1. Polish Days in Nairobi, EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Studying in Poland?
That’s a great choice !!!
Kenyan-Polish Forum.
Polish Days in Nairobi, EDUCATIONAL FORUM
May

2. The following presentation has been prepared based on the „Studies in Poland”, Ministry of National Education and Sport, Warsaw 2004

3. Table of contents Introduction Polish Higher Education System
Enrolment at universities/colleges
Admission rules for foreigners to Polish universities/colleges
Polish language schools preparing for studies in Poland
Studying in foreign languages at Polish universities/ colleges
Study costs in Poland
Scholarships for foreigners

4. Table of contents (cont.)
Recognition of diplomas
Student health insurance
Useful Addresses
Appendix 1 - Doctoral studies
Appendix 2 - List of institutions that provide Polish language courses for foreigners
Appendix 3 - List of universities/colleges with lectures, optional learning modules or “foreign language paths” for Polish and foreign students
Appendix 4 - List of types of studies at Polish Universities/colleges

5. Introduction
For over six hundred years Poland has been educating students from all over Europe.

6. Introduction (cont.)
The first university was created at the initiative of Polish king Casimir III the Great in 1364.
The Krakow Academy took after academies in Bologna and Padua, and was the second, after the school in Prague, university in Central Europe.
The old seat of the Jagiellonian University – Collegium Maius located – is one of the few preserved pearls of scholastic architecture in the Middle Ages.

7. Introduction (cont.)
The most known graduates of Polish universities include:
Nicholas Copernicus – who developed a heliocentric model of the Solar System
Maria Skłodowska-Curie – a double Nobel Prize Winner, discovered radiation
Pope John Paul II

8. Introduction (cont.)
Poland has joined the process of shaping the European Area of Higher Education.
Poland is a member of:
Bologna Declaration, aimed at gaining higher compatibility and comparability of the higher education systems
European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE),
European University Association (EUA) and
the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB).
International inter-college or inter-university partnership initiatives are extremely popular.

9. Polish Higher Education System
Higher education institutions offer fulltime studies, part-time studies, evening studies and extramural (distance) studies. Full-time studies are the basic study system:
universities, providing higher education in the fields of: the humanities, technical /exact sciences, medicine, economy, pedagogy and arts, as well as military studies;
colleges, providing higher education in specific technical/vocational fields and preparing students for practising specific professions.

10. Polish Higher Education System
In Poland there are 227 schools of higher education, which operate on the basis of the Act Schools of Higher Education (including 137 non-state ones).
Universities (uniwersytet)
technical universities
agricultural schools
schools of economics,
teacher education schools
medical academies
maritime schools,
academies of physical education,
schools of arts
schools of theology
non- state schools of higher education.

11. Polish Higher Education System Numbers of students in thousands
9,2
17.5
130
32.7
40.3
94.3
38.1
28.9
39.0
72.4
219,9
255,7
40.7
48.8
34.4
22.1
53.5
113.9
90.1
555.8
754.2
65.5
136.5
159.9
57.4
161.2
205.5
Educational studies
Arts and Humanities
Social studies, business and law
Natural sciences, maths, statistics and computing
Health care and social care
Technology, industry and building
Agriculture, forestry and fishery
Services including transport, communication, media, security
Other specialities

12. Polish Higher Education System Degrees granted to university and college graduates in Poland
Schools of higher education in Poland offer the following types of studies:
vocational/technical (BA/BSc) studies (3–4 years) – graduates receive the degree of bachelor or engineer;
master’s degree studies (5–6 years)
– graduates receive a master’s degree or an equivalent degree, depending on the field of their studies;
supplementary master’s degree studies (2–2.5 years) – intended for college graduates who wish to obtain a master’s degree or an equivalent degree;
Ph.D. studies (3–4 years) – for university graduates with a master’s degree, who wish to obtain a Ph.D.;
postgraduate studies (1–2 years) – for graduates of all types of colleges and universities.

13. Polish Higher Education System Degrees granted to university and college graduates in Poland (cont.)
In order to obtain any of the above degrees, a student has to complete all courses and practical training covered by the curriculum, submit and defend a diploma thesis and pass a diploma examination.
A university/college graduate receives a diploma (in three certified copies), confirming the completion of a specific course and, on his/her request, receives a certified translation of the diploma.

14. Polish Higher Education System Organisation of studies; the academic year
The academic year covers 30 weeks, each comprising approximately 30 hours of lectures and classes, and is divided into two terms:
the winter term (from October 1st to about February 15th of the next calendar year) includes fifteen study weeks and the winter end-of-term examinations session;
the summer term (from about February 16th to September 30th) includes fifteen study weeks and the summer end-of-term examinations session;
as a rule, one month of the summer holidays is dedicated to practical training.

15. Polish Higher Education System Organisation of studies; the academic year (cont.)
The organisation of the academic year is up to individual universities/colleges.
Students’ work is divided into lectures, practical classes, tutorials, laboratory classes and seminars.
Student rights and obligations connected with the studies are governed by the rules and regulations of the university/college.
Information on available courses is published by individual Universities/Colleges on their websites (detailes in Appendix 3).

16. Polish Higher Education System Examinations
Students take separate examinations on each subject.
Examinations are taken at the end of the term or at the end of the academic year.
In order to complete the term/year, a student must successfully complete all the subject courses, pass all the examinations and complete practical training required by the curriculum.
Each university/college has its own marking system, laid out in its rules and regulations.
The following system is the most commonly used:
very good (5),
more than good (4+ or 4.5),
good (4),
more than sufficient (3+ or 3.5),
sufficient (3),
unsatisfactory (2).

17. Polish Higher Education System Examinations (cont.)
Polish higher education institutions, apart from the above mentioned marking system, have successively been introducing the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
It assumes that a certain amount of ECTS points are awarded for a subject regardless of the mark given.
Depending on the subject, a student receives between 2 to 12–14 ECTS for a pass-level mark.
After successfully passing an exam, a student should request confirmation and information as to how many points have been awarded.
To pass a term or year successfully, a student requires 30 or 60 points respectively.
Increasingly Polish students are carrying out part of their studies at universities abroad, which is possible in part due to the ECTS system.
It is also thanks to the ECTS points system that foreign students can claim the period of studies carried out at a Polish higher education institutions.

18. Polish Higher Education System Diploma theses and examinations
In order to obtain a diploma, a student has to:
successfully complete all subject courses, practical training and practical classes included in the curriculum, and pass all examinations under the given course,
submit in time a diploma thesis and get a pass for it,
pass the diploma examination.

19. Enrolment at universities/colleges
Applicants must hold a General Certificate of Secondary Education or an equivalent document giving the right to undertake studies in the country, in which they graduated from secondary school.
By May 31st of each year, universities /colleges determine the rules and procedures for admission and the scope of entrance examinations for the next calendar year.
These rules are available on university/college websites (details in Appendix 3).
Some universities/colleges perform checks of predispositions and talents (this refers mainly to courses in arts, physical education, courses for future teachers, etc.).
In the case of military and maritime universities, the age criterion also applies.

20. Admission rules for foreigners to Polish Universities/Colleges
Foreigners may undertake, pursue studies and participate in research and training on the same terms as those applicable to Polish citizens, provided that they meet one of the following requirements:
have obtained a permit for residence in Poland;
have been granted refugee status by the Republic of Poland;
have been granted temporary protection in the Republic of Poland;
are migrating employees with EU Member State or EFTA country citizenship, provided that they are or were employed in Poland, or if they are family members of such migrating employees and live in the Republic of Poland;
are citizens of an EU Member State or an EFTA country or members of their families, provided that they have funds necessary to cover the costs of living during studies; it should be noted that such persons are not entitled to maintenance grant.

21. Admission rules for foreigners to Polish Universities/Colleges (cont.)
Other foreigners may undertake studies on conditions other than those applicable to Polish citizens, if they:
have a legalised diploma or other document confirming completion of a school abroad, entitling them to undertake master’s or vocational studies in the country where it was issued; the diploma must be recognised under separate regulations as equivalent to the Polish General Certificate of Secondary Education;
complete a preparatory Polish language course in one of the institutions appointed by the minister for education or receive confirmation from the university/college they apply to that their preparedness and command of Polish allow them to undertake the studies;
they demonstrate specific skills for certain types of studies, as required by the admitting university/college.
Students who intend to continue in Poland studies commenced abroad are obliged to submit authenticated documents confirming the courses taken and grades received at previous universities/colleges.

22. Polish language schools preparing for studies in Poland
According to the Act on the Polish Language, Polish is the language used in lectures as well as the language of examinations and diploma theses at all Polish universities and colleges.
Hence, foreign students wishing to pursue studies in Poland are required to have a command of Polish, allowing them to understand lectures and other forms of tuition at universities /colleges.
List of Polish Language Centre enclosed in Appendix 2

23. Studying in foreign languages at Polish Universities/Colleges
Numerous universities/colleges offer courses conducted in foreign languages, primarily in English.
Full master’s degree courses in English are offered by the following university-level institutions:
Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie [Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow];
Akademia Medyczna w Warszawie [Medical University of Warsaw];
Akademia Medyczna w Poznaniu [Poznan University of Medical Sciences].
In addition, some universities conduct selected classes in English (detailed information on departments offering studies in English is available on university/college websites – see Appendix 3).

24. Study costs in Poland
In Poland, full-time day studies at public universities/colleges are free of charge.
Foreigners studying in Poland on the same conditions as applicable to Polish citizens have the right to free-of-charge studies at public universities/colleges.
Other foreigners must pay tuition fees, which are not lower than the equivalent of:
EUR 2000 per year – for vocational, uniform master’s degree and postbachelor master’s degree studies;
EUR 3000 per year – for doctoral, postgraduate and special studies; research, arts, specialised and postdoctoral internships;
EUR 3000 per year – for vocational courses and practical training;
EUR 2000 per year – for a language course, including a pre-study Polish language course.

25. Study costs in Poland (cont.)
On the student’s request, the rector of the university/college may, in justified cases, give partial or full exemption from payment of tuition fees.
The cost of accommodation in a dormitory ranges from about EUR 140–200 per month for a single room to EUR 50–80 for a bed in a shared room, depending on the standard.
The average remaining cost of living (eg. food, transportation, etc) range from EUR 100 – 300 depending on the city.

26. Scholarships for foreigners
The Ministry of National Education and Sport sets scholarship limits for persons studying in Poland on the basis of international agreements or decisions by the minister for higher education.
Foreigners’ applications for scholarships granted within this limit are forwarded by Polish diplomatic/consular agencies to the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange.
Next, the applications are examined by the Unit for Admission and Education of Foreigners in Poland.
Final decisions are taken by the Minister of National Education and Sport.

27. Scholarships awarded under inter-university agreements
Polish and foreign higher education institutions may enter into agreements on periodic exchange of students and scholars.
The institutions agree the rules of awarding scholarships.
A foreign student wishing to obtain a scholarship in Poland must meet the agreed requirements of interuniversity cooperation.
Some universities/colleges have their own scholarship programmes

28. European Union Scholarships
Studying in Poland can be made easier by EU programmes in which Polish universities/colleges actively participate, in particular by the SOCRATES educational programme facilitating cooperation at all levels and in various fields of education.
ERASMUS is a component of SOCRATES, targeting higher education institutions and aimed at coordinating student exchange.
More information is available on national SOCRATES websites.
TEMPUS is another noteworthy EU programme, intended for Central and Eastern European countries and aiming to support international cooperation between higher education institutions.
The LEONARDO DA VINCI programme cofinances activities such as practical training and preparing innovative course programmes, curricula or educational materials. The programme targets young people participating in the undergraduate vocational education.

29. Recognition of diplomas
Polish diplomas are recognised abroad under international agreements on the recognition of documents certifying education or, in the case of states with which such agreements have not been signed, under respective national regulations on the recognition of foreign diplomas.
In order to be recognised abroad, Polish higher education diplomas should be legalised by:
the Ministry of National Education and Sport of the Republic of Poland (in the case of universities, universities of technology, agricultural universities, universities of economics, pedagogic universities, teachers’ colleges, Christian Academy of Theology, vocational colleges, non-public universities and colleges registered with the Ministry of National Education and Sport, and academies of physical education)

30. Recognition of diplomas (cont.)
or by the Ministry of Health (in the case of medical universities, nurses’ licences),
Ministry of Culture (secondary and university-level art schools),
Ministryof Infrastructure (maritime universities),
or the Secretariat of Poland’s Episcopate (universities/colleges and schools run by the Catholic Church of Poland) –
and then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
More information is available on the website of the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange and in academic recognition centres abroad (addresses and telephone numbers available at

31. Recognition of diplomas (cont.)
Since May 2004, issues related to the recognition in the European Union of education obtained at Polish universities/ colleges have been governed by relevant EU regulations.
In the first case, the recognition of a diploma obtained in one Member State allows for continuing one’s education in another Member State.
The purpose of job-related recognition is to recognize the person’s professional skills and qualifications rather than academic titles. In the case of nonregulated professions, qualifications obtained in one EU Member State are automatically recognised in another Member State.

32. Recognition of diplomas (cont.)
These recognition principles apply to all diplomas and certificates obtained in higher education institutions operating legally in all EU Member States, including Poland, (Member State since May 2004), regardless of whether the institution is public or private (diplomas of both types of institutions are equal in view of EU principles of recognition).
Detailed information on the terms of diploma recognition is provided in each state by National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) cooperating with the European Network of Information Centres and the Information Network on Education in Europe (EURYDICE). In Poland, this function is performed by the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange.

33. Student Health Insurance
Foreigners studying in Poland are entitled to join, on a voluntary basis, the public health insurance system of the National Health Fund.
This can be done by submitting a written application to the National Health Fund.
The insurance entitles the student to free medical care.
Insured students may use services provided by academic and other health centres.

34. Student Health Insurance (cont.)
The basis for calculating the monthly health insurance premium for foreigners studying in Poland (students, doctoral programme participants or post-graduate interns) is equal to the monthly long-term social allowance which at present is about EUR 100.
Students who decide not to pay health insurance premiums in Poland may use paid medical services provided by private practices as well as health centres and hospitals.
Foreign students may also buy additional insurance against accidents.

35. Presentation of selected Catalogues available at
Universities -
Catalogues available at
the Educational Forum

36. Cracow University of Technology
Cracow University of Technology (CUT) was founded in 1945
Nowadays CUT's academic staff is 1232 incl. 77 professors and 138 associate professor. Most of them, as well as about 230 PhD students are involved in research projects.
The CUT actively co-operates with universities abroad and centres of scientific research. Today CUT is involved in 33 inter-university co-operation agreements. CUT is strongly involved in international educational projects as part of UE CEEPUS and SOCRATES/ERASMUS Programs.
The number of students admitted each year is close to Today, the total number of students is approx
 Faculties:
Architecture,
Chemical Engineering & Technology,
Civil Engineering,
Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Environmental Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering
Applied Physics and Computer Modelling.
Contact:

37. Gdynia Maritime University
The Maritime School in Gdynia was established over 75 years ago.
Faculties:
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Marine Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Marine Engineering
Faculty of Navigation
Studies at Maritime School in Gdynia guarantees:
one of the degrees - M.Sc. Eng., M.Sc., Eng., or B.Sc.
shipboard and shore-based workshop apprenticeship as well as the qualifications which when combined make it possible for him to apply for a merchant fleet officer's certificate issued by the Polish Maritime Board,
professional apprenticeship and qualifications to assume the operational positions with sea economy oriented and regional seaside enterprises,
a military training completed within the course of maritime studies with the rank of a reserve navy officer.
Contact:

38. Leon Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management (LKAEM)
LKAEM was founded in 1993 (non-state school)
For the past several years LKAEM has been ranked first in numerous prestigious school rankings, such as those conducted by "Wprost", "Perspektywy", and "Rzeczpospolita" magazines.
LKAEM belongs to the assembly of 12 Polish universities that meet international educational standards.
LKAEM is a member of EFMD (European Foundation for Management development) and AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Faculties:
Finance and Banking
Administration
Business Law
Psychology in Management
Sociology
Contact:

39. Szczecin Maritime University
It was founded in 1947
Up till 1997, over 6630 students have graduated from Szczecin Maritime University
Szczecin Maritime University offers the students study courses at two Faculties:
Faculty of Navigation (postgraduate course on maritime administration, transport, navigation)
Faculty of Marine Engineering (mechanics and engine construction)
- specialization: operation of marine propulsion plants. - specialization: diagnosis and maintenance of ship's machinery and equipment.
Educational activity is also provided by: - Marine Officers Training Centre (MOTC), - Marine Rescue Training Centre (MRTC).
The study courses are of a two-level type: - 4 years leading to BSc degree, - One or two years supplementary study course leading to a MSc degree.
The total number of laboratories for students training as well as research at both Faculties amounts to over 40 well equipped units
Contact:

40. Warsaw Management Academy
The Warsaw Management Academy founded in 1995 by The Society of Economic Enterprises (non-state school)
Academy has over 10,000 students and in the end of the academic year 2000/2001 employed 84 professors, including 4 visiting professors, 72 doctors and 183 holding master's degrees.
Academy owns facilities with 25 lectures halls - 50 classrooms, 5 computer rooms, computer graphics study, internet room, 2 simulation studies, about 250 computers, 2 student hostels with 290 beds and faculty guest house with 8 high-standard apartments, parking place for 270 cars, bookshop, library, reading-room, 2 restaurants, gym and many others.
Academy signed two bilateral agreements of cooperation / Elms College - US and Kiev National University in Ukraine
Faculties:
Business
Administration
Information Technologies
Production Engineering
Contact:

41. Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu - National-Louis University (WSB-NLU)
WSB-NLU was founded in 1991 (non-state school)
Up till now, over 5000 students have graduated from WSB-NLU including 1200 students in post-graduate and MBA programs.
Courses are conducted by experienced academic professors and lecturers who are specialists in their respective fields. The lecturers from the Jagiellonian University and the Academy of Economics in Cracow constitute the core of the faculty. WSB-NLU has 165 full-time faculty members, namely 34 professors (including 13, for whom WSB-NLU is the main institution of employment), 14 associate professors
In the years of 1993 through 1998, full time business courses were taught by sixty-seven lecturers from the National-Louis University, the California State University, Minot University, Villanova University (all in the United States) and from the Maastricht School of Management (The Netherlands.)
Main field: Management and marketing
Financial Management: Derivative Securities Portfolio Theory Advanced Corporate Finance
European Business: European Business Environment European Legal Environment SME Development Policy in the European Union
Contact:

42. Wyższa Szkoła Handlu i Prawa im. Ryszarda Lazarskiego
It was founded in 1993 (non-state school)
Up till now, over 10,500 students have graduated from Lazarski.
There are over 500 professors and associate professors.
Faculties:
Economy
Finance and Banking
Administration
Management and marketing
International relations
Technical and information education
Contact:

43. Wroclaw University of Technolgy
Wrocław University of Technology was founded in 1945
At present, Wrocław University of Technology has 31,936 students studying in Wrocław and at its three branches located in the largest towns of the region: Legnica, Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra.
It employs 2,035 academic teachers while the total number of students is estimated at 31,936.
To date, 70,727 students have graduated from Wrocław University of Technology with M.Sc. or B.Sc. degrees, and 4,194 with Ph.D. degrees; of the latter group, 626 have qualified as assistant professors.
Faculties          
Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Chemistry
Faculty of Electronics
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Mining Engineering
Faculty of Environmental Engineering
Faculty of Computer Science and Management
Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology
Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics
Contact:

44. Useful adresses
Kenyan-Polish Forum – Warsaw ul. Górczewska 124/305, Warszawa tel.: /09, fax:
Kenyan-Polish Forum – Nairobi attn. Julius Orowe 64 Westlands Road P.O.Box GPO Nairobi tel ,

45. Useful adresses (cont.)
Biuro Uznawalności Wykształcenia i Wymiany Międzynarodowej [Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange] ul. Smolna Warszawa tel. (48 22) , fax (48 22)
Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej i Sportu [Ministry of National Education and Sport] Al. Szucha Warszawa tel. (48 22 ) fax (48 22 )

46. Useful adresses (cont.)
Biuro Konferencji Rektorów Akademickich Szkół w Polsce [Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland] ul. Straszewskiego Kraków, Poland tel./fax
Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji, Narodowa Agencja Programu Socrates [Foundation for the Development of the Education System, National Socrates Programme Agency] ul. Mokotowska Warszawa tel. (48 22) , (48 22) fax (48 22)

47. Useful adresses (cont.)
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi, Kabarnet Road, P.O. Box Nairobi, Kenya. tel ( ) /2; fax ( )

48. Closing remarks
If you are interested in learning more about the educational offer of Polish Universities:
a. fill-in the questionnaire
b. ask for brochures of selected universities
c. leave your business card at the KPF Information Desk
d. visit: e. write to: