Poland is slowly becoming one of the main hubs for international students in Europe. Students are attracted to the high-quality universities that have low tuition costs. Poland has one of the lowest costs of living in Europe which is also a huge draw for university students. There are many cities with universities but here is a list of the best cities for international students. Here is the ultimate guide to the best city in Poland for international students:
Krakow
About: Krakow is one of Poland’s biggest cities located in southern Poland. The city is known for its medieval architecture and its affordability. The Old Town of Krakow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was hardly harmed during WW2 so unlike many cities in Poland, it is completely original.
City Population: 775,000
Number of University Students: 170,000
Landmarks: Krakow Old Town, Market Square, Wawel Castle, Barkikan, Kosciuszko Mound, St. Mary’s Basilica
Nightlife: It is a big city, for that reason, Krakow has one of the best nightlife scenes in Poland. There are many options, from night clubs to local bars with live music, there is something for everyone. Most of the night scenes can be found in the Old Town.
https://discovercracow.com/krakow-nightlife/
Getting around: Between trams and the bus system, Krakow has really good public transportation. For just $100 (390 zloty), students can use the public transportation for 9 months.
Cost of Flights from Airport rating (1/10): 7.5
Our Verdict: Krakow is an excellent city for international students. People flock here from all over the world which will expose you to people from vastly different backgrounds from you. It is a large, historic, and lively place to be a student.
Warsaw
About: Warsaw is the largest city and the capital of Poland. The city has become an economic leader within the European Union of the last couple of decades. During WW2, the Old Town in Warsaw was destroyed by bombing but was rebuilt after the war. Warsaw also has one of the highest amounts of skyscrapers in the European Union.
City Population: 1.83 million
Number of University Students: 255,000
Landmarks: Warsaw Old Town, Lazienki Park, The Royal Castle, Palace of Culture and Science, Castle Square, King Jan III’s Palace
Nightlife: Warsaw has a vibrant nightlife scene. They have a wide variety of or bars and clubs from nightclubs to cigar bars. There are also bars for those of you that love live music and there are bars that float down the river going down the middle of the city. Therefore, most of the nightlife can be found near downtown Warsaw.
Getting around: There is an extensive public transportation network of trams, buses, and the metro. The cost of a 90-day student ticket is roughly 35 US Dollars.
Cost of Flights from Airport rating (1/10): 8/10
Our Verdict: Being one the biggest city in Poland and certainly a massive cultural hub, Warsaw makes for an excellent city to study in. The city is turning into one of Europe’s most popular destinations for international students.
Wroclaw
About: Located in Western Poland, Wroclaw is situated between Prague to the west and Warsaw to the east. It is the 4th largest city in Poland. Throughout its history, the city has been under the rule of six different empires which gives a unique feel to the architecture within the city. The city has slowly become a university city over the years, with a large percentage of the population being students.
City Population: 642,000
Number of University Students: 130,000
Landmarks: Wroclaw Cathedral, Old Town Hall, Puppet Theatre, Market Square, University of Wroclaw, Cathedral Island, Royal Palace, Hydropolis
Nightlife: Wroclaw has more of a bar scene than a nightclub scene. There are lots of smaller bars you can explore. During the summer months, Hotspot Beach Bar is open where you can party and listen to live music on the beach by the river.
Getting Around: Between tram, bus, and also railbus, there are many ways to get around the city. For roughly $40 you can get a public transport pass for a whole semester.
Cost of Flights from Airport rating (1/10): 3/10. The airport here is not very big. If you don’t care about the price, it can get you where you need to go. If you want cheaper flights, you would have to travel to Poznan, Warsaw, Dresden, or Prague.
Our Verdict: Above all, Wroclaw is home to one of the most prestigious universities in Poland. The amount of students here makes up an incredible scene for university students. The only downfall to Wroclaw is the airport is quite expensive which would make exploring other parts of Europe more difficult.
Poznan
About: Poznan is known for its renaissance-style old town and for being one of the top university cities in Poland. It also has one of the highest standards of living in Poland. The city also hosts some of Europe’s largest festivals, like the Poznan International Fair. Adam Mickiewicz University, the 3rd largest university in Poland, is also in the city.
City Population: 536,000
Number of University Students: 130,000
Landmarks: Poznan Town Hall, Start Browar, Fara Church, Poznan Cathedral, The Grand Theatre, Poznan Museum, Royal Castle
Nightlife: The city is known for its electronic dance music. In other words, if you like to dance you can find the perfect scene for you. Some people consider the nightlife here to rival some of the best scenes in the country. Old Town is considered to be the heart of the night scene here. They also have a lot of bars for jazz fans.
Getting Around: Like most Polish cities, the public transportation system works really well. As a student, you can get a 6-month pass for a little less than 50 US Dollars.
Airport Cost of Flights rating (1/10): 6. The airport is still on the smaller side of the spectrum but still offers reasonable flights to major European airport hubs.
Our Verdict: In conclusion, Poznan is an incredible university city. It has all of the necessities you could need as a student. With an abundance of other college kids in the city, there are many aspects of the city that are meant to cater to student life.
Gdansk
About: Gdansk is a port city in Northern Poland. It is the main port city for all of Poland. Being a seaport, it was once Poland’s richest city until the 18th century. Worldwide, it is regarded as one of the top cities for quality of life and living standards. The architecture in the old city makes the city one of the most stunning places in Poland, if not Europe. Gdansk had to have much it rebuilt after WW2. As a result of reconstruction, the city still has its original charm.
City Population: 468,000
Number of University Students: 80,000
Landmarks: Motlawa Riverside, Artus Court, St. Mary’s Court, Town Hall, Dutch Mannerist Armory, Neptune’s Fountain
Nightlife: Gdansk has about every sort of scene you could want at night. There are many bars that feature live music, breweries, and nightclubs. You can find anything to fit your vibe here. Most of the nightlife happens near the river and in the Old Town.
Getting Around: Rail and buses can get you almost anywhere you need to go within the city. As a student, you can get a 50% discount on all public transportation tickets.
Airport Cost of Flights (1/10): 8
Our Verdict: Gdansk is a thriving city with incredible architecture. Sitting on the Baltic Sea gives it an incredible setting, especially for an almost land-locked county. As a whole, the city is lively and would be a great place to study as an international student.
In conclusion, any of the cities above would make for an excellent place to study as an international student. Poland is on the rise for attracting students from all over the world. The low cost of living the high-quality universities in the country make Poland one of the best countries in the world to study.
