learn. In 2007, Poland joined the Schengen Union, which had a positive impact not only on the standard of living, but also on education. Over these 12 years, the country has changed beyond recognition and, thanks to these changes, Polish universities can participate in partner student exchange programs and provide government grants for education. In addition, higher education in Poland is based on the Bologna system and meets all European Union standards. For each subject, students receive credits (ECTS), which they need to earn a certain number of to obtain a bachelor's or master's degree. This system is very convenient: students can easily continue their studies at another university and begin studying for a new specialty without passing some subjects.

The structure of higher education in Poland: LICENCJAT/INZYNIER - equivalent to a bachelor's degree, MAGISTER - a master's degree, DOKTOR - a candidate of sciences. Only the fields of medicine and law require a two-stage education.

Grades in Poland are the same as in Russia: “5” is the best, and “2” means failure in the exam. The winter semester begins in October and lasts until the end of January, after which students have one month of vacation. The summer semester begins in March and lasts until the end of June. Of course, the end of each semester ends with exams and laboratory work.

Building of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow

Studying in Poland will be an irreplaceable experience that will definitely come in handy on your life’s journey and will help you reach certain heights in your career. After graduating from a local university, it will become much easier.

Level of higher education in Poland

For 650 years, Poland has provided quality higher education opportunities and prepared students for the real-world challenges they may face in their professions. School graduates from neighboring countries annually enter Polish universities because they consider the level of education in the country to be quite high. 10 honored people who received the Nobel Prize studied in Poland.

Foreigners are attracted not only by the high level of higher education, but also by its accessibility. The Polish Ministry of Education controls universities and regulates the cost of education so that it is accessible to everyone. One year at a Polish university will cost about 2000 - 3000 thousand euros, which is at least 10 times cheaper than prestigious universities in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK. However, some universities may charge higher prices for some programs, especially in English. In addition, Poland is one of the most inexpensive European countries, which means that a student will not need a lot of money for personal expenses, food and rent.

To further attract foreign students, at Polish universities you can study in English and learn Polish at the same time. You can study in English in any specialty: medicine, engineering, humanities, business and finance.

Best Universities in Poland

1. University of Warsaw. Located in the capital of Poland, the University of Warsaw offers higher education not only in Polish, but also in English. The cost of training is from 2,905 euros/year.
2. University named after Adam Mikivich. One of the oldest Polish universities, which opened its doors back in the 17th century. And in the middle of the last century it was renamed in honor of the famous Polish poet Adam Mikiwicz. The cost of training is from 2,000 euros/year.
3. University of Science and Technology. One of the fastest growing universities in Poland: more than 200 programs, 18 faculties and 17 areas that can be studied in English.The cost of training is from 2,750 euros/year.
4. University of Gdansk. Located in another large Polish city and was founded relatively recently - in 1970. However, the young university is no different from other prestigious universities in Poland and offers high-quality higher education. In addition to basic teaching, professors at the University of Gdansk actively conduct research and various experiments.The cost of training is from 3,500 euros/year.
5. University named after Nicolaus Copernicus. Named after the famous scientist and founded in the last century, Copernicus University is one of the largest Polish universities. Every year it welcomes about 1,000 freshmen and foreign students who come to study for one semester on exchange programs. The cost of training is from 1,850 euros/year.

Requirements for admission to a Polish university

The process of applying to a Polish university may seem quite complicated at first. However, if you carefully read the requirements, everything immediately becomes clear. Firstly, a huge plus is the absence of entrance exams. Of course, the future student must take an exam to confirm his knowledge of Polish or English. Typically, universities do not accept foreigners who know the language at a level lower than B1. Secondly, all documents can be sent by e-mail: you do not need to go to Poland yourself or spend money on sending documents by courier.

Each university has the right to set its own requirements, but there is a standard list of documents, without which a foreigner’s application will not even be considered:

1. International passport or any other identification document (where the first and last name are indicated in Latin letters).
2. Certificate.
3. Diploma upon admission to the master's program.
4. Motivation letter.
5. Summary.
6. Portfolio (if appropriate).

It is worth paying attention to the fact that all documents must be translated into Polish or English, and each translation must be certified by a notary. When continuing your studies, some professions may additionally require a list of all subjects completed and the number of lectures and practical exercises for them.

After the university has received the documents, it sets a date and time for the interview, which can also be completed online via video conference. Questions can be very different and usually depend on the chosen direction: from the school curriculum to the candidate’s personal opinion about various things.

Complete list of Schengen countries

Financial support from the state

Although studying in Poland is not so expensive, grants and scholarships remain an exciting topic for everyone. The Poles themselves can easily receive a scholarship for good studies, but with foreigners things are a little more complicated. International students not only have to get good grades, but also undergo a rigorous selection process and be selected from hundreds of other applicants.

Of course, one of the options for free education in Poland will be the Erasmus program. This is a student exchange program between partner universities. It is worth asking the management of the university where the student is studying about the possibilities of participation in the program, and if this university has a partner in Poland, then an exchange will be possible.

Another exchange program that will be of interest to citizens of Moldova, Romania and Slavic states is calledCEEPUS. In general, it is similar to the European Erasmus, just focused on certain countries and universities. Students can also come to Poland for one semester and study there absolutely free.

Also, in Poland there are scholarships for citizens of the countries of the former USSR, however, they are not available at all Polish universities. Information about such financing should be obtained directly from the university where the foreigner plans to enroll.

It is also worth noting that some universities offer their own grants and scholarships to students. Usually this information is indicated on the university website, in a separate column. However, such scholarships are limited, so the university selects only one or two students to receive funding.

Medical University in Warsaw

What is the difference schools abroad and studying in them from Ukrainian schools? This question often arises among parents who are thinking about something for their children. We should start by saying that secondary education in Europe, Canada and the USA differs from ours in its duration and structure. Without going into details, let's say that secondary education abroad children receive for 12 - 13 years. It is precisely because of the differences in the secondary education system that our certificates are not recognized by most European countries and require nostrification. However, the distinctive features school education abroad are not just about formalities. There are a number of differences in essence. They are the ones who force many parents to choose for their children studying at school abroad.

Studying abroad. Benefits of Secondary Education

1. Personal development. This is precisely what the main emphasis is placed on in the European education system. In European schools, as well as in American schools and Canadian schools, it is not customary to stuff children with encyclopedic knowledge, to force them to cram what they do not yet understand. Here children learn to think, formulate their thoughts, lead a discussion, and argue their opinions.
2. Understanding processes in practice. In Western European schools, the educational process is structured so that the child finds it interesting and understandable. Everything that you can try to do in practice, see with your own eyes, touch and feel, children will see, try and do. They will grow plants, cook food, and conduct various experiments. Studying abroad is really interesting!
3. Interesting electives. Often in European schools, children are offered one or more compulsory electives to choose from. The same can be said about schools in Canada and the USA. That is, a school abroad makes sure that your child’s leisure time is filled with interesting and educational activities.
4. Language training. It is obvious that by studying in one of the schools in Western Europe, the USA or Canada, your child will master at least the English language perfectly. He will speak it without an accent, which is extremely important for integration into the country of possible future residence. In addition, the child will additionally study one or two more foreign languages. Add to this your existing knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian. As a result, we get a future specialist who is quite competitive in the labor market.
5. Integration and adaptation. We often hear the phrases “our mentality” or “European mentality”. We explain their success and our inability to accept European values ​​and reach European standards of living by their mentality. So, to become a European, you need to live, grow, mature, and therefore study in Europe. And the sooner your child starts living in European society, the greater the chance that your child’s mentality will be European.
6. European Certificate of Secondary Education. A certificate obtained in one of the schools in Europe, as well as in schools in Canada and the USA, is recognized throughout the world. With this certificate, your child can enter any university. And this does not require additional comments.

Secondary education abroad is free. Is it possible to?

Yes, in most cases public schools abroad your child can study for free. It would seem that everything is simple. And this is true if you have the opportunity and reason to travel with your child for his studying at school abroad and live there permanently. Most parents don't have this option. Therefore, speaking about secondary education abroad, as a rule, we mean boarding schools abroad, where the child can live and eat, where there are adults who are responsible for him. Many have heard about private schools in England. But this is a rather expensive option. At the same time, there are more affordable school options in Germany, Holland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Cyprus, where boarding is also organized for children, but the cost is not as high as in English schools.

What free study abroad options are there?

1. Public schools abroad subject to permanent residence in the same country of one of the parents or official guardians.
2. State boarding schools. Education here will be free, but you will have to pay for boarding. Accommodation and food for a child will cost, on average, 500 Euros per month. For example, one option is public boarding schools in Germany. Such schools, as a rule, accept children from the age of 14.
3. State lyceums and technical schools for admission after 9th grade. For example, your child can enter one of the lyceums and technical schools in Poland after 9th grade. Training will be free, and accommodation and meals in the hostel will cost 100 - 120 Euros per month.

Private schools abroad. What are the advantages?

Private school abroad has a number of additional options.

Firstly, you can choose the language of instruction. Often people choose English school abroad, but not in England. Such private English schools there are in Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Holland and other European countries. Training here will be based on the principle boarding schools in England, but the cost will not be so high.

Secondly. Safety in private schools abroad organized at the highest level. This is, as a rule, a closed area, the presence of numerous curators and educators, CCTV cameras, and security.

Third. Small classes. IN private school abroad classes consist of a small number of children. This has a number of obvious advantages.

Fourthly. Availability of an expanded list of electives. In addition to standard additional classes, private boarding schools children can choose such less common electives as, for example, horse riding, tennis, golf, etc.

Fifthly. Teaching Staff. Teachers' salaries in private schools abroad are higher than in public schools. Schools value their reputation, compete for places in rankings, and are proud of their successful graduates. Therefore, the teaching staff in private schools is often more qualified than in public schools.

Take care of your children's successful future today. Choose secondary education abroad.

Secondary education in Poland is one of the best in Eastern Europe. Secondary education in Poland lasts 12 years. We offer the opportunity to study in lyceums in Poland, including lyceums with the international education standard International Baccalaureate for children from 6 to 18 years old.

A special feature of obtaining the International Baccalaureate in Poland is the price. The student studies in the IB program, but given the lower cost of living, studying in Poland becomes more affordable. Having a diploma, lyceum graduates have a real opportunity to enter the most prestigious universities in the world.

Secondary education in Polish schools.

Primary School

Primary school education begins at the age of 6. The first year of education, the so-called zero grade, is intended only to prepare children for basic education.
From first to third grade, children study in the form of integrated education. There is no clear division into subjects during this period. Classes are taught by one teacher, only subjects such as foreign language, music and physical education are sometimes taught by specialist teachers.
From the fourth to the sixth - training, which is carried out by specialist teachers. The role of the class teacher is played by one of the teachers. At this stage, disciplines such as Polish language, history and society, natural history, foreign language (most often English), music, mathematics, computer science, technical studies, physical education, fine arts, religion and ethics are studied (attended at the request of parents).
The grading system in Polish schools starts from the fourth grade of primary school. A 6-point system is used, where 6 is “excellent”, 5 is “very good”, 4 is “good”, 3 is “satisfactory”, 2 is “acceptable”, 1 is “unsatisfactory”.
The sixth grade ends with a test of students' knowledge, which is carried out in the form of a written test that is the same for all children. The results of learning in primary school are checked by tests that do not affect the final results of school education.

High school. Gymnasium

The gymnasium provides general education. During this period, students are taught Polish, two foreign languages ​​(most often, one of them is English, and the second is German or Russian), social studies, history, music, geography, fine arts, biology, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry and physical education . Since 2009, two new subjects have been introduced: technical and artistic classes.
At the request of parents, students can attend classes on religion and ethics, as well as classes on preparing for family life.

Education in a Polish gymnasium lasts 3 years. Studying at the gymnasium must be completed with an exam, which consists of 4 parts: language, humanities, as well as mathematics and natural sciences. Thus, the humanitarian section includes questions on history, social studies and the Polish language. The language part is represented by two levels: basic, which is mandatory for everyone, and advanced, for those who are studying a foreign language from the first grade. The natural and mathematical part includes questions on mathematics, biology, physics, geography and chemistry.

Exam results, unlike tests at the end of primary school, influence further studies. The grades obtained on these exams determine whether the student will be accepted into college, lyceum, or continue secondary education at a vocational school.

Lyceums and technical schools

In Poland (unlike Russia) the last stage of secondary education takes 3 years.
This level of study is optional and the student can choose how he wants to continue his studies.
The most common options are specialized and general education lyceums, but many students continue their studies at four-year technical schools or study for 2 years at a vocational school and 2 years at a general education lyceum. Thus, people in Poland begin to receive higher education no earlier than the age of 19.

General education lyceum

Education at the lyceum lasts three years, after which the Matura is passed. In case of successful completion, students receive a certificate of maturity.
Studying at high schools in Poland gives students the opportunity to study certain subjects at a deeper level. You can choose several such subjects - from 0 to 4. In addition, there are also bilingual classes where some subjects are taught in a foreign language. After such training, students can take the bilingual Matura.
After graduating from the lyceum, graduates can continue their education at a higher educational institution, or at a post-secondary school.

Matura (testing after graduation from the lyceum)

After graduating from lyceums, all students take Matura - a set of exams that test the level of knowledge acquired in high school. The results of these exams play a key role in admission to Polish universities.
Polish and foreign languages ​​are taken orally. In oral exams, the main emphasis is on the student's vocabulary and practical application of grammatical structures.
Written exams consist of three compulsory subjects (mathematics, Polish and foreign languages), as well as three elective disciplines.
Passing Matura is counted if the result is 30% or higher. A student wishing to demonstrate his or her in-depth knowledge of a particular discipline may take any subject at the advanced level. However, in this case, the student will have to take the exam twice: both basic and extended.
Students take the exam in their own schools, but a teacher from another school must be present among the commission members.

Vocational school

These educational institutions form the initial stage of professional training. After passing the professional exam at the District Examination Commission, students are issued a school completion certificate or diploma, which confirms their professional qualities. Students can then continue their education at a technical school or at a lyceum for adults, where they are immediately enrolled in the 2nd year of study.

Technical school (secondary vocational education)

Polish technical schools are an alternative to lyceums. However, in addition to secondary education, students also receive vocational training in technical schools.
After successfully passing the relevant exams, graduates are awarded a qualification (technician, waiter, assistant, technician, etc.), and are issued a diploma and a certificate of maturity.

Education in Poland Suitable for students from Russia and the CIS who intend to obtain a European diploma, but are not ready for a radically new environment. Poland, once part of the USSR, has retained many elements of the old educational system. But today it is actively moving closer to Europe: it follows their trends in education, such as, for example, focusing on market demands in the educational process.

Tuition fees and structure of education in the country

List and ranking of universities in Poland

Advantages of studying in the country

• Admission. The absence of entrance exams at Polish universities is a huge advantage. Grades in the certificate also do not play a role in admission. It will be enough to provide the results of a language test and a certificate of financial solvency. Thus, for a foreign applicant, entering a Polish university will not be difficult.
• Low costs. A foreign student will need about €200-500 per month for a comfortable stay in Poland. This amount includes payment for apartments, food and transportation. Also, tuition prices are low: €1,200-5,000 per year. Students looking for a budget education abroad may consider Poland as an option.
• Management. Most foreigners in Poland enroll in management programs. This discipline attracts with its high quality of training: in the world management rankings, the University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) are in the top 500. And low tuition prices and an easy admission procedure influence the choice of foreign applicants from this particular country to obtain a management diploma.
• Traveling around Europe. In 2004, Poland joined the European Union, so it is covered by the Schengen agreement. A foreigner with a Polish student visa can visit European countries without any hassle with the embassy or visa center. And air tickets will be inexpensive: on average €50-70 per flight.

What is worth knowing about education in the country?

It cannot be said that Poland is very popular among foreign applicants. As a rule, the main stream of students (most of which are students from Asian countries) go to study in English-speaking countries. But for residents of Eastern Europe, Poland turns out to be an ideal option: the education system is similar to Russia, and education standards are European. The country has many students from Russia and the CIS countries: more than 60% of foreign students come from Ukraine and Belarus. However, of the total number of students in Poland, only 4.5% are foreign. And this is not such a big indicator.

One third of students in Poland choose private universities to obtain their degrees. The educational programs in these institutions are not inferior to, and sometimes even superior to, those taught in state universities. This is especially true for practical specialties - commercial universities respond more quickly to changes taking place in the world. Many private universities also offer Ph.D. programs, thereby positioning themselves as research institutes. So we can expect that they will soon compete with state universities in international rankings.

Higher education system in the country

Studying in the country in English

Grading system and progress monitoring

Academic career and teaching staff

Opportunity to work while studying

Prospects and employment opportunities