200 students from all over the world started their adventure with Wrocław University of Science and Technology on Tuesday. During the orientation days organised by the Department of International Affairs, they found out about things such as the university itself and its scientific circles.

Under student exchange programmes (Erasmus+ and Student Exchange), 120 students are starting their courses in the summer semester. The largest group is made up of people from Turkey, France, India, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. 80 people will start their studies under full-cycle degree programmes. Most of them come from Ukraine, India, Belarus, Turkey, and Nigeria. Our students also include people from Algeria, Congo, Jordan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe.

– Wrocław is a very pleasant city to live in. However, I would like to ask you to take basic precautions during your stay in view of the latest information about the spread of the coronavirus disease, although, of course, you are safe at the university - said Professor Andrzej Trochimczuk, Vice-Rector for Science at WUST. - Some of you will stay with us for one semester and some of you will stay for a year. During this time you can expect the help of both the staff of the Department of International Affairs and the staff of the faculties where you will study. I welcome you very warmly and wish you every success in your studies at Wrocław University of Science and Technology - added the Vice-Rector.

During the orientation days, our new students saw a film providing information about the university, watched presentations prepared by the university units and their fellow students from academic circles, and student organisations, got acquainted with what the WUST Library offers, and talk to police officers and the representatives of Wrocław municipality.

Currently, over 1,200 foreigners are studying at our university, which runs 45 programmes in English.

We asked the new students why they’d decided to study at Wrocław University of Science and Technology:

Fikadu Assefa and Amanuel Tadesse (Ethiopia) - Before we came here, we’d spent some time in Cracow, where we’d studied Polish. We already understand more and more, but we are not as good at speaking. At Wrocław University of Science and Technology, we’re going to study Automatics and Robotics. We’d heard about this university and the very interesting research conducted here. Wrocław is a well-known European city, so we wanted to see it. Unfortunately, we haven't had a chance to see anything yet, because we came here only yesterday.

Büsra Derbazlar (Turkey) - Last year, my friend from Turkey studied in Wrocław. She told me a lot about the university. She spoke very highly of the lecturers and the interesting classes. Here, I’m going to study biochemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry. I must admit that it was the first time I’d left my country and it’s so far away. I’ve been in Wrocław for a few days and I like it very much. All the people I have met so far are nice and open-minded. I've already visited the city centre and seen many dwarves. I didn't know that you have so many of them here. They’re really cute.

Antonio Fenoll (Spain) – At Wrocław University of Science and Technology, I’m going to study at the Faculty of Chemistry and this is my first visit to Poland. I’ve only had a few days to look around the city and get to know the campus, but I can already say that I really like it here. I’m going to stay here for six months and I’m certain it’ll be an interesting adventure and a new experience for me because everything is very different from what I know from Spain.

Mohamed Mohamed (Qatar) - I come from Egypt, but I live in Qatar. At Wrocław University of Science and Technology, I’ll be studying at the Faculty of Chemistry. I chose this university because of its good reputation, the recommendations of my friends who have studied here before, and the fact that the course I chose is delivered here in English. I’ve never been to Poland before and it was the weather that was the most shocking thing in the beginning. When I got off the plane, it may have been below 10 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest temperature I’ve ever experienced. I’ve already done some sightseeing in Wrocław. The city is very colourful. Also, I like the architecture and the trams.

Clarisse Basset (France) - I am a participant in a study programme under which each semester’s courses take place in a different country. While I did the previous semester in France, this one I will spend at the Faculty of Chemistry at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Afterwards, I’m going to Italy. This is my first visit to Poland and I really like it here. Staying here is, besides learning, also an opportunity to meet new people and get to know the Polish culture.