The report showed that Ukrainians make up the majority of international students in Poland, accounting for 55.8 percent of the total, followed by Belarusians at 13.9 percent. Zimbabwean nationals form the third-largest group among international students in the country.
Poland has clinched the sixth position among European countries for attracting the highest number of international students, according to a recent report by Project Atlas, a global research initiative focusing on student mobility.
The report showed that Ukrainians make up the majority of international students in Poland, accounting for 55.8 percent, followed by Belarusians at 13.9 percent. Zimbabwean nationals form the third-largest group among international students in the country, the Erudera reported.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom leads the list in Project Atlas, with international students comprising 25 percent of its student body. The Netherlands and France closely follow, with their international students representing 14 percent and over 13 percent, respectively.
A previous report by the Perspektywy Educational Foundation said that among the 105,000 international students in Poland, 45.6 percent are from Ukraine, a substantial increase from the previous academic year.
Belarus and Turkey follow, contributing 11.4 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, to the total international student population. This accounts for 8.7 percent of Poland’s 1.21 million university students, showcasing a robust internationalization rate.
“This is on par with the European average, reflecting the enormous work done by Polish higher education over the past 19 years,” Waldemar Siwiński, president of the Perspektywy Foundation, said.
“When we joined the European Union, only 8,800 foreign students were studying at Polish universities, giving us an internationalization rate of 0.48 percent, the lowest in Europe,” he added.
The expansion of English-taught programs and training for internationalization management has contributed to Poland’s success.
Prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk, rector of the Silesian University of Technology, highlighted the positive impact of international students on Poland’s academic environment, serving as ambassadors for the country upon their return.
The report also noted an increasing number of students from countries like Zimbabwe, India, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, China, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria over the past four years.
However, a decline in student numbers was observed in the US, Russia, Germany, Vietnam, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Thailand, and Georgia.
Data showed that the majority of international students in Poland come from Europe (67 percent), followed by Asia (20 percent) and Africa (12 percent), with popular fields of study including management, computer science, and medicine.
Poland’s project studiujepracuje.pl offers free education for Ukrainian youth aged 18 to 25, combining study and work opportunities nationwide. The initiative supports individuals pursuing studies at Polish universities or post-secondary schools, including police institutions.
Participants can choose their preferred institution and field of study, and the program provides assistance in finding employment and accommodation, covering expenses such as rent, public transport, and health insurance. Financial aid is also offered, including 1.8 thousand zlotys per year for vacation.
The project welcomes both Ukrainian students completing studies in Ukraine and those already enrolled in Polish universities, requiring applicants to submit an online form along with their academic credentials.
Poland, recognized as one of Europe’s most cost-effective countries for students, charges $2,500 annually for English programs, and dormitory rooms can be rented for as low as $70 per month.
In the 2019-2020 academic year, over 1.2 million students attended Polish universities, with 6.8 percent being international students.
Almost 85,000 international students were enrolled in Polish universities in the 2020-2021 academic year.
