Education in Warsaw

Warsaw’s primary and secondary school community boasts programmes with increasingly elaborate facilities and varied academic offerings. For expat families that want an education using a standard international curriculum, Warsaw offers a range of international schools offering International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. In recent years, these IB programmes have gained popularity with secondary schools thanks to their global appeal and recognition from top universities worldwide. Some of the international schools have a waiting list, but the number of spaces is increasing. However, admissions departments recommend applying by early March, as most schools begin finalising their rosters then. Contact admissions directly to find out if there is space in the specific year of your child. Most schools do not require an entrance exam, though an assessment may be required for students with less advanced English skills. Otherwise, parents and students simply fill out an application form and provide previous school records, medical records, standardised test scores and sometimes a letter of recommendation.

Universities and higher education:

Warsaw’s many institutions of higher education provide plenty of opportunities to further your scholastic ambitions, whether you want to finish your degree, pursue an entirely new course of study or take an enrichment class. For locals, university admission is a long and stressful process with alternate entry points, as each institution sets its own admission rules. Some have competitive entrance exams, while others use ranking procedures based on grades in the matura, the obligatory high school leaving exam. To enrol as a foreigner you need to have a study visa or residence permit before filling out the application form and submitting school records and other documentation. Some places require proof of language proficiency, but often institutions also offer intensive or yearlong preparatory courses to polish your Polish. Tuition fees for foreigners are set by each institution and differentiated across field of studies and programme level, but prices are relatively cheap compared to American or Western European schools.

Poland’s largest and most notable bastion of academia is the University of Warsaw (www.uw.edu.pl), founded in 1816. It consists of 18 faculties, including Archaeology, Medicine, Mathematics and Law, and sprawls over 120 buildings across the city. Over a dozen masters programmes are offered in English, including European studies, International Economics and Psychology, in addition to non-degree courses about Poland and in Jewish studies. For the business-minded, the Warsaw School of Economics (www. sgh.waw.pl) offers primarily administrative and business degrees, as does the Warsaw University of Technology’s Business School (www.business.edu.pl). English-language courses are also offered by the Warsaw University of Technology (www.pw.edu.pl) and private institutions such as the College of Europe (www.coleurop.be) and Collegium Civitas (www.civitas.edu.pl). Visit www.studyinpoland.pl for a comprehensive overview of higher education options.

Language courses:

While English may be the lingua franca of your business environment, and is understood and used increasingly widely by younger Varsovians, learning some of the local lingo will help you break down cultural barriers and feel more comfortable in your new home. True, Polish is a rather challenging language to master with all its complex pronunciation and grammar exceptions, but taking classes at one of the many language schools or studying vocabulary on your own will help you pick up the basics when it comes to things like ordering food, asking directions and bargaining in the market. Companies offering courses at every level include the Centre for Polish Studies (www.learnpolish.edu. pl), Linguae Mundi (www.linguaemundi.pl), Klub Dealogu (www.klubdialogu. pl), Meritum (www.meritum.com.pl), Centrum Języka Polskiego (www.cjp.pl), IKO (www.iko.com.pl) and IKO (www.iko.com.pl). You can also opt for more informal, one-on-one language exchange sessions where you meet up with a local or fellow foreigner for mutual conversation practice. Try ESN Tandem (www.uw.esn.pl/content/tandem), the University of Warsaw’s language and culture exchange programme, or the Language Exchange Club Warsaw (www.languageexchangewarsaw.ning.com).