Reasons to Study in Poland: Student Satisfaction Awards

International students agree that universities in Poland provide some of the best higher education in Europe. More than 7,000 students shared reviews on their study abroad experience on the world’s largest database of international student experiences, STeXX.eu. From these reviews a total of 325 students commented on what it was like to study in Poland, and rated the country an overall score of 9 out of 10. This ranked Poland fifth among the best places to study in Europe, in the StudyPortals International Student Satisfaction Awards 2014, boosting its position by eight places from last year’s 13^th position.

Eleven universities in Poland were nominated for international student satisfaction awards. Two Polish universities received average scores of 9.5 out of 10, and were awarded the Certificate for Outstanding International Student Satisfaction: Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan and the University of Economics in Katowice. Students also rated three more universities in Poland as “excellent”: Gdansk School of Banking, the University of Warsaw and Wroclaw University of Technology. A further six Polish higher education institutions were rated “very good”.

What are the benefits of studying in Poland?

As a top international student destination, Poland provides an enriching cultural experience to incoming students worldwide. Most of those studying in Poland have only good things to say about the historical landmarks, beautiful landscapes, city life and the great variety of social activities. Many of them consider that the opportunity to study in Poland greatly helped their self-development.

“I will strongly recommend Gdansk for my friends, because it's a very beautiful, magnificent city with many cultural events. It's a city with a lot of opportunities – you can develop your personality by attending concerts, plays, museums, but also you can develop on your own. There is a huge business center here. Worldwide-known companies are investing here, so students have really good opportunities to start their career. Knowledge of languages is a huge bonus, so Erasmus students can easily find a good job.” – student from Lithuania

“I had a chance to reach the most popular libraries in the world (such as Emerald, Elsevier etc.) for free, I experienced the language and travelled to different countries (such as Hungary and Romania) with my Schengen visa. I made international friends and felt free to make my own decisions, to take risks and plan my future. After this experience, I'm not afraid of visiting other countries anymore. Besides, I feel much more educated (because of our master's sharing experience).” – student from Azerbaijan

One of the biggest advantages mentioned by students is the low tuition and living costs, which means it’s relatively affordable and accessible to study in Poland. The university staff and teachers are usually friendly and willing to help and – although there is room for improvement – the services provided at universities in Poland are above average. 

“The teachers at CUE were very friendly, and genuinely interested in our knowledge and background. They were keen to learn as much from us as we wanted to learn from them. I feel like I learned a lot from my exchange, as I was able to study subjects which I would not normally have chosen in Australia, particularly those relating to the EU.” – student in Australia

“Compared to the majority of other European countries, Poland is a low-cost country where you can easily find accommodation at low prices. You also have a lot of opportunities to travel to other countries.” – student in Portugal

Things to consider before applying to study in Poland: Cold weather and low level of English

Most students complained about the cold weather, which was an inconvenience especially to students coming from Mediterranean countries. Reviews mention that some programs have low education standards, and some students would have wished for a more demanding academic experience. Students only looking for an international experience may overlook this aspect, as they can focus more on the positive cultural benefits and personal development. A few reviews also referred to the low level of English at some universities in Poland. Those looking for higher English standards may want to seek programs taught by international professors in Poland.

For more information about the International Student Satisfaction Awards and universities in Poland, visit the StudyPortals country profile. Those planning to study in Poland can also search over 200 master’s programs taught in English, and some English-taught bachelor’s programs.