This article below was written by Amy Bernstein and published in their blog.

Study Abroad Poland: The Best of Eastern Europe

Today Poland stands as a strong and sturdy country who’s successfully emerged out of a difficult period as a socialist society.  It’s shown tremendous change over the last 10-15 years, developing into the modern cultural center it is today. It’s continually attracting more visitors and students to study in Poland as people uncover this gem in the middle of Central Europe.

Today we are highlighting the fabulous Study Abroad Poland Program which boasts marvelous academic opportunities to study in Poland, coupled with the best cultural experiences available. Choosing to study abroad in Poland will give the typical student an invaluable opportunity to learn about Poland’s past, present and the role it’s played in our world. No other country can boast such a success story as rebuilding after its damaged past. The burgeoning cities and gorgeous landscapes will draw in visitors to the lakes, rivers, mountains and even beaches.

Warsaw, Poland’s capital for the last 400 years is just one location for Study Abroad Poland. It’s a thriving metropolis with a strong economy and the city boasts both old and new architecture as students will notice as they walk through the neighborhoods of today and the “old town” which has been reconstructed after past destruction.

If you’re considering studying in this beautiful country, Study Abroad Poland maintains fabulous programs that will provide the experience of a lifetime. The variety of programs available will allow for a deep understanding of this wonderful country, its place in society and of course, the beautiful Polish language. Students can choose from semester, summer or full-year academic sessions and programs in business, international relations, Polish cultural studies, electrical/computer engineering and more. There are also internship and volunteer placements available while you study in Poland. In addition to programs in Poland, Study Abroad Poland is a division of Study Abroad Compass which  also provides programs in in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Study Abroad Poland ensures that students receive not only the highest quality classroom education, but a packed schedule of cultural excursions such as city tours, BBQ’s, bowling and museum visits. There will also be free weekends available for students to explore neighboring countries so they can get to know more of Central and Eastern Europe during their time abroad.

A student who recently returned from one of their programs had this to say “I thought this program was amazing! I have no complaints about it at all. It was the best time of my life. The program administration were beyond helpful. I met the most wonderful people through this program that I am still friends with. I learned a great deal of Polish and was able to earn 5 credits at my university! The best part of this program, is the helpfulness of the administration. They are there for you through the whole process, even throughout your stay in Poland.”

Another student from a summer program in Wroclaw, Poland said “Wroclaw is an amazing city to go to in Poland. It is so beautiful and charming and everyone that I met there was friendly and caring. If you want to actually learn Polish, this is the program for you.” Read even more from this review here.

Still looking for more information on Study Abroad Poland? They have a fantastic website with answers to all of your questions as well as great resources and tips. Get in touch with them to find out more and apply today.

Want to read insider reviews from fellow study abroad students? Click here to find your perfect program!

Krakow

11-Day Study Tour to Poland and the Czech Republic

Would you like to see the best of Poland and the Czech Republic in 11 days? Join our 2012 study tour! The tour includes accommodation, airport transfers, a bilingual resident director, tours, on-site transport, pre-departure information, and health/accident insurance. We are now accepting applications.

Contact us to apply!

ITINERARY

May 21 Arrive in Krakow – Airport pick up

Accommodation in a 3-star hotel. Meet in the hotel lobby for an orientation meeting. Walk to the Old Town for a Welcome Dinner.

May 22 Tour of Krakow

Krakow is one city in Poland that can’t be missed. For centuries Polish kings and queens resided there before the capital was moved to Warsaw. Today the city prides itself on being the center of Polish culture. With over 6,000 historical buildings and monuments, Krakow is also a great place to learn about the country’s history. Since this was one of the few cities that was not destroyed during WW II, the Old Town still retains its medieval layout and some of the buildings date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Due to its beauty and historical significance UNESCO named Krakow to its original list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. Krakow will enchant you with its charming Old Town, historic royal castle and cathedral on Wawel Hill, majestic churches and numerous museums, cafes and shops.

Jazz concert (or similar activity) in the evening.

May 23 Half-day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine

Imagine visiting a 17th-century chapel carved out of salt? At the Wieliczka Salt Mine you’ll be able to tour this chapel as well as other chambers all made out of salt by former miners. This 700-year-old salt mine (kopalnia soli) is a UNESCO World Culture and Heritage Site. In addition to functioning as a tourist attraction, it also serves as an underground health spa thanks to its special microclimate which is known for treating allergies and other health conditions.

Free evening in Krakow.

May 24 Day trip to the former Nazi concentration camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau

Not far from Krakow is the site of the largest Nazi death camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau. Most visitors recall the inscription on the gate to Auschwitz “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“work makes you free”) from films or books about the Holocaust. This is a chilling reminder of atrocities that occurred there. In 1940 the Nazis built the first death camp called Auschwitz. In need of more space, one year later the Nazis moved to nearby Brzezinka and created a much larger camp called Birkenau. It is estimated that between 1 and 1.5 million people died at these camps, and over 90% of them were Jews. Today the camps serve as a museum.

May 25 Day trip to Zakopane (in the Tatra Mountains)

If you would like to experience all of Poland’s hotspots then you can’t miss taking a trip to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. The Tatras are the highest range of the Carpathians Mountains stretching across the Polish-Slovakian border. After taking a cable-car ride up to the summit of Kasprowy Wierch you can stand with one foot in Poland and one foot in Slovakia. At the northern foot of the mountains is Zakopane. It’s considered the country’s “winter capital,” and it attracts about one million tourists per year. It is especially popular among skiers and hikers. Many tourists also enjoy Zakopane’s unique highlander culture and the so-called “Zakopane style” of wooden architecture created by Stanislaw Witkiewicz (1851-1915). Depending on the time of year of your study tour, your trip might include rafting on a wooden raft on the Dunajec River.

May 26 Day train to Prague

Accommodation in a 3-star hotel, dinner.

May 27 Full-day tour of Prague

Prague is considered one of the jewels of Central Europe. It’s the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic with over 1.2 million people. Situated on the Vtlava River, it’s sometimes called the “city of a hundred spires” and the “golden city.” Tourists come from all over the world to see the famous Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle, and many other beautiful sights. You can spend hours wandering the cobblestone streets through the Old Town Square and admiring the city’s architectural treasures. The Old Town is the best place to buy typical Czech presents for family and friends.

May 28 Day trip to Karlove Vary

Karlove Vary, also known as Karlsbad, was founded in the 14th century by Czech King Charles IV. He discovered a hot spring there and used the water to heal his injured leg. Legend has it that he ordered a town to be built around the miraculous spring. The development of a spa gave rise to the new social and special-purpose buildings. The first public spa house (The Mill Spa) was built in the early 18th century, along with the Baroque church of St. Mary Magdalene. Karlsbad was increasingly becoming an important venue for gatherings, and the spa was visited by the elite of the 19th century, such as Beethoven, Franz Joseph I, Paganini, Chopin, Mozart, Freud, Gogol, Tyl, Purkyne, Dobrovsky and many others. Karlove Vary remains popular among the contemporary VIPs. Even stars such as Jude Law, Antonio Banderas, John Malkovich, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger and others show up there regularly.

May 29 Boat trip on the Vtlava River

See Prague from a different perspective—a river boat! During the trip you will see the most significant sights of Prague such as St. Agnes Convent, Prague Castle, Rudolfinum, the Charles Bridge and the National Theatre. Depending on your preferences, there will be lunch on the boat or a Czech folk dinner and dancing show. You will have free time to explore Prague before attending a soothing jazz concert in the evening with famous local & international artists.

May 30 Day trip to Karlstejn Castle

Located close to Prague, is one of the most stunning castles in the Czech Republic. This large Gothic castle founded in 1384 has a unique role in Czech history. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place to safely house the royal treasures, especially Charles’ collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. Over the years the castle was reconstructed numerous times to reflect late-Gothic, Renaissance, and neo-Gothic styles. On your trip you’ll tour the castle and from the Great Tower you can see the breathtaking view of the national forest that surrounds the castle.

After returning to Prague, you’ll enjoy a special Farewell Dinner.

May 31 Departure from Prague

PRICES

$1650 per student

*All prices are based on a minimum of 5 participants in a double occupancy room. Prices will slightly increase for groups smaller than 5.

What’s Included:

-Airport Welcome

-Bilingual Program Director throughout the trip

-Welcome dinner in Krakow

-Accommodation in 3-star hotels

-Breakfast at the hotel

-Ground transportation (trains, taxis, etc.)

-Guided tours and trips included in the above itinerary

-Welcome dinner in Prague

-Riverboat tour or folk dinner

-Farewell dinner in Prague

-Airport drop-off

-Basic travel and accident insurance

What’s Not Included:

-Lunch and dinner

-Round-trip airfare to Krakow/from Prague

-Spending money

Contact us to apply!

Packing tips for Poland

Many students ask us for advice on how to pack for their study abroad experience. Below you can find some frequently asked questions. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us.

1) How much luggage can I take?

Check with your airline to see what the baggage requirements are. Recently international carriers have reduced the amount of luggage that you can have, so it’s important that you check before you start packing. Also make sure that your luggage meets the size requirements. If you are changing carriers in Europe during a layover, check the carry-on luggage requirements for that carrier. Remember that you can’t have any liquids in your carry on (or only a small amount). Check with the airline to see what their requirements are. The airlines are very strict these days, so make sure you follow their regulations or else they can charge you a hefty fee.

2) What kind of clothes should I bring?

Poland has four distinct seasons, with summer being very hot and winter being very cold. You should bring warm clothes for the fall, winter, and spring. If you don’t have enough room in your luggage, you can buy some clothes in Poland or your parents can send them to you. In the winter it’s important to have a warm coat, hat and gloves because you will spend a lot of time outside walking to and from class and around town. You should also try to bring clothes that you can layer because in the winter the inside of the university buildings can be very warm and you can take off some layers until you feel comfortable.

You should bring one or two nice outfits because there is usually an opening ceremony/inauguration the first day of class, which students dress up for. Other than that, students tend to dress very casually for class. Students dress up more when going out at night, so bring some “going out” clothes.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Here are the average yearly temperatures in Poland:

January:  High: 30° Low: 21°

February:  High: 34° Low: 23°

March: High: 42° Low: 29°

April: High: 55° Low: 32°

May: High: 65° Low: 46°

June: High: 70° Low: 51°

July:  High: 73° Low: 54°

August:  High: 73° Low: 53°

September: High: 65° Low: 47°

October:  High: 56° Low: 39°

November:  High: 44° Low: 32°

December:  High: 35° Low: 24°

3) Is there anything special that I should bring from home (toiletries, medicine, etc.)?

Regarding toiletries, in Poland you’ll find all the same name brands that you are used to in the US. As for medicine, generally you’ll find the same over-the-counter medicine (but with different brand names). Because toiletries and medicine can be expensive, it would be good to bring a supply with you. If you are taking any prescription medicine, you should bring enough to last you the whole duration of your stay because it might be hard to obtain those.

4) What other items should I bring?

You might want to bring some souvenirs from your home-town to give away as presents to Polish friends that you meet during the program (for example, key chains).

Here are some other suggested items:

-laundry bag

-towel (a towel is provided at the dormitory, but students like to bring their own)

-umbrella

-USB flash drive

-any medications that you’re taking. You should have enough to last the whole program

-sun block

-any special eye-drops that you use

5) Do I need an adapter or a converter for my appliances?

In order to plug in your laptop, you need a plug adapter because the plugs are different in Europe. The adapter is a small piece that fits over your plug to make your plug compatible with European sockets. During your orientation session, your Program Director will give you an adapter to borrow during the program, so you do not need to bring one. You do not need a converter for converting the voltage. Most modern American laptops can handle 100-240 Volts, which works in Poland and the US. Check the cable on your laptop to make sure it can handle that voltage.

For any other appliances besides laptops, like blow dryers or electric razors, most likely you will need a converter to convert the voltage. The voltage that comes out of European sockets is very strong, 220 volts at 50 cycles, which is almost double that of American standards! Therefore, it might be too much voltage for your appliances. From experience, most American appliances tend to work poorly in Europe, and converters can be quite expensive so it’s better just to buy or borrow these appliances in Poland. Your Program Director will let you borrow a blow dryer throughout the duration of the program, so you don’t need to bring that. During the orientation session, you can also visit one of the many shopping malls in your host city to buy any other appliances that you need.

If you’re bringing a digital camera with rechargeable batteries, check the voltage on your battery recharger, because most likely it can handle 100-240 V, which can be used in Poland. In that case, you will only need a plug adapter (you can use the same one that we’ll give you for your laptop).

American Embassy in Warsaw

How to Register with the Department of State Before Your Trip

A good practice when traveling abroad is to register your trip with the Department of State.  When you register your trip to Poland using the Department of State’s website, they will then pass this information on to the local U.S. Embassy in Poland. Study Abroad Poland requires that all students complete this process before departure. Follow our easy steps below!

To begin, visit this link: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

First you have to make an account. This is a general account with the Department of State. You can keep this account for the rest of your life. If they ask for your address, it should be your permanent address in the U.S.

Step 1: Below where it says “Log In” you should click on “If not, click here to create an account” and then it will give you instructions on how to create an account.

Step 2: In the first step you will have to choose a log-in name, password and security question.  Fill in the information, and click “Next.”

Step 3: In the next steps you will need to fill in your Personal Information, Passport Information, Contact Information, Privacy Information, and then finally Confirm.

Step 4: After you do that you should then “Register a Trip.” This is where you will fill out specific information about your stay in Poland. Here is where they will ask you for your local address and phone number in Poland. They will then take this information and send it to the American Embassy in Poland.

Please keep in mind that you can use this function to register any trips you will make in the future.

Please let Study Abroad Poland know once you have successfully registered with the Department of State.

Enjoy your stay in Poland!

Keely Promoting Our Programs

On Thursday, November 17, Study Abroad Compass attended the fall study abroad fair at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Two of our former students, Nanette and Keely, represented us at the fair. They decorated our table with memories from their study abroad program in Poland, such as post cards, Polish money, photos, and tourist books. They did a great job at promoting our programs among their fellow students by drawing on their own experiences studying abroad. As Nanette put it, “I think that everyone should study abroad whenever they have the chance because it gives them so many valuable lifetime experiences.” We fully agree! Thank you Nanette and Keely for a job well done. We invite you to view more photos below.

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Early Bird Discount

“EARLY BIRD” DISCOUNT 2012

Are you planning on studying in Poland or Ukraine in 2012? Apply early and save! 

Available for Summer and Fall Program Applicants

An early-payment incentive equivalent to a $150 discount on program fee is available for students who register and pay a deposit of $300 for the Summer or Fall terms by January 30, 2012. The application process is simple! Follow these easy steps:

1. Pick a program

2. Fill out our free online application form

3. Wait for your acceptance packet from us

4. Complete all forms and send them back to us with your $300 deposit by January 30, 2012

Why wait? Apply and start saving today!

Note: This offer cannot be combined with any other Study Abroad Poland discount.

Wroclaw Summer Students

Many times our students ask us to recommend companies for student airfare, hotels/hostels, and other useful travel resources. Below are some of our suggestions!

AIRFARE

 RAIL PASSES

HOTELS/STUDENT HOSTELS

CITY PASSES

Students on Study Tour

Study Abroad Poland specializes in study tours for groups interested in visiting the country for a short time. All of our tours include accommodation, airport transfers, a bilingual resident director, tours, on-site transportation, pre-departure information, and health/accident insurance. In addition, we can organize lectures or courses (in English or Polish) conducted by Polish professors. If you are interested in language studies, we can also arrange lessons with native speakers who are fully qualified to teach Polish to foreigners. This would be an excellent way for your group to learn a new language or to build upon their existing language skills.

Our study tours are ideal for high schools, universities, Polish groups, alumni associations, organizations, and religious groups.

If you would like to organize a study tour, please contact us.

We have provided you with a sample study tour below, however, all tours can be customized to the needs of the group.

11-Day Study Tour to Poland and the Czech Republic

DAY 1 Arrive in Krakow – Airport pick up

Accommodation in a 3-star hotel. Meet in the hotel lobby for an orientation meeting. Walk to the Old Town for a Welcome Dinner.

DAY 2 Tour of Krakow

Krakow is one city in Poland that can’t be missed. For centuries Polish kings and queens resided there before the capital was moved to Warsaw. Today the city prides itself on being the center of Polish culture. With over 6,000 historical buildings and monuments, Krakow is also a great place to learn about the country’s history. Since this was one of the few cities that was not destroyed during WW II, the Old Town still retains its medieval layout and some of the buildings date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Due to its beauty and historical significance UNESCO named Krakow to its original list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. Krakow will enchant you with its charming Old Town, historic royal castle and cathedral on Wawel Hill, majestic churches and numerous museums, cafes and shops.

Jazz concert (or similar activity) in the evening.

DAY 3 Half-day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine

Imagine visiting a 17th-century chapel carved out of salt? At the Wieliczka Salt Mine you’ll be able to tour this chapel as well as other chambers all made out of salt by former miners. This 700-year-old salt mine (kopalnia soli) is a UNESCO World Culture and Heritage Site. In addition to functioning as a tourist attraction, it also serves as an underground health spa thanks to its special microclimate which is known for treating allergies and other health conditions.

Free evening in Krakow.

DAY 4 Day trip to the former Nazi concentration camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau

Not far from Krakow is the site of the largest Nazi death camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau. Most visitors recall the inscription on the gate to Auschwitz “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“work makes you free”) from films or books about the Holocaust. This is a chilling reminder of atrocities that occurred there. In 1940 the Nazis built the first death camp called Auschwitz. In need of more space, one year later the Nazis moved to nearby Brzezinka and created a much larger camp called Birkenau. It is estimated that between 1 and 1.5 million people died at these camps, and over 90% of them were Jews. Today the camps serve as a museum.

DAY 5 Day trip to Zakopane (in the Tatra Mountains)

If you would like to experience all of Poland’s hotspots then you can’t miss taking a trip to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. The Tatras are the highest range of the Carpathians Mountains stretching across the Polish-Slovakian border. After taking a cable-car ride up to the summit of Kasprowy Wierch you can stand with one foot in Poland and one foot in Slovakia. At the northern foot of the mountains is Zakopane. It’s considered the country’s “winter capital,” and it attracts about one million tourists per year. It is especially popular among skiers and hikers. Many tourists also enjoy Zakopane’s unique highlander culture and the so-called “Zakopane style” of wooden architecture created by Stanislaw Witkiewicz (1851-1915). Depending on the time of year of your study tour, your trip might include rafting on a wooden raft on the Dunajec River.

DAY 6 Day train to Prague

Accommodation in a 3-star hotel, dinner.

DAY 7 Full-day tour of Prague

Prague is considered one of the jewels of Central Europe. It’s the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic with over 1.2 million people. Situated on the Vtlava River, it’s sometimes called the “city of a hundred spires” and the “golden city.” Tourists come from all over the world to see the famous Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle, and many other beautiful sights. You can spend hours wandering the cobblestone streets through the Old Town Square and admiring the city’s architectural treasures. The Old Town is the best place to buy typical Czech presents for family and friends.

DAY 8 Day trip to Karlove Vary

Karlove Vary, also known as Karlsbad, was founded in the 14th century by Czech King Charles IV. He discovered a hot spring there and used the water to heal his injured leg. Legend has it that he ordered a town to be built around the miraculous spring. The development of a spa gave rise to the new social and special-purpose buildings. The first public spa house (The Mill Spa) was built in the early 18th century, along with the Baroque church of St. Mary Magdalene. Karlsbad was increasingly becoming an important venue for gatherings, and the spa was visited by the elite of the 19th century, such as Beethoven, Franz Joseph I, Paganini, Chopin, Mozart, Freud, Gogol, Tyl, Purkyne, Dobrovsky and many others. Karlove Vary remains popular among the contemporary VIPs. Even stars such as Jude Law, Antonio Banderas, John Malkovich, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger and others show up there regularly.

DAY 9 Boat trip on the Vtlava River

See Prague from a different perspective—a river boat! During the trip you will see the most significant sights of Prague such as St. Agnes Convent, Prague Castle, Rudolfinum, the Charles Bridge and the National Theatre. Depending on your preferences, there will be lunch on the boat or a Czech folk dinner and dancing show. You will have free time to explore Prague before attending a soothing jazz concert in the evening with famous local & international artists.

DAY 10 Day trip to Karlstejn Castle

Located close to Prague, is one of the most stunning castles in the Czech Republic. This large Gothic castle founded in 1384 has a unique role in Czech history. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place to safely house the royal treasures, especially Charles’ collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. Over the years the castle was reconstructed numerous times to reflect late-Gothic, Renaissance, and neo-Gothic styles. On your trip you’ll tour the castle and from the Great Tower you can see the breathtaking view of the national forest that surrounds the castle.

After returning to Prague, you’ll enjoy a special Farewell Dinner.

DAY 11 Departure from Prague

PRICES

$1650 for students, $1750 USD for each chaperone

*All prices are based on a minimum of 5 participants. There will be double occupancy for the students and single occupancy for the chaperone. Prices will slightly increase for groups smaller than 5.

What’s Included:

-Airport Welcome

-Bilingual Program Director throughout the trip

-Welcome dinner in Krakow

-Accommodation in 3-star hotels

-Breakfast at the hotel

-Ground transportation (trains, taxis, etc.)

-Guided tours and trips included in the above itinerary

-Welcome dinner in Prague

-Riverboat tour or folk dinner

-Farewell dinner in Prague

-Airport drop-off

-Basic travel and accident insurance

What’s Not Included:

-Lunch and dinner

-Round-trip airfare to Krakow/from Prague

-Spending money

Download the pdf version: Study Tour Brochure

Contact us to set up your program today!

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