The universities in Poland for international students prove that Poland is not just home to good meals but also to quality education. While Poland is known to be one of the countries with the best delicacies in the world, it is also an exciting and modern destination for international students.
Hence, to aid you to choose the university that best suits you for an undergraduate or graduate course, we have compiled a list of the Best Universities in Poland for International Students.
This article answers questions that satisfy your curiosity about which school in Poland is best for you; how much will it cost to get a degree and if there are English Speaking universities in Poland, the home of Food.
The strength of the Polish higher education system is its specialized universities of technology and its medical schools. These institutions offer world-class education at modest tuition fees.
Table of contents
- Why Study in Poland?
- How is Education In Poland?
- What is the Tuition and Cost of Living in Poland?
- What Are The Best Public Universities in Poland?
- Are There English universities in Poland?
- Best Universities in Poland for International Students
- #1. Jagiellonian University
- #2. University of Warsaw
- #3. Warsaw University of Technology
- #4. Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan (UAM)
- #5. AGH University of Science and Technology
- #6. Cracow University of Technology
- #7. Gdansk University of Technology
- #8. Lodz University of Technology
- #9. Nicolaus Copernicus University
- #10. Poznan University of Technology
- Conclusion
- References
Why Study in Poland?
Poland pierogi and Irish potatoes are an amazing meal for international students. Aside from being home to the world’s best delicacies, Poland has really amazing universities prestigious enough to make you stand out from your peers.
Also, due to its high-quality education institutions, low tuition fees, and equally low cost of living, many students each year choose to study abroad in Poland.
Located at the center of the Northern European plain. Poland serves as the geographical and cultural crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe. Poland has been a nation of survivors since the foundation of the first Polish state more than 1,000 years ago. Today, Poland is the biggest of the former Eastern European states and the most populous new member of the European Union.
Basically, studying in a European country usually cost a lot of money. However, the cost-effectiveness and high standard nature of the certifications emanating from these universities in Poland; is one good reason to study in Poland.
How is Education 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 offered in English in Poland, many of them at an undergraduate level.
Poland has many well-respected universities, including Jagiellonian University and Warsaw University. Warsaw University is rated first in the Top Coder international IT ranking, outperforming such well-respected 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 multiplied fivefold. International students who choose to study in Poland will have the chance to receive a quality education in a quickly burgeoning academic environment.
Poland’s medical schools, in particular, are drawing an increasing number of international students. Many international students who have been incapable of getting into a medical program in their home country choose instead to study medicine in Poland.
Although these courses are taught in English, Polish-speaking skills are likely to become important by the end of the program, when students begin consultations with patients.
All leading universities in Poland offer high-quality programs taught in English, including medicine, engineering, humanities, business, and finance.
See how to get a Poland Student Visa here
What is the Tuition and Cost of Living in Poland?
As with many other EU countries, Poland offers cheap and sometimes free tuition to EU students. For instance, English language courses offered at the University of Warsaw cost between £1,300 and £2,500 per year. Most courses in Poland cost significantly less than in the UK, with the notable exemption of medical courses, which have fees of around £10,000 per year.
In addition, the cost of living in Poland is far less than in Western or Northern Europe. This means that the total cost of University education is significantly less in Poland than elsewhere in Europe. For instance:
- Monthly student bus ticket: £9
- Pint of local beer: £1.20
- One kilogram of cheese: £4
- A loaf of bread: £0.50
- Take-away kebab: £1.50
- A meal in an inexpensive restaurant: £3.80
What Are The Best Public Universities in Poland?
There are so many good public universities in Poland. However, based on ranking and other policies that favor international students more, these schools have been hand-picked as the best Public Universities in Poland. So, the best public universities in Poland will include:
- The Wroclaw University of Technology,
- The Medical University of Silesia,
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
- The Medical University of Warsaw,
- The Silesian University of Technology,
Other public universities in Poland include;
- AGH University of Science and Technology,
- Cracow University of Technology,
- The Gdansk University of Technology,
- University of Lodz, Lodz University of Technology,
- Nicolaus Copernicus University,
- Poznan University of Technology,
- University of Gdansk, Warsaw
- University of Life Sciences,
- the University of Silesia in Katowice
- University of Wroclaw.
Are There English universities in Poland?
Students get a chance to study more than 400 programs every year. There are 2 different ways to study in Poland. One can opt to study in the English medium of instruction or in the Polish medium degree program. In both ways, you need a certificate of language proficiency proof for admission and visa.
- Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
- AGH University of Science and Technology
- Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw
- Collegium Civitas
- Cracow University of Economics
- Czestochowa University of Technology
- Gdansk University of Technology
- Graduate School for Social Research (GSSR)
- Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Best Universities in Poland for International Students
- Jagiellonian University
- University of Warsaw
- Warsaw University of Technology
- Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan (UAM)
- AGH University of Science and Technology
- Cracow University of Technology
- Gdansk University of Technology
- Lodz University of Technology
- Nicolaus Copernicus University
- Poznan University of Technology
- University of Gdansk
- University of Lodz
- The University of Silesia in Katowice
- University of Wroclaw
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences
#1. Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University is Poland’s earliest higher education institution and one of the oldest in Europe. It was founded on 12 May 1364 by the Polish king Casimir the Great. The Jubilee year 2014 marked the 650th anniversary of this exceptional event.
Since its very beginning, the Jagiellonian University has been an international institution. Poles, Ruthenians, Lithuanians, Hungarians, Germans, Czechs, the Swiss, the English, the Dutch, the French, the Spanish, Italians, and even Tatars studied here in the old days.
Today, the Jagiellonian University includes 16 Faculties, where nearly 4 thousand academic staff conduct research and provide education to over 40 thousand students, within the framework of over 80 different fields of study.
The renowned researchers and state-of-the-art infrastructure make the JU one of the leading Polish scientific institutions, collaborating with major academic centers worldwide.
The Jagiellonian University is also home to about 150 student societies, where young researchers pursue their academic interests and grow friendships with people who share their passion.
#2. University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw (UW), established in 1816, is Poland’s best university and a leading research center. The great level of scientific research, its connection with the education of students and the variety and attractiveness of our teaching defines the position of the University in the country and worldwide.
The University of Warsaw is among the top 3% of the world’s best universities. According to international rankings, it also is the best university in Poland and one of the leading ones in this region of Europe.
The University is located in the capital of Poland, one of the most dynamically developing European cities. Warsaw is the center of political and economic life and has a lively social and cultural scene. It regularly climbs the international rankings of the world’s most attractive urban area.
#3. Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology builds upon the traditions of Polish technical universities that used to function in Warsaw. It is not only the oldest but also the best technical university in Poland.
In the ranking of Polish universities, it has taken first place in its category for nine years. At Warsaw University of Technology, over 180 student research groups, organizations, and associations are active.
The educational offer includes more than 30 fields of study (also with English as a medium of instruction). Offering study programs both in English and Polish, WUT is becoming increasingly internationalized and is welcoming students from all over the world to join ab variety of Bachelor and Master programs.
#4. Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan (UAM)
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland is the major academic institution in Greater Poland (Wielkopolska region) and one of the top Polish universities.
Its 100-year old reputation is founded on a long tradition of higher education in the City of Poznań and the outstanding current achievements of its staff, students and graduates.
#5. AGH University of Science and Technology
The AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow is a modern state university. The institution promotes collaboration with colleges and universities in Poland, Europe, and worldwide. Importantly the university’s priority is completing tasks and projects that are part of the knowledge triangle: education – scientific research – innovations.
The AGH University of Science and Technology is a technical university where exact sciences are strongly represented. It is also where they constitute a basis for developing a wide spectrum of applied sciences at a gradually increasing role of social sciences and humanities.
In line with global trends, we create new branches of study. Still, at the same time, we keep the conventional ones, which are indispensable for the proper development of science, technology, and our country’s economy.
#6. Cracow University of Technology
The Cracow University of Technology (PK) is an independent state university established in 1945, reporting to the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. PK is one of the best technical universities in Poland.
The Cracow University of Technology involves 8 faculties with 30 majors accredited by the Polish Accreditation Committee. Also, the majors taught by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture are accredited by the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education.
Moreover the major in Architecture is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the major in Landscape Architecture gained the accreditation of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Europe. The Cracow University of Technology was awarded the Logo Human Resources Excellence in Research by the European Commission.
Currently, almost 14,000 students taking full-time, part-time and Ph.D. studies as well as post-graduate studies with approximately 1,100 academic teachers overseeing their education. The total number of alumni that graduated from PK exceeds 80 000.
Our alumni find jobs at public and private companies, national and international enterprises, government administration, universities, and research institutes. We are committed to ensuring that all the PK graduates represent a high level of expertise and the highest ethical standards so that they can choose from many interesting job offers.
Cooperation with many universities and scientific centers worldwide enables joint publications and research, exchange of students and academic teachers, and the possibility of obtaining additional certificates and double diplomas. Cooperation with industry is also well-developed, and a Technology Transfer Centre is active in the university.
#7. Gdansk University of Technology
The Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT; Polish: Politechnika Gdańska) is a technical university in the Wrzeszcz (Langfuhr) borough of Gdańsk (Danzig), and one of the earliest universities in Poland. It has 9 faculties with 41 fields of study, more than 18 thousand undergraduates, and about 626 doctoral students. It employs 2768 people, including 1313 academic teachers. It received CESAER Membership in 2015.
Some degree courses and different specializations are taught in English. Moreover, some of the courses offered by GUT are unique in Poland, for example, ones in Construction Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Geodesy, Cartography, and Engineering of Natural Resources.
Students can access specialist laboratories, lecture theatres with multimedia facilities, a library with 1.2 million volumes and different sports facilities. Undergraduates can also join one or more of 60 student science or language societies and other organizations.
The GUT is the first and only Polish university member of the CDIO Initiative, established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
CDIO aims to provide an education for engineers that enables them to “Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate” pre-industrial technological systems.
An active member of several university networks and associations, e.g. Baltic Science Research (coordination of nanotechnology research and education), Baltic University Network (Uppsala Protocol) and the Baltic Sea Region University Network.
#8. Lodz University of Technology
Lodz University of Technology (TUL) was founded in 1945 and has developed into one of the largest technical universities in Poland. Originally located in an old factory building, today covering almost 200,000 sq. meters in over 70 separate buildings, most of which are in the main University area.
Almost 15,000 students are currently studying at the University. About 3,000 staff members carry out the educational and scientific tasks of the University.
The Lodz University of Technology is a well-established institution with an evolved structure. Prospective students have nine faculties and many additional units that enable interdisciplinary studies, provide study support, foreign language instruction, entertainment, and sports.
Read Also: List of Low Tuition Universities In Poland
#9. Nicolaus Copernicus University
The Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (NCU) was founded in 1945. It is one of the largest universities in Poland, currently covering 17 faculties (including 3 medical faculties at Collegium Medicum UMK in Bydgoszcz).
It provides graduate and postgraduate courses for almost 25 000 students, offering education in over 100 fields of study and 65 postgraduate courses.
The university employs 4039 staff on Toruń and Bydgoszcz campuses, over half of whom are academic teachers. NCU alumni now number around 200 000.
#10. Poznan University of Technology
PUT was officially established in 1955, and the first rector was Roman Kozak. But a state school had been in Poznań since 1919, under name of the Higher State School of Machinery. After adding a second department in 1929, its name was modified to the Higher State School of Machinery and Electrotechnics.
It was supposed to become the University of Technology in 1940, but World War II disrupted its development. In 1945 the school got the status of Higher Engineering School, and in 1955 it became the University of Technology.
Poznań University of Technology, PUT (Polish name: Politechnika Poznańska) is a university located in Poznań, Poland. The Poznań University of Technology is one of Poland’s best technical universities. URAP rated PUT in the top 6% of world universities, and Webometrics ranked it at no. 842 in the world by Google citations for the year 2015.
In 1995 it became the first Polish university to become a member of the Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER), an organization including the best technical universities in Europe. However, the university is also a member of the Socrates-Erasmus programme for exchange students from all over Europe, promoting advanced engineering and a European dimension.
The university is home to many organizations, student circles, and the radio station Afera 98.6 MHz. The university has over 21,000 students and over 1100 academic staff.
#11. University of Gdansk
The University of Gdańsk is a dynamically developing institution of higher learning that blends respect for tradition with a devotion to the new. We offer a very broad range of academic subjects and an equally wide range of subjects that lead to professional qualifications in demand on the job market.
Many students pursue their studies in state-of-the-art facilities on the University’s Baltic Campus, one of the largest university complexes in northern Poland.
#12. University of Lodz
The University of Lodz is a responsible higher education institution, directing its intercultural and social integration actions. There are 95 nationalities currently studying at the University of Lodz.
Our University builds academic community around the values of respect for cultural, religious and community identities and social sensitivity. UL endeavors to educate active global citizens who think critically, understand the complexity and the diversity of perspectives that underline most global problems.
#13. The University of Silesia in Katowice
The roots of the University of Silesia in Katowice date back to 1928 when the Instytut Pedagogiczny w Katowicach (Pedagogical Institute in Katowice) was founded in Katowice which existed till 1939. In 1950 Higher Pedagogical School in Katowice is established; however, first preparations to the formation of what would later become the University of Silesia in Katowice were taken just after the finish of the Second World War.
The University of Silesia in Katowice (Polish: Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach, UŚ) is an autonomous state-run university in Silesia Province, Katowice, Poland. It should not be confused with a likewise named university in the Czech Republic, the Silesian University in Opava (Slezská Univerzita v Opavě).
The university offers higher education and research facilities. It offers undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. degree programs, postgraduate, postdoctoral research, habilitation, and continuous education and training programs.
#14. University of Wroclaw
The University of Wrocław (UWr; Polish: Uniwersytet Wrocławski; German: Universität Breslau; Latin: Universitas Wratislaviensis) is a public research university located in Wrocław, Poland. The University of Wrocław was founded in 1945, replacing the previous German University of Breslau.
Following the territorial changes of Poland’s borders, academics primarily from the Jan Kazimierz University of Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine) restored the university building heavily damaged and split due to the Battle of Breslau (1945). Nowadays it is one of the most prominent educational institutions in the region.
The University is currently the biggest in Lower Silesian Voivodeship with over 100,000 graduates since 1945 including some 1,900 researchers among whom many received the highest awards for their contribution to the development of scientific scholarship.
The University of Wrocław is renowned for its relatively high quality of teaching, placing 44th on the QS University Rankings: EECA 2016, and is located in the same campus as the former University of Breslau, which produced 9 Nobel Prize winners.
#15. Warsaw University of Life Sciences
The Warsaw University of Life Sciences (Polish: Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, SGGW) is the largest agricultural university in Poland, founded in 1816 in Warsaw.
It employs over 2,600 staff including over 1,200 academic educators. The University is since 2005 a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS) established in 2001. The SGGW gives some 37 different fields of study, 13 faculties in Agricultural Sciences, Economic Sciences, Humanities, Technical and Life Sciences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Poland is an exciting and modern destination for international students. Polish universities have been more successful in international university rankings over recent years. The best-ranked universities in Poland are the University of Warsaw (the country’s largest) and Jagiellonian University in Cracow (the country’s oldest, dating back to the 14th century).
If you wish to study in Poland, this article contains a list of 15 best schools in Poland. Take advantage of it.
References
- https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-poland
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/poland
- https://www.mastersportal.com/ranking-country/20/poland.html
- https://www.study.eu/best-universities/poland
- https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/europe/poland/guide
