Meet Vladyslav!
He’s a student of Marketing at the Cracow University of Economics. He came from Ukraine to Poland last year. He shared with us his relocation experience. Read the interview below and get to know him!
- Vlad, when and why did you decide to move to Poland?
- I thought about it when I was still in 9th That’s when I started to take Polish language classes. A year later I finally made my mind, I was 16 years old at that time. I knew I wanted to study and live abroad, I believed it would give me more opportunities to develop and establish my own business in the future. I also think that people in the West are more open-minded and I like it a lot.
- Did you want to study in Cracow specifically? How did you choose the program of your studies?
- I was dreaming of studying internet marketing, and only two institutions offered this faculty – one in Cracow and one in Wroclaw. That narrowed my choices significantly 😉 I decided on applying to the Cracow University of Economics.
- Do you remember how the recruitment process looked like?
- Yes, there were two main steps. Firstly, I needed to upload information and scan of the documents online. The necessary documents were: high school certificate and its Polish transcript, results of ZNO, which is an equivalent of Polish matura exam, a copy of my passport, a certificate confirming my knowledge of Polish as a foreign language. I also needed to pay the application fee. After receiving the information that I’ve been accepted, I had to deliver or send the paper copies of the above documents, with their originals as well, filled and printed application form from the university’s website, a photo, a statement about my citizenship and parents’ written approval to study in Poland, which only applies to minors.
- Do you have double citizenship or you applied as a foreigner?
- I don’t have Polish citizenship. I study on terms of a foreigner – I had to compete in the ranking not with Poles, but with other foreigners and I have to pay the tuition fee, around 2500 EUR per year. When I pass the Polish C1 exam, the tuition will drop to 1250 EUR.
- Do you think that the recruitment process was difficult?
- I think it was a bit complicated, but thankfully I had some help. My Polish language teacher had some experience because her children study in Poland as well. It might be overwhelming, especially for someone who doesn’t know the language very well. Even more difficult for me was the process of obtaining my Karta Pobytu.
- Did you encounter any other hurdles so far?
- Well, I started studying in the middle of the pandemic, so socializing and integrating was a bit difficult. However, I would consider moving to Poland as a good experience and I wouldn’t change my decision. I live in a student’s dormitory, so I had a chance to meet some other students. I hope the situation will change soon and I would have more opportunities to meet new people.
What do you think about Vlad’s story? Do you find it inspiring? If you’d like to share your own relocation experience, don’t hesitate! You might become an example for others 😊
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