Polish schools and Polish educational system level in your eyes

The thing is that a few years ago there were a number of good polytechnics. The polytechs all got changed into universities and some of them went from being acclaimed polies to lower-class unis (unfair, but it's how some people's minds work). Many of these 'lower level' unis provide very good courses (sometimes perhaps better than the high-level ones). A friend of mine studied at Sheffield and had a great time. She's now a head teacher somewhere in Scotland (she's English).


Try an ancient Scottish uni, like Glasgow, Edinburgh etc because the first degree is called a Masters. You can do a 3 year 'ordinary' degree and still be MA or 4 year honours degree and get an MA honours.

The thing is that my UCAS application is already sent off!
There is no way I can change it now!

Oh well, good luck anyway ;-)


If you have qualifications (A-levels) they wouldn't need to test them. As far as I know, most UK unis don't insist on a compulsory list of subjects (so you don't have to pass a language course if you're not doing languages etc)

My friend did German and Swedish at Sheffield. The sandwich year, as you probably know, means living a year in a country of the language you are studying. Most of the guys I know who have done language degrees have said it was a great thing to do.

Concerning the questions of ratings, I wonder how much of it is to do with standards of publications from Polish unis.

As I understand it, doctoral students and above must have a track record of publishing papers. Due to the old dinosaurs in Polish academia hogging the road to the main publishing outlets many get their work published abroad, and damn the quality of the publication. My own experience of proofreading some of these things, and the experience of a colleague who teaches scientific English to academics, is that many do not care about their style of writing and don't care about getting a good translation done (it's just important to publish).

The upshot seems to be that the research is often misrepresented by bad English and perhaps deemed questionable. One student asked me why British academics rarely recognised Polish research and I stunned the class by saying openly it was probably because of bad writing and translation.

What I meant was the process of applying to University in Poland: As I have A-Levels, I'm pretty sure they might want me to sit entry examination, right?

Ah, sorry. I see what you mean. I know very little about Polish unis, but there is still an idea that british unis do entry exams (which I don't know that many of them do). Polish ones might.

I tried to phone up a few instituions couple of minutes ago, but it seems like it's Bank Holiday today!

My dilema is whether to go to Uni in England or go back to Poland to study.

yes, everything is closed today. some places will be closed tomorrow too.

Do you suggest to wait until monday and then give it a go?

It's a new BH for Epiphany (3 Kings).

You could try a couple of places tomorrow and if there's no luck, try monday.

Other things to consider about your studies; how much easier, financially, will it be for you to live in Poland/UK?

Poland is pretty expensive these days (obviously, not as bad as UK). Can you earn anything while you're studying?

Also, how long is the length of studies? This might be an advantage with working etc.

well, certainly today is a waste of time. i don't know about tomorrow.

busy yourself checking university websites today.

Yup, they really have no bloody idea.

It fits right in with the Polish mindset that tenure is more important than skills.

As far as I know most of the full-time courses in Poland are not paid. Whereas in Englad, it will cost 8 000 ( from 2012 on), at the moment it costs 3 800.

I would be hoping to get a job at the time of my studies. The studies are 4 years (including a sandwitch year) in England and 3 years in Poland, I'm not sure about sandwitch year tho. I know for sure there is the international ERASMUS programe.

What do you think : A bad University in Egland (such as Wolverhampton) or top one in Poland (Jagieloński) ?

Have you been to Wolverhampton? It would answer your question!

In Poland you'd have more chance to use german in the street, and maybe get some work as a tourist guide etc. As for a sandwich year, can't you take a break in your studies and just go and work for a year (or study) in Germany/Austria?

Another question to ask is what you are going to do afterwards. if you are thinking of staying in Poland when you finsh, all well and good.

Yes, I have been there. The Uni itself is okay, the UCAS points score you need to get to get in is on average 160 points whereas to compare Aston University asks for 320! Besides, Wolverhampton Uni doesn't offer any language courses any more.


During my studies in England a year abroad is compulsory. I can either spend my year in German Uni; work as a language assistant or work in a certain company.


To be fair, I don't know where I want to live after finishing university. I presume I would have good chances of working in all english / german and polish speaking countries afterwards.

Are combined honours courses avaliable in Poland?

No idea, I'm afraid. I did all my stuff in Scotland and Belfast.


Yes, I know this. What I meant was how important do you personally feel this is to your studies (I think it's very useful but it does mean an extra year of study fees).


Weird... mind you, I notice they offer English... I didn't know anyone in Wolverhampton spoke it!

The year abroad costs around 1900, which is a half of normal tutition fee.
I think it's a wonderfull option do polish a language, and would take advantage of that!

Besides I'm not on about money. I'm on about good education.

If YOU don't consider them to be good, then why consider studying at them?

Chester has a decent rep and Notts Trent has a high rate of graduate employment. For all my joking about Wolves, it too has a decent rep for what it does.


If money isn't a problem, then a UK uni would probably be your best bet. The sandwich year allows you to make contacts and, as you say, make use of your Polish, as well as your English, in a German speaking country.

...And looks good on your CV and to potential employers.

I don't think them bad at all! I just got it fixed in my mind, that Unis that accept lower grades and UCAS scores, are worse, that's just my stupid way of thinking ;)

 Universities can only charge a maximum of £3,290 (currently).
 Fees will rise to £6,000 (from 2012 onwards), with an upper tier of £9,000.


How do you define a bad university?

:-)

How do I define a bad University? Well, at some stage I got it fixed in my mind, that institutions that are asking for 160 ucas points, like wolverhampton uni for example, have lower requiremants and have not much on offer! I'm probably wrong, but that's just me. I'm sure there's plenty of people tgat would disagree with me!

Well, I'm sorry about the mistakes. As you see I'm not english, and the language isn't my best side either!

It depends on the course - I know design subjects in good universities in the UK tend to have low entry requirements, but place a lot of emphasis on the portfolio and interview.

Also, places like Wolverhampton put a strong emphasis on education for those in the local community and those who might not normally go to uni. I think they and North Staffs Poly were some of the pioneers of access courses for mature students... it was a local college which was running an access in association with NSP which got me on the ladder (and for which I'm very grateful)

British educational system is in deep trouble , even bigger than Polish .British educational level is much lower comparing it to Polish public universities . British universities just have some advantages from the language ( which these days is international ) and partialy from the fact you didn`t suffer the war on your soil and did not have communism, so your country did not suffer massive destruction and killings of intelligence. You may not know about the fact that 184 professors from Cracow`s universities were either killed or sent to death camps by Germans .

Sonderaktion Krakau was the codename for a Nazi German operation against professors and academics of the Jagiellonian University and other universities in Nazi occupied Kraków, Poland, at the beginning of World War II. It was carried out as part of the much broader action plan, the Intelligenzaktion, to eradicate the Polish intellectual elite especially in those centers (such as Kraków) that were slated by the Nazis to become culturally German.

warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/operation-sonderakti on-krakau-german-operation-murder-members-intelligentsia-universities-krakow-poland.html

So , you British did not suffer such irreparable loss in the recent 50 years . To rebuild our structures took many years not to mention humane loss.

My friend`s daughter was admitted to Cambridge university course of psychology without any tests ,after just a conversation . I know this first hand . Her English proficiency was like native speaker`s because they were diplomats in USA for years . Why was it done ? I don`t understand , maybe they don`t have enough students theses days .

Getting back to your question . The answer is : where I studied there were no funny courses at the faculty of law and administration . It has always been law and administration . This university is UMCS in Lublin . So , my previous statements were very true. Some posters who distort facts will not be content with such news I suppose . Their charges sound stupid now and show their real intentions .

This course like European studies is at the faculty of philosophy and social science at UMCS .

The web page of my faculty is :
umcs.lublin.pl/articles.php?aid=3587&mid=119&mref=27685

Take a look at the long list of subjects I have had to pass . I passed 50 exams during my studies and I did not cheat because all exams were oral ( 3 students in front of the professor ) . How would you cheat in such circumstances . So stop lying about low level or cheating during exams . Maybe on your Polish private schools it is possible , but the diplomas given by such schools are worth the cost of the paper they were printed on .

umcs.lublin.pl/articles.php?aid=3585

Funny courses and private higher educational facilities were installed in mid 90-ies of the past century . The level of education at these private schools is so low that I don`t even try to evaluate it . It is pointless and everyone knows that . Some of you who are from GB came here just to teach English at these private schools and all you know about educational system in Poland is taken from this experience of teaching of lazy students at facilities like Koźminski private schools .

These schools have nothing to do with keeping certain level of education . They just produce thousands of future jobless youths whose preparation for further career is none.

The poster stated that she went to a Polish university! How can she not know what they're like?


How do you know this? Did you have a British education?
When I asked you about A levels v Matura, you said you knew that the Matura was harder because your family had told you.
You stated your family had studied in USA, France and Canada NOT the UK, which is probably why you didn't bother replying when I queried this before.

I'm asking you again, how can you say the education system is lower here than in Poland, when clearly you or your family have never studied here?


What does this have to do with the Polish education system in 2013?


Like your family studied in the UK? Somehow I doubt this.

.


Not enough students at Cambridge? It's one of our top universities! You've got to be joking!

Public or private , there is a difference in Poland


A lot !!!!!! If you don`t know that during the II WW Poland was destroyed and 63 % of our total GDP vanished and during the next 50 years there was robbery by Soviets . Just asking such silly question says a lot about an average poster here . What do you think funny people that rebuilding the whole country will take a decade or decades . It will take few decades and in some instances may never be rebuilt.


Listen lady - read what I wrote , I said friends , family etc . My family is not so large but prominent . So listen , my female cousin studied in England , but I don`t remember where , I was not interested to ask , because I don`t value British education too much . She went there for a year I think on student`s exchange program . But she graduated from biology and psychology ( got master in both subjects) from Polish university . Then my friend`s daughter was admitted to Cambridge last year at psychology . So what is it that you don`t comrehend . Then my niece studied social science in Toronto Canada , at the U of T . My nephew studied biology in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia . Also my one relative studied in Paris and then in Warsaw , Poland ( economics and finances ). So I could compare for example the level of biology and economics at British ,French , Canadian and Polish universities , because I have had first hand information from my family and friends .


It doesn`t matter , maybe years ago but surely not now . Look at the scores of British students in international olympiads, that says it all.

University graduates from the western part of Europe don`t have general knowledge about history , biology , mathematics , simple calculation even that compared to the 8- th grade of Polish primary school student . That is so shocking that I would never suspect that without exchanging information among my friends or family members .

How would I know whether she went to a private or public university? You would have to ask her.

Please don't presume I'm ignorant of Polish history, I am well aware of what happened to Poland.
Exactly what are you trying to say with this statement anyway?
I am talking about the Polish education system in 2013, which you seem to think is better on all levels including Matura and University. If that's how you see it, then the rebuilding of Poland and the lack of money in education hasn't really made too much difference has it? If in your opinion Poland is out performing the UK?


You stated ' Polish matura is much much more difficult than British on advanced level '
When I queried how could you know this, you responded with ' Pam, I know that, first hand from my family members ', and then went on to say your family studied In the USA, France and Canada!


Ah, so you do have one family member that studied here. But as you weren't too interested in asking, you won't know if she sat A levels or not would you?

The only point I'm trying to make here Monia, is that you're giving us all your opinion on how easy the British education system is compared with Poland, but providing no evidence to back up your claims.

I don't know how the Matura and Polish universities compare with the UK. I sat my A levels and took my degrees in the UK. I would not be so presumptuous as to say the Matura is easier, because not having taken it, I just don't know. And that is my point, neither do you! Hearsay from your family, only one of whom studied in the UK, is not exactly evidence is it?


The original question I asked you still hasn't been addressed, Why you think A levels are far easier than the Matura. What I don't comprehend is why you're giving me this example of your friend's daughter. Did she sit A levels?


I am not interested in your family studying anywhere other than the UK. How is this relevant? You have one family member that studied in the UK, and you weren't interested enough to ask about her experience you said. I think that says everything really. You don't have knowledge about the British education system.


Yeah, we're thick as sh1t over here don't you know. ROFL!!!!!

I will gibe you


I did not see the point of describing my family or friends educational history . But I explained that because you were so curious . I gave you reasons of my statement because I know this from first hand information . I even called yesterday to my cousin who studied on exchange program in UK and asked where she studied and you know what - she studied at Cambridge .


No , I am not I am just realistic .

I don't see the point of you describing it either, because their studies in USA, France and Canada are not relevant.


I was curious as to how you could know that A levels are far easier than Matura, given that you haven't studied in the UK.

That didn't mean I wanted a run down of family achievements in other countries.


She did a year on a student exchange program and completed her degree in Poland.
One year's study doesn't actually tell us a lot does it?
But the one and only member of your family who studied here didn't sit A levels.
Could you please tell me how you know that A levels are so much easier than the Matura?
It's not that difficult a question to answer.

.


You are uninformed.

This is just a bare lie .

I will give an example of just one Polish university which is Warsaw University . So after looking at its merits , how can anyone say that Polish educational system lags behind US , especially in match .

Students from just this one university have been the best for many years .

mimuw.edu.pl/studia/rozne/osiagniecia/?LANG=en&para=k&parb=tc
mimuw.edu.pl/studia/rozne/osiagniecia/?para=k&parb=icpc
mimuw.edu.pl/studia/rozne/osiagniecia/?para=k&parb=ic
mimuw.edu.pl/studia/rozne/osiagniecia/?para=k&parb=gcj

Your statement - "they can understand accounting at only a very basic level" referring to Polish students means that you are just a bigoted and frustrated man who does not have any idea about the subject as most of you .

Here is country rankings:

community.topcoder.com/stat?c=country_avg_rating

Russian fed - 143 millions of people , China - 1,3 billions , Poland - 38 millions, USA -316 millions

Poland ranked at 2 place , USA - 6-th

By using match as a barometer of logical thinking , creativity and high IQ I proved that your bare statement is worthless. As you can find out , per capita Poland has got the smartest students .

People, if you want to study and have the worthless American diploma backed up by basic knowledge go to the states , but if you want to excell in real knowledge come to Poland .

Polish university is ranked 4-th , 13 -th , 20-th, the first American university is on the 28-th place:

community.topcoder.com/stat?c=school_avg_rating

That is real ranking , not those on paid pages of fake rankings , where not educational levels matter , but the standard of facilities .