In Poland, access to higher education is no longer limited to large cities with their well-known and prestigious universities and colleges. In order to attract new students, most universities are seeking to expand, so it has become common practice in Poland to open branch campuses in small Polish towns. This effort is aimed at broadening prospective students’ access to university programs. It helps minimize potential barriers and difficulties associated with the educational process, such as the cost of transportation and food, which students incur when living away from home. University administrators understand that these factors are decisive in the choices made by most prospective students.
Research by Katarzyna Klimkowska (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University) has shown that when choosing an educational institution, prospective students are guided primarily by the following factors (in order of priority):
- Does the university offer opportunities to gain professional experience while studying (for example, through student internships or work placements)?
- Does the university help students prepare for entering the job market (by actually helping them secure their first job)?;
- Does the university provide opportunities for the development of a wide range of professional competencies that will ensure graduates' competitiveness in the job market in related professions;
- Does the university help students develop professional skills at a level that is in demand in the labor market?;
- Does the university offer opportunities to achieve a stable financial situation after graduation?
Based on the results of the survey, Polish universities are striving to meet the demands and needs of their prospective students by focusing their efforts on prioritizing these specific areas of activity.
Another key difference between Polish and Ukrainian universities is that both private and public institutions offer the same level of prestige and have the same tuition costs. Private institutions offer students a variety of scholarships that fully or partially cover tuition and living expenses. Students are rewarded with extra credits for participating in various academic clubs and attending sports clubs; these credits can later be converted into a scholarship or a tuition discount.
There is a trend in Polish universities toward admission without entrance exams, where admission is based on an interview and the submission of a specific set of documents. Courses at Polish universities may be taught in English, and there is also the option of studying in German or French. If language proficiency is confirmed, the entire educational process takes place in the chosen language: lectures, practical and seminar classes, exams, and the writing and defense of theses. This helps encourage foreign students to study in Poland. Poland also participates in the “Erasmus” exchange scholarship program.