Students from the Russian Federation at Polish universities

Krystyna Gomółka

doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p358

Abstract

Since the dissolution of the USSR, students from the Russian Federation have been able to study at Polish universities on the basis of bilateral agreements between the Polish and Russian governments. The purpose of this article is to analyse the legal basis enabling Russian citizens to obtain education in Poland, analyse the numbers of such students and the principles and procedure they followed to begin studies at Polish universities in 1993–2014. Throughout the period investigated, students from Russia accounted for a small percentage of foreigners entering Polish universities, ranging between 1.02% and 2.03% of the overall number of foreigners coming to study in Poland. At the beginning of the period investigated, in the academic year 1993/1994 all Russian citizens studying in Poland were Polish government scholarship holders, whereas in the last year analysed scholarship holders accounted for more than 10% of the overall number of students. The predominant group of students were those paying for their studies (more than 64%) and those studying without a scholarship and free of charge (23%). The most popular subjects included Management, Economics, International Relationships, Journalism, Political Sciences and Eastern Studies. Students from the Russian Federation entered the largest Polish universities: Warsaw University, Jagiellonian University, University in Poznan, University of Wroclaw, University of Lublin and University of Bialystok. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p358

Highlights

Since the early 1990s students from the Russian Federation have not been among the most numerous groups of foreigners entering higher education in Poland
1993/1994 all Russian citizens studying in Poland were Polish government scholarship holders, whereas in the last year analysed scholarship holders accounted for more than 10% of the overall number of students
The author formulated the following research questions: 1/ What was the legal basis for the arrival of students from the Russian Federation wishing to study at Polish universities?; 2/ Which universities and subjects did they choose most often?; 3/ What scholarships were available to them?; 4/ What proportion of students took advantage of the scholarships offered?; 5/Did the scholarships offered contribute to an increased number of students entering education at Polish universities? The author used the following research methods: analysis of source materials, comparative analysis and statistical data analysis

Summary

Introduction

Since the early 1990s students from the Russian Federation have not been among the most numerous groups of foreigners entering higher education in Poland Their recruitment to university studies, art-related placements, specialist training programmes and postgraduate placements consisted of several stages: from the university's approval, through the entry of the territory of Poland and legalisation of stay to undertaking education in Poland. Those undertaking studies could take advantage of the scholarships offered or use their own resources. The research hypothesis is as follows: the range of scholarships offered has not contributed to an increase in the number of students from Russia entering Polish universities. This study was completed on the basis of data from the Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange, Central Statistical Office, legal acts and sparse specialist literature available

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