If you heard of the beautiful Tatra Mountains or the Masurian Lake District, you probably wanted to visit Poland. If you are planning a trip for study purposes, then you should also know that Poland has some of the oldest universities in the world.
There are over 400 universities and colleges in Poland which welcome around 1.5 million students yearly. Poland is known to be an accessible European country, with a strong history, high-quality university degrees offered in the English language, and broad perspectives. Tuition fees are also below the European average while the rewards of studying in Poland are high.
Find out all there is to know about the student cost of living in Poland and tuition fees you should expect for studying abroad in Poland.
Tuition fees in Poland:
While Polish citizens don’t pay for tuition fees in public universities, foreign students are charged with fees established by the universities. These cost the least:
Private Polish universities have average tuition fees of 50,000 EUR/year, depending on the level of education and specialization. Also, you have the right to apply for a public university and compete with Polish students. However, admissions have a higher difficulty than in other cases and you will be enrolled in a programme taught in Polish.
Universities in Poland with affordable tuition fees
Student living costs in Poland:
Poland is an accessible European country with a pretty stable economy and living costs of 450 – 650 EUR/month. You can adjust your budget depending on the city or area you wish to study in. Larger cities such as Krakow or Warsaw require 500 – 850 EUR/month.
Accommodation costs in Poland
Housing is a major subject in Poland since it represents 37% of the total monthly budget, according to a European study. International students may find options in university residence halls or private rental apartments that can also be shared. Also, universities have services dedicated to students who seek accommodation off-campus.
The costs of accommodation in Poland are a bit above the European average of 200 – 300 EUR/month. However, private rental apartments have high standards. Below you will find the costs of housing in most of the Polish cities.
On-campus housing is not too accessible for students. Only 12% of them live in residence halls and 57% are satisfied with the services and housing itself. A one-bedroom apartment in Krakow costs around 290 – 390 EUR/month, while Warsaw has prices of 350 – 460 EUR/month.
Other costs associated with accommodation
When you live in Poland, besides rent you will also have some additional expenses which come from the utilities. The basic ones are electricity, heating, water and garbage and they have total prices of around 155 EUR/month for an 85 square meters apartment.
An additional expense could also be considered the two months deposit that many of the landlords ask when you move into your rental apartment.
Food costs
Food for an international student usually costs 100 – 150 EUR/month. You can save some money if you choose to buy groceries and you shop from low-priced supermarkets. Some of the most widespread ones are Tesco, Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc, and Lidl.
You can enjoy a dinner in an accessible restaurant for only 5 EUR or pay 23 EUR for a three-course meal in an average restaurant for two. A light drink will cost you only 2 EUR.
Public transport is the main option for students, who pay 50 EUR for a semestre pass, available for 6 months. Many of the Polish cities have nice panoramic views and routes, so you can also walk by foot.
If you enjoy transportation by car, like 18% of the students in Poland, you will pay around 1 EUR/litre of gasoline.
During your study programme, you will need to purchase books, research magazines, and other products. These are, in most cases, necessary and they can be purchased even from some universities. However, you are advised to buy them from bookstores with old or used products, in order to save some money.
In Poland, you can also support yourself financially through scholarships and funding programmes. Here are some of the options.
Now that you know all these things about living expenses in Poland, go ahead an plan your budget so that you’ll have a great study experience in this beautiful country.
