Over half a thousand foreign students choose Wroclaw Tech

Date: 04.10.2022 Category: international cooperation

They have come to Wrocław from the farthest parts of the world, and over the past week, in small groups, they have been getting to know the city and their fellow students. On Friday they all finally met in the university's auditorium to jointly inaugurate their studies at Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

As was the case last year, there was a lot of interest from foreigners in studying at Wrocław Tech with more than 1,500 candidates applying for degree programmes.

– I’m happy to welcome you to our, and now your, university. You have come from many different parts of the world, and now there’s a wonderful time ahead of you – a time full of challenges, but also new friendships and experiences that will certainly pay off in your adult lives – said Anna Jarosławska, head of the Department of International Cooperation.

Thanks to a grant programme funded by the National Academic Exchange Agency and run by the Department of International Cooperation, some of our new students have already been able to take part in a number of activities prepared especially for them. Those included an urban game, tours of Wrocław, intercultural training, and presentations about life in Poland and at the university, i.e. meetings offering a hefty dose of useful information about living in our country or dealing with the necessary formalities.

– We realise that by choosing our university, you have put your trust in us for your future career. I assure you that if you have the will and work hard, the whole world will open up before you. Many of our students already enjoy a lot of success while still here – emphasised Anna Jarosławska.

350 people from outside Poland have been admitted to full-time degree programmes at Wrocław Tech – the majority from Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, and Nigeria. Almost 230 people came here for a semester or a year – as part of student exchange programmes. Close to half of them are students from Spain, but there are also citizens of countries including Portugal, France, Italy, and Turkey, as well as Yemen, Kenya, Nepal, and Argentina.

During the meeting in the auditorium, the students were able to find out, among other things, how to get around the campus, things to do in their free time, where to find support, and how to join scientific clubs and student organisations. A separate presentation was delivered on the subject of Unite!, the alliance of European technical universities.

We have asked a few of the foreign students about their first impressions of Wrocław and why they chose Wrocław Tech:

Darina Khamrakulova (Belarus)

“I’d been preparing to study in Poland for a long time. Last year I passed the Polish language certification exam and started looking in the right direction for me. Ultimately, I chose Wrocław University of Science and Technology because I’d heard many good things about it.

I’m going to study computer automation systems at the Faculty of Computer Science and Telecommunications. I've only been in Wrocław for a short time, but I've already had the opportunity to explore it a bit and I like it here. There’s a lot more greenery than in my home town of Minsk.”

Osman Balla (Sudan)

“I'm excited because this is my first ever trip to Europe. I’m a student in the international Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering course, which is run at three universities. I chose it because I work at a scientific institute in my country and was awarded a scholarship, which allowed me to go abroad. I'm spending my first semester in Wrocław and then I'm going to Spain and Finland. But in the end, I’m going to return here to complete my science project and who knows, maybe I’ll stay.

Of course, compared to my country, where the temperature reaches 50 degrees, it’s chilly in Wrocław, but I don't get particularly cold. What’s more, you’re very friendly and the streets are quiet. In Sudan, drivers use horns non-stop and it is unbearable.”

Carmen Pastrana Moreno (Spain)

“In Spain, we find it much cheaper to live and study in Poland, so I decided to try my hand here. That's how I ended up at your Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The university seems to be a place with a rich history and the campus is huge. I particularly look forward to a lot of laboratory and practical classes – it’s with this in mind that I came here.

I think Wrocław is a beautiful but also huge city. I come from León, which is in the north of Spain and has a population five times smaller than Wrocław. Your market square is amazing. I’ve been enthralled by it since the moment I saw it. I like travelling, especially by train, and I’m planning several trips around the country. I want to see Krakow.”

Junseo Hwang (South Korea)

“I have been living in Poland, specifically in Katowice, for more than six years, so I’m already pretty knowledgeable. I graduated from an international school there, and it was time for me to think about something more. I read and heard a lot of good things about your university, and I was particularly encouraged by the YouTube videos I saw. On top of that, there are quite a few companies from my country in the area, as well as Korean restaurants, and our community in Wrocław is very big and active.

Also, you have much nicer houses and other buildings than those in Korea. In our country, they are usually white and dirty, and the centre of Wrocław is something beautiful. My current plan is to stay in Poland for at least another 10 years and find a job in one of the Korean companies.

As far as Wrocław University of Science and Technology goes, I’ve been particularly impressed by the halls of residence. I’ll be living in T-19, and I think it's a great place to live. Now I’m devoting a lot of my time to my roommate, who has only just arrived. I’m showing the city to him and helping him with basic things like opening a bank account or getting a mobile phone number.”

Meriç Duru (Turkey)

“I decided to study at Wrocław University of Science and Technology looking at the university's high ranking and prestige, which is much higher than Turkish universities. I’m starting a programme at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

I’ve only been in Poland for three days and this is my first trip this far away from home and my family. My mentor, who also studied here, told me a lot about Poland and Wrocław. I haven't got to know the city in detail yet, but I can already see that it’s very different from what I’ve known so far. I like the architecture a lot. A little less the weather, though, as it’s either been windy or rainy recently.”