How to adapt to studying in Warsaw: from kindergarten to university?

How to organize the process of enrolling a child in school in Warsaw?

How to organize the process of enrolling a child in school in Warsaw? How to choose the right kindergarten and what is "zerówka"? How to help your children get into a university in the Polish capital and where to find housing for them? These questions concern many parents who have already moved to Poland or are just planning to do so. We decided to share three inspiring examples that show how children successfully adapt to kindergartens, educational institutions, and universities in Warsaw, demonstrating that everything is possible with determination. In this article, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions.

University enrollment

Let's start with university admission, as this can be the most challenging stage for many. Elena shares her experience: it was extremely important for her that her children received a diploma recognized in Europe. She understood that such a diploma would open up many opportunities for them around the world and help them realize their potential.

The admission process for foreigners at Polish universities can vary.

• It is possible both on a general basis and based on the Pole's Card.
• Having a card grants the right to receive special scholarships and various privileges.

When it comes to admission under general conditions, applicants can choose based on their school certificate grades or on the results of entrance exams they have taken in their home country. Elena's family, having moved from Belarus, had with them the certificate and results of centralized testing, which are fully recognized in Poland. However, it is important to keep in mind that test results should be given preference, as certificate grades may be subject to downgrading.

Choosing a university

Fortunately, you can choose a university in advance without leaving the comfort of your home. Each educational institution has its own website, where all the requirements for admission and education of international students are listed. These resources also provide information about the subsequent employment of graduates in various fields and allow you to assess the demand for different faculties.

It's important to remember that each educational institution sets its own admission rules and has specific requirements for international candidates.

Submission of documents to universities

An interesting feature is the possibility of applying to several universities at once and choosing several specialties. Elena and her daughter Diana chose a technical field and applied to several universities, including Warsaw, Gdańsk and Poznań. In the end, Diana successfully passed the selection process and gained admission to all three universities, but she finally decided to study at Warsaw Polytechnic University, which is the largest technical university in Poland.

Conclusion

Thus, with the proper organization of the process and the availability of all necessary documents, admission to a Polish university becomes a quite achievable task. By relying on the experience of other parents, following well-defined steps, and having additional information, this process can be significantly simplified, ensuring your child receives a quality education at a European level.

Preparation of international students for studying in Poland

The requested information touches on significant aspects related to the preparation of international students for the educational process in Polish universities, illustrated through the example of Diana. Many educational institutions strive to attract talented applicants, and even after the girl completed her official application in Warsaw, she continued to receive invitations from the university in Poznań until the end of October.

Department of International Student Affairs

Every educational institution has a department that deals with issues related to international students, which newcomers should contact before starting their studies.

Arrival in Warsaw

In September, with the start of the school year, we arrived in Warsaw and the first thing we did was visit this department. We had all the necessary documents with us, including the important high school diploma, which needs to be stamped.apostille.

Financial aspects of education

It is also important to note that in order to receive scholarships or transfer money, it is necessary to open an account in a local bank. There are various types of scholarships:

• Social scholarships
• Study grants

Scholarships depend on academic performance or the presence of a "Pole's Card." Students living in dormitories and receiving scholarships can expect to cover about two-thirds of their expenses.

Living and organizing life

It should be emphasized that living in a dormitory is paid, and the cost is approximately100 dollars a month. The procedure for obtaining a room for Diane was less complicated than we had anticipated.

As soon as she received the official notification of her enrollment, she promptly registered in the dormitory placement system. This system allowed us to quickly find out who she would be living with. During the summer, the girls found each other through social media and actively communicated. Over the course of the break, they established mutual understanding and discussed what additional items each of them would buy.

Language learning

Diana had been studying Polish in Belarus in advance, which spared her from the language barrier. Upon arriving at the dormitory, the manager handed us the keys to the room, the Wi-Fi password, and a desk lamp. Thus, the preparation for her new life was successfully completed.

Academic workload

With the start of the academic year in October, Diana unexpectedly faced a heavy study load, which came as a significant surprise to the whole family. We chose what we believe is one of the most challenging faculties at the university — the major.chemical engineerAnd statistics show that only about half of the students who enroll in this faculty complete their studies.

Choosing an educational institution

This experience clearly demonstrates how important it is to be prepared for all the challenges that may arise while studying abroad. It is also crucial to carefully and thoughtfully choose an educational institution and a field of study that align with the applicant's level of preparation and interests.

Diana's studies in Poland

Diana is currently in her third year of school. Out of the 150 freshmen who started, only 66 remain. A notable feature is the age contrast between Diana and her classmates, as most of them are 1.5 to 2 years older than her. This is due to the fact that in Poland, school education starts at the age of 7 and graduation occurs at 19, resulting in a total of 12 years of schooling.

When Diana entered the university, she was 17 years old and it was a challenge for her at the beginning of her studies. However, on the positive side, her fellow students included students from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, with whom she was able to quickly find a common language.

The higher education system in Poland

The higher education system in Poland is quite clear and easy to understand, although the first steps may require considerable effort. Students, at the beginning of the semester, feel like a tense team that has no time for rest or a breather.

It's quite easy to drop out of a Polish university, but the school is always ready to support diligent students. There are the following options:

• retaking exams;
• postponement of exams;
• re-taking the courses.

Choice of life path

Some students, realizing the intensity of the academic process, decide to leave the university. The bachelor's program lasts three and a half years, and after just six months, Diana would have completed her studies. During this time, she is actively looking for an internship, and one of the companies she is applying to is Procter & Gamble.

Her younger brother, who is in the eleventh grade, also intends to apply to universities in Poland this year, choosing a field in robotics.

Housing selection

An equally important aspect of life in Poland is the choice of housing. Starting a new life should begin with finding a suitable place to live. Renting an apartment in Warsaw today is a challenging task, but nonetheless, it is achievable.

Experienced renters thoroughly research neighborhoods before making a choice, considering the following factors:

• proximity of educational institutions;
• availability of kindergartens;
• availability of sports clubs;
• the condition of medical institutions;
• other elements of infrastructure.

Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been less and less time to choose an apartment, as good options disappear within the first 15 minutes after the ad is published.

In our family, we have two children: a boy who was born in 2014 and previously attended the first grade in Belarus, and a girl who was born in 2015 and has just finished the senior group of kindergarten. While considering the possibility of moving, I encountered the opinion that the children might "lose" a year of schooling due to not knowing Polish, which concerned me quite a bit. However, I decided that I needed to come to terms with this.

The first step to recruitment

The first thing I did was start researching schools in our area using Google Maps to figure out how to properly enroll the children in educational institutions. I discovered that Poland has a recruitment system, according to which parents need to submit applications for school enrollment for the next academic year in March. This process takes place online through the official website, which is quite convenient.

The form is not difficult to fill out, and even if you do not speak Polish at a high level, you can handle it without much difficulty. The main thing you need to apply is an identification numberPESELIt is essential for both children and parents.

Options for choosing schools

There is an option to submit documents to several educational institutions at once, and if multiple schools agree to accept your child, you can choose the one that suits you best. Notifications about the registration status are sent to your email, which provides additional convenience.

• Recruitment is importantfor first graders.
• If parents decide to transfer their child to another school next year,Resubmitting the application is mandatory..

Search for places in educational institutions

But if for some reason you are unable to use the recruitment system and need to enroll your child in a school or kindergarten during the current academic year, you will have to search for available spots in educational institutions on your own. This year, Warsaw is facing a critical situation with a shortage of places, both in the rental market and in schools and kindergartens.

When I contacted the nearest kindergartens, I found no available spots even in the paid institutions. The closest school to our home also informed me that there were no places available, and the secretary explained that our house is assigned to a different school, so I need to submit my documents there.

It's a complicated situation with finding a school.

Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to apply for admission to this school for the next academic year (this is a temporary option, as we arrived in Poland in February), but there are no guarantees of available spots. As a result, I find myself in a difficult situation.

The school assigned to our address is located about a kilometer from our home. Fortunately, my son's documents were accepted without any difficulties, as education in Poland is mandatory and "your" school based on your residence cannot refuse to accept the documents.

The importance of the learning process

This process, although full of emotions and experiences, is very important for children to have the opportunity to receive the quality education they undoubtedly deserve.

The staff at the secretariat showed rare politeness and accepted all the necessary documents without the mandatory translation into Polish. My children from Belarus had a little experience learning Polish with a teacher, which allowed my son to be enrolled in the first grade, and he did not miss the school year. There are about 15-17 students in the class. Currently, besides my son, there are three other foreign children in this class: two boys and one girl from Ukraine. The teacher speaks English fluently, which helps overcome language barriers and facilitates interaction with parents.

At first, it was quite difficult for my son: when the language level is not high enough, adapting to a new group becomes a challenging task. However, there are no questions about bullying: the atmosphere in the class is friendly, and classmates are eager to support the new student in his acclimatization, thanks to the teacher's skills.

The educational process and extended learning

The school has an extended form of classes, and meals have to be paid for separately. One of the unexpected moments was the presence of lessons on chess, ethics and religion in the schedule. Informatics and English language are also taught from the first grade. At the same time, subjects such as math, Polish, reading and social studies are combined in one section of the timetable.

Online platform for parents

A special online platform has been developed in Poland for the convenience of parents, through which every parent can register and access all information about the school, class, and their child's performance. Teachers or the principal can leave notifications in the system when necessary. Through the personal messaging system, parents can inform the teacher that their child will be unable to attend classes for any reason, and this is considered an official notification. Overall, such a system is indeed quite convenient.

Private schools and their requirements

For those interested, a private paid school nearby costs about $500 a month. However, admission requires proficiency in either Polish or English.I was very concerned that I could be rejected at any stage of the process.

Enrolling a child in kindergarten

Moreover, personal experience shows that organizing a child in kindergarten is also not easy: there were no places available in public institutions. I submitted an application through the enrollment system for the next school year for my daughter so she could attend the same school where my son studies. However, I had to take some steps during these six months until the new school year begins. The enrollment system is also available for kindergartens, but with an important clarification: preschool education is not mandatory, and no one is obliged to accept a child based on their place of residence.

Selection of educational institutions

It is important to note that in Poland there are both regular kindergartens and so-called "preschools" or "zerówki," which prepare children for school. These institutions provide children with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the learning process earlier, which can serve as an excellent foundation for future education. It is crucial to choose the right place to create the best conditions for the child's development and adaptation to a new cultural environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to say that the experience of finding educational institutions and settling children in Warsaw may not be as difficult as it seems at first glance. It is important to remember that each story is unique, and while obstacles may arise, the desire and determination of parents and children are the keys to success.

As the examples have shown, both kindergarten and school, as well as university, can be accessible if you prepare properly and explore all possible options. The education system in Poland offers many opportunities for foreigners, and everyone can find something suitable for themselves.

Key points for successful enrollment

• Preparation:Study all the admission requirements.
• Active actions:Take the initiative in engaging with universities.
• Language training:Learn Polish for easier integration.
• Communication:Get involved in university life and connect with other students.

When applying to universities in Poland, it is important to pay attention to the requirements, act proactively, and plan all steps in advance. Collaborating with universities and actively engaging with other students will help streamline the processes and ease adaptation.

Every step on this journey, from kindergarten to university, not only provides knowledge but also helps develop important life skills. I believe that every parent can find the optimal solution for their child, as long as they set a goal and find the necessary resources.

Even if there are difficulties along the way, they will only add to our experience and confidence. As the stories of the people we interviewed have shown, all obstacles can be overcome if parents and children work together. Warsaw opens its doors; you just need to take the first step. I hope this article inspires many to take decisive action and helps them prepare for this challenging yet exciting journey without haste.