The reputation of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow.

OOps I forgot to mention the I looked at the only available e alumni report I could find, and the only American that graduated from CES did not get job. But got accepted to get his doctoral in history at harvard. I guess that shows that Jagiellonian does have pretty decent reputation with America or at least Ivy League universities.

The Jagiellonian University was voted the best in Poland in 2006, I did it, its the best, regards re

It was also voted the best in 2009.

The level of customer service for Polish students is ****. One angry secretary for 600 students. My wife should have got a scholarship this year because she was in the best 12% of students from her year. She didn't receive it however because 'not all students gave in their index (a book with their results) at the end of the year on time to the secretary, so the 12% is only counted from those who gave in their indexes on time'. Consequently the 12% shrunk from 16 people to 10 people, cutting my wife and 5 others out of their hard earned scholarship money.

It's an organisation without a head and full of conflicting policies, so it's virtually impossible to get a final word on anything.

However I hear they're nice to foreigners, like all of Poland ;)

^^ I get the feeling thats how a lot of institutions work in Poland not just colleges.

SRK85,

Hi SRK85, I was wondering what you think of the program so far? (I believe you said you started in September). I am definitely thinking about it.

- dlkje

Yeah think UJ has a really good reputation. I'm studying there in the 2010-2011 year in the CES. I hope after I get my undergraduate degree I will have Jagiellonian University as an option for my masters degree.

Can someone please ellaborate a little on the Russian Studies post-graduate programme in UJ?

Hello,

I was looking for an answer to a similar question as the original poster. I am a junior at a well-known Jesuit university. I have decent grades in business school, but I would like to study for my masters at Jagiellonian. Two or three of the programs interested me, including the English Literature, Central and Eastern European Studies, and the Trans-Atlantic studies. When I try looking up statistics on Jagiellonian's website, it states that there were approximately 48,000 applications with 47,000 students attending. Is this correct? How difficult is it to get into Jag's MA program as a foreign student? Do you need to be top of your BA classes?

Thanks for the help in advance,

That is the total students...most of them native Polish.

As a foreign student I don't think it's too incredibly difficult, but that depends on your grades and which school you went to. Good luck. Krakow is awesome :)

So, would I be out of place, then? My reasoning for wanting to go to Poland is two-fold. First, I want to get my Master's, and there's no where else I would rather go (considering the price!) Second, I want to learn Polish, as I am American with a father that was born in Poland. I've always been told 'I'm not really Polish' because I can only understand the language, not speak it. I figure a 2 year MA degree will be enough time for me to pick up Polish on the side.

As a note, I am a junior at Fordham University in New York City. I feel as if it would be relatively easy to be accepted (especially coming from America and speaking English), but I don't want to put all my apples in one basket, as they say, when it comes to decision time next year.

Out of place? For what reason?...

The price of getting your Master's degree should be rather cheap anywhere (and surely anywhere in Europe) I think. I doubt Jagiellonian is extremely better (though living here is quite cheap - until they move to the Euro at least).

You can learn Polish in New York from some native, but yes - to learn the language it would be nice to be in the actual country. I recommend you try to learn some Polish on your own or take some classes in New York before you come. It is a very difficult language for people coming from English (though by no means impossible and especially if you have been exposed to it for a long time).

The only reason I point out the downsides are because I think your business degree is strong and a Masters degree at the quite limited Jagiellonian University (English studies) might be a bit the wrong direction. That's not to say Jagiellonian isn't good, but keep in mind it is a business degree entering a social sciences program. I think in your case you might have to prove some sort of studies (like a minor) in a social science. I'm not 100% sure, though.

To be honest it may even be beneficial. If you know English as your first language and you eventually learn Polish (with maybe another language) then potentially your business major from an American university can land you a nice job in Poland somewhere....I'm just trying to help you think about it. It's a big decision - one I'm faced with in some ways as well.

Thanks.

I should go a little bit more in depth, I suppose. I am a Business Administration Major with a Concentration in Marketing and a Minor in Political Science. I was actually forced into this major by my FATHER who wanted me to go to law school for corporate law, originally. Now, he's starting to see that my grades have suffered (to some extent) as a result of my inability to do well in my business courses but my exceeding ability to do well in my core liberal arts courses (history, philosophy, english, etc.) I want to be able to teach back in the states, but I want to get my Masters in Poland and perhaps even a doctorate if things go swimmingly well.

Learning Polish in New York is a non-option. My university does not offer the language (we have Russian, though! :( ) and my schedule is too packed to even consider courses at another university in the city. Like I said, I have been around the language my entire life (my entire extended family speaks it) and I can understand what people are talking about, but I have never really had that formal class where I learn how to conjugate things or past present and future tenses, etc. My vocabulary allows me to do and ask the very basic: where's the bathroom? i'm hungry? can I have something to drink? etc. I can't do much more than that, unfortunately.

I have NO intention of going into the business field. It's too cut throat for my taste and I am already starting to dislike New York City (gasp!)

Also, in terms of price, it is true it would be cheap anyhwere, but I would want to be in POLAND, and I know that JU has a great reputation there. Getting my Masters in the states just isn't something appealing to me.

Okay, I understand a bit more where you are coming from. In that case it might be a good option (your minor in political science will allow you to study at JU, I believe).

I think you'll be good with the language then. Familiarity is good, you seem to have a desire to learn so all-in-all it will not be impossible.

Sure it has a good reputation in Poland, but a) are you sure you want to live in Poland the rest of your life? b) Are you certain your Polish language will be up to par enough to find a job in Poland?

Talking about teaching - a professor of mine graduated number 1 in his class for his Ph.D at Universität Ludwig-Maximilians (very prestigious German university) and he had a lot of trouble teaching at an American university. I can't see a Polish one being too much better...

Ah, I had the intention of teaching back in the States afterwords. Knowing about that German Ph.D makes me a little nervous. I guess I should really get to consulting with my academic adviser about all of this, huh? Is your professor at an American University now?

Don't get too worried. He ended up teaching at Harvard for a bit (I don't know why it was only a couple of years). Now he teaches at an American affiliated university in Switzerland (Franklin College Switzerland fc.edu)

I'm studying a year in Krakow (starting next academic year). Is it possible to transfer Masters credits like it is with B.A?

I would think it would be possible, yes. Especially among European institutions. I guess if he taught at Harvard, he ended up alright.

In that case at least you could transfer some credits? Worst case scenario.

I'd recommend visiting for a while - maybe an internship during summer or something?

I'm in the TransAtlantic program, I'm glad I chose it over the European Studies & the other english-language programs because it's a more marketable degree with regards to employment. There aren't many of us though, about 30 since the program is pretty new. But it gives you an opportunity to get to know the profs well and everyone is pretty tight knit...

krk, how hard was it to get into that program in particular? What type of courses are you taking?

Yeah European Studies sucks I should have done TransAtlantic program instead :(

good university having very good reputation

Opinion about Jagiellonian University 2 weeks intensive Polish course (Krakow)?

Hey;

Anyone has an informed opinion about this course at UJ?

poprzednia.uj.edu.pl/SL/en/program_offer/september_2007/zima/index.php

(it says 2007 in the URL but the courses are for 2011)

I've been studying Polish so far from books and online courses ('Polish in 4 weeks', Rosetta Stone etc.). My level is very basic since it's hard for me to muster the discipline to learn in an orderly fashion.

I was thinking about taking this 2 weeks course, and if it does me well, perhaps move on to a longer course, e.g. their summer courses

poprzednia.uj.edu.pl/SL/en/summer_courses

Opinions, sharing your experience appreciated.

Cheers
Groovyg