Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest universities in the world. Founded in 1364, it has constantly been developing, gaining the interest of an increasing number of foreign students. It is certainly a university of international renown.

Just look at the numbers. Jagiellonian University, which has educated many famous figures in Polish history, currently has 4418 international students.The largest group are Ukrainians, as many as 1,287 individuals. There are also several hundred people from other countries, including Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and further afield, such as the United States and China.

— Jagiellonian University is dynamically transforming itself into a university with an increasingly international character. It conducts intensive international research and teaching cooperation at the level of scientific teams and university networks. What’s more, it has an efficient support system for international research groups. It actively recruits outstanding scientists, doctoral students and (postdoctoral) trainees from other countries, and is a willing destination for their temporary or permanent work and visits. It supports international research and didactic mobility of employees and doctoral students, and conducts large-scale student exchange — says Adam Koprowski, media communication specialist at the Jagiellonian University.

Many opportunities

What can people from outside Poland study at the Jagiellonian University? The offer is extensive, which makes Kraków an attractive place on the map of international academic centres. Foreign students have both humanities and sciences or medicine at their disposal.

The following humanities courses can be studied in English: Business and Finance Management (offered as second-cycle studies), Comparative Heritage Studies (second-cycle studies), European Studies (first- and second-cycle studies), Global and Development Studies (first-cycle studies), Intellectual Property and New Technologies (second-cycle studies), International Relations (second-cycle studies), International Security and Development (second-cycle studies). International Relations (second-cycle studies), International Relations and Area Studies (first cycle studies), International Relations and Public Diplomacy (second-cycle studies), International Security and Development (second-cycle studies), TransAtlantic Studies (second-cycle studies).

The science majors offered in English are as follows: Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (2nd degree), Drug Discovery and Development (2nd degree), Earth Sciences in a Changing World (1st degree), Ecology and Evolution (2nd degree), Environmental Protection and Management (2nd degree), Molecular Biotechnology (2nd degree).

You can also study medicine in English in the Doctor of Dental Surgery (5-year programme) and Medical Doctor programmes (6-year programme).

UJ also provides education in cooperation with international universities. The study takes place in English in Kraków and then at one of the foreign universities. This offer includes European Studies at the universities of Strasbourg or Padua; European Studies / Governance, Leadership and Democracy, in cooperation with Universidade Católica Portuguesa; Law and Politics together with Kobe University and a course called IMESS (International Masters in Economy, State and Society) in partnership with University College of London.

Jagiellonian University is also part of the Erasmus Mundus programme, which offers the following courses: Euroculture: Society, Politics and Culture in a Global Context, European Politics and Society (EPS): Vaclav Havel, EuroPubHealth: European Public Health Master, International Master in Central & East European, Russian & Eurasian Studies and Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry. International students can also benefit from doctoral studies and financial support in the form of mini-grants.

Plans for the future

The university plans to expand its offer and introduce strong support mechanisms for educational programmes in English and other foreign languages. It will prepare joint educational programmes with foreign centres at the undergraduate and graduate levels in addition to developing and implementing scholarship programmes for outstanding students from partner institutions and countries identified as directions for strategic didactic cooperation. The plans include the development of international mobility, especially further active participation in the Erasmus+ programme, and collaboration with institutions and businesses, which will increase the opportunities for UJ graduates in the global labour marketplace.

Jagiellonian University is also an active partner within the European University Una Europa, developing joint ventures, including a programme for the creation of an integrated pan-European university campus. According to Adam Koprowski, Jagiellonian University has and continues to improve organisational solutions for the efficient functioning of the university in international cooperation. This shows that foreign students are a significant group for the Kraków university.