Frequently Asked Questions
Study in Krakow
What kind of programs I can apply for in Krakow?
Is it possible for me to study Polish for beginners in Krakow?
I want to study as an undergraduate in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to study in a Master's Programme in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to pursue my PhD in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to come to Krakow for my student exchange stay. What do I do?
Do I have to pay tuition fees?
Are there any scholarships, I can apply for?
How long would my studies take?
I'm interested in in a particular field of study. What are the programs on offer?
Do I need any Polish language certificate to study in Krakow?
Where can I get more information?
What documents should I submit to study in Poland?
Should I translate my certificates into Polish?
Settling in Krakow
Can I work while studying in Krakow?
Do I need a visa? How do I obtain it?
What is the Temporary Permit Card? Do I have to apply for it?
Do I need health insurance?
How expensive is life in Krakow?
Can I live in a dormitory?
What documents should I bring to Krakow with me?
Is there any orientation program that I should attend before I start my studies?
How can I get to Krakow?
How can I find an apartment?
Who can I contact in case of emergency?
Where can I apply for a student job?
Should I speak Polish looking for a job?
Are there any discounts for students regarding accommodation, etc?
Life in Krakow
How do I apply to become a student at one of Krakow's Universities?
Are there students' organizations I can join?
Are there many international students that I could meet in Krakow?
Are there events for international visitors?
How can I move around the city?
Do Polish people know foreign languages?
How is weather in Krakow?
Study in Krakow
What kind of programs I can apply for in Krakow?
Is it possible for me to study Polish for beginners in Krakow?
I want to study as an undergraduate in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to study in a Master's Programme in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to pursue my PhD in Krakow. What do I do?
I want to come to Krakow for my student exchange stay. What do I do?
Do I have to pay tuition fees?
Are there any scholarships, I can apply for?
How long would my studies take?
I'm interested in in a particular field of study. What are the programs on offer?
Do I need any Polish language certificate to study in Krakow?
Where can I get more information?
What documents should I submit to study in Poland?
Should I translate my certificates into Polish?
Settling in Krakow
Can I work while studying in Krakow?
Do I need a visa? How do I obtain it?
What is the Temporary Permit Card? Do I have to apply for it?
Do I need health insurance?
How expensive is life in Krakow?
Can I live in a dormitory?
What documents should I bring to Krakow with me?
Is there any orientation program that I should attend before I start my studies?
How can I get to Krakow?
How can I find an apartment?
Who can I contact in case of emergency?
Where can I apply for a student job?
Should I speak Polish looking for a job?
Are there any discounts for students regarding accommodation, etc?
Life in Krakow
How do I apply to become a student at one of Krakow's Universities?
Are there students' organizations I can join?
Are there many international students that I could meet in Krakow?
Are there events for international visitors?
How can I move around the city?
Do Polish people know foreign languages?
How is weather in Krakow?
What kind of programs I can apply for in Krakow?The offer of Krakow's universities is very diverse. We have prepared a special website where you can find all programs you could be interested in. All information in one place:
www.study-krakow.com/courses/Return to FAQ
Is it possible for me to study Polish for beginners in Krakow?Yes, you can study Polish for beginners in Krakow. There are various places where you can do it, for example: Cracow University of Technology's International Center for Education
www.educentre.info/ and Jagiellonian University's Center for Polish Language and Culture in the World
poprzednia.uj.edu.pl/Polonia/en/ Return to FAQ
I want to study as an undergraduate in Krakow. What do I do?Students who consider pursuing bachelor studies in Krakow must hold the certificate of secondary education completion which needs to be recognized as a Polish equivalent according to current regulations. In general, citizens of the EU and EFTA countries are admitted according to the same rules and regulations that apply to Polish citizens. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/11 Return to FAQ
I want to study in a Master's Programme in Krakow. What do I do?Students who consider pursuing master studies must hold a bachelor degree or the equivalent of 180 ECTS gained. In general, citizens of the EU and EFTA countries are admitted according to the same rules and regulations that apply to Polish citizens. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/11 Return to FAQ
I want to pursue my PhD in Krakow. What do I do?Depending on what field of study you wish to pursue, you should contact one of the universities listed on our website:
www.study-krakow.com/universities/ and email the ones that interest you regarding your PhD work.
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I want to come to Krakow for my student exchange stay. What do I do?Krakow Universities participate in a variety of International Exchange Programs including LLP Erasmus, CEEPUS, and UNESCO. Each university has also a number of inside exchange programs and bilateral student exchanges. If you're interested in spending your exchange in Krakow you should ask your International Office at your Home University about exchange programs available and whether or not there's a bilateral agreement with one of the Krakow Universities (for the list of Krakow Universities go here:
www.study-krakow.com/universities/ ). Your International office will know all about admission procedures and what to do to ensure credit transfer after you complete your exchange.
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Do I have to pay tuition fees?International students who consider studying in Poland are subject to various tuition fee regulations which depend on the programme they are enrolled in, their country of origin, Polish descent or scholarships they hold. As a general rule non – EU citizens enrolled in Polish degree programmes, those who pursue an English language programme (both degree and non degree) are not exempt from tuition fees unless they hold a scholarship which exempts them from paying. For detailed information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/7 Return to FAQ
Are there any scholarships, I can apply for?
International students who wish to study in Poland and want to avoid costs of education can apply for various scholarships which either exempts them from paying tuition fee or serve as a financial support in covering their living costs in Krakow. As there are many possibilities for scholarship application. Please click here for information only about the most popular ones.
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How long would my studies take?
The length of a program can vary, but on average, Bachelor courses last 6 or 7 semesters (3 or 3,5 years) and Master courses last between 3 and 4 semester (1,5-2 years). Doctoral studies usually take minimum 3 years.
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I'm interested in in a particular field of study. What are the programs on offer?The offer of Krakow universities is very diverse. We have prepared special website where you can find all programs in one place:
www.study-krakow.com/courses/ Return to FAQ
Do I need any Polish language certificate to study in Krakow?
You do not need a Polish language certificate to study in Krakow, unless you wish to study a course with Polish as a language of instruction. In that case, you are usually required to prove your proficiency in Polish.
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What documents should I submit to study in Poland?
Each University will provide you with a complete list of documents required during the admission procedure. And even though the detailed list may vary from university to university, you will most likely be asked to provide a CV, a cover letter, certificate of proficiency in the language you want to study in, secondary school certificate, and in the case of graduate programs, Bachelor degree diploma.
For a complete list of required documents, please ask the University of your Choice.
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Should I translate my certificates into Polish?
In cases of some documents you will be required to include a sworn translation. The University of your Choice will tell you which documents need to translated.
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Can I work while studying in Krakow?Yes. If you get temporary residence permit, you are also entitled to take up work. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/3 Return to FAQ
Do I need a visa? How do I obtain it?A citizen of some non-EU/EEA country can enter the territory of Poland on the basis of a valid travel document (passport) and a visa. The visa can be obtained from the consulate of Poland in the country of residence. The short-term visa entitles to stay in Poland up to 3 months, the long-term visa - up to 1 year For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/3 Return to FAQ
What is the Temporary Permit Card? Do I have to apply for it?For stay up to 3 months no legalization of stay will be necessary. For stays exceeding 3 months, an EU citizen will have to obtain a temporary residence permit (Karta pobytu obywatela UE). In case of students, the residence permit is issued for one year. This document will be issued by the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Regional Office (province administration, in Polish Urzad Wojewodzki). Charge for issuing of the residence permit is 30 Polish zloty (ca 7 Euro). For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/3 Return to FAQ
Do I need health insurance?Citizens of the European Union member states are entitled to receive free health care services from health care providers who have contracts for health services with the National Health Fund (NFZ). The information about health care providers who have the contracts with the NFZ is available in the pertinent regional branch offices of the NFZ. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/12 Return to FAQ
How expensive is life in Krakow?Living on a student budget is not the easiest thing to do. Accommodation costs are relatively low and if you live on campus, you can save on transport costs which can be expensive. Other cost-saving options include a range of second-hand bookstores, student nights at most clubs and discounts at many local shops. Nevertheless individual students' living expenses differ, thus it is hard to estimate the average amount. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/10 Return to FAQ
Can I live in a dormitory?Universities offer a limited number of places in dormitories, which in case of overwhelming demand will be assigned randomly. To reserve a place in the hall of residence, students are asked to fill in a housing application form. Prices of dormitory rooms range between 240 - 350 PLN per month depending on the building. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/9Return to FAQ
What documents should I bring to Krakow with me?
You will need to bring all the documents required for admission that you have not sent via regular mail already. You will also need to bring the original of your Birth Certificate, as it is a document needed for issuing a Temporary Residence Permit, if your visa doesn't cover your entire stay in Poland.
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Is there any orientation program that I should attend before I start my studies?
While attending Orientation is never obligatory it certainly helps international students get settled and acquainted with the city and the people. You should get all the information regarding orientation program in your acceptance package from the University you applied to.
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How can I get to Krakow?You can easily say that all roads lead to Krakow. You can arrive by plane (it's very easy to get from Krakow Airport to the City Center:
www.krakowairport.pl/en/60/4/176/Access-to-the-airport), by train (the Main Train Station is located in the city center), and by car (there are major highways leading to Krakow).
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How can I find an apartment?If you decide to get a flat, the People at the International Programs Offices will help you and your international friends to find something that suites you. Renting a flat together with other students offers, in most cases, higher standards at prices not much more expensive than a place in a student dormitory. Cost for renting a room or a flat depends on its location and facilities. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/9 Return to FAQ
Who can I contact in case of emergency?
If you're calling from a mobile phone press 112 – for police/ambulance/fire brigade
If you're calling from landlines call the following numbers:
997 – Police
998 – Fire brigade
999 - Ambulance
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Where can I apply for a student job?There are many places where you can look for a job. Each university has a Career Center to help their students find internships and jobs and that should be one of the first stops in your search. You can also look at online job boards such as
krakow.gumtree.pl Return to FAQ
Should I speak Polish looking for a job?
While, technically, knowledge of the Polish language is not a necessary requirement when you're searching for a job, it certainly is a plus and can help you in the process.
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Are there any discounts for students regarding accommodation, etc?
Students, international students as well, are eligible for several discounts in various areas of services. All you need is a student ID. Each University offers separate rates for their students when it comes to accommodation. Students have discounts on public transports, in cinemas and at some stores in Krakow.
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How do I apply to become a student at one of Krakow's Universities?Admission procedures at universities in Krakow vary from institution to institution however some general rules apply. These are being regulated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Candidates can apply either on an individual basis or within a framework of existing governmental agreements. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/11
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Are there students' organizations I can join?
Every student can join any number of student organizations. As an international student you will most likely have the most contact with ESN (Erasmus Student Network), but there are other organizations available at each Krakow University, from science-oriented ones, to hobby-oriented such as kayaking, karate, singing, modern dance, etc.
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Are there many international students that I could meet in Krakow?
It depends on a variety of things. But even if there aren't many international students in the programme you are attending, you should be able to connect with others in the same university or outside of it. Contact ESN (student organization helping international students) or use our Facebook or Forum to connect with other students in Krakow.
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Are there events for international visitors?Krakow is famous for many social events for both Polish citizens and foreigners. We have festivals specifically for students as well as a wider audience. For more information regarding international events in Krakow, please go to our News section:
www.study-krakow.com/news/archive Return to FAQ
How can I move around the city?The public transport within Krakow is well developed with a network of bus and tram lines which are frequent, convenient and inexpensive. In the beginning you can buy a bunch of single fair tickets in one of the many kiosks. But for 160 Zloty you will get a 5 month travel pass which gives you access to all the trams and buses. For more information about fares, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/10
There's also a possibility to use a bike. You can buy or rent one from the municipal bike rental. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/news/news,57
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Do Polish people know foreign languages?
Most Polish citizens speak a foreign language in some capacity. Most popular foreign languages in Poland are English, Russian, German, Italian and French. Most of the students (as well as majority of staff at universities) speak English. The closer you are to the Main Market square the easier it becomes to have a conversation in a foreign language.
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How is weather in Krakow?Krakow enjoys a temperate climate with features of both European marine west coast and more severe continental one. Unlike other European countries, 6 seasons may be distinguished: winter, early spring, spring, summer, autumn, early winter. For more information, please check:
www.study-krakow.com/text/13 Return to FAQ