How to study in Łódź

When entering Poland, EU citizens are obliged to have a valid travel document (passport) or other documentary proof of identity and citizenship. Moreover, they should have a confirmation of means of subsistence for the period of their stay and for the return to their country of origin (in the case of students, it may be a national or foreign scholarship award decision). If you want to travel through non-EU countries during your stay in Poland, you be in possession of a valid passport.

When entering Poland, citizens of non-EU countries are obliged to hold a valid travel document (passport) and visa (if required).

When entering Poland, citizens of non-EU countries are obliged to hold a valid travel document (passport) and visa (if required).

How to obtain a visa:

1. Find a Polish consulate or embassy (https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy) Fill in the form and make an appointment in the consulate (earlier registration may be required at the website: http://www.e-konsulat. gov.pl)
   
   
2. For your meeting in the consulate, prepare the following necessary documents:
• application form (an application for residence permit) in 2 copies 
• travel document (passport)
• 4 biometric photographs
• a confirmation of a student status issued by a Polish university (consisting of information on the planned period of stay in Poland)
• a confirmation of health insurance for the period of stay in Poland
• a confirmation of means of subsistence for the period of stay and return journey to their country of origin (in the case of students, it may be a national or foreign scholarship award decision).

The visa issue procedure usually lasts up to 15 days from the moment the application is correctly filled in.

After coming to Poland, go to an office for foreign cooperation at the university where you are going to study. You will then be directed to a dean’s office of the appropriate department. You will receive a student card thanks to which you will be entitled to all sorts of discount, e.g. public transport – buses, trams, underground and railway all over Poland. In the dean’s office, you should also obtain information on health insurance, and if you need help in accommodation, ask about the possibilities of renting a room in a student hostel.

Register for a temporary stay in Poland:

• EU citizens – on the 30th day at the latest, counting from the day of arrival at the place;
• Non-EU citizens – on the 4th day at the latest, counting from the day of arrival at the place.

Appropriate documents must be submitted in one of the branches of a population registration office:

• ul. Zachodnia 47, 2nd floor, room 220, 221, 222, 223, 227
• al. Politechniki 32, 1st floor, room 1 and 2
• ul. Krzemieniecka 2b, ground floor, room 007
• ul. Piotrkowska 153, ground floor, 002 and 003
• al. Piłsudskiego 100, 2nd floor, room 33,34

In order to fulfil the registration requirement, one must collect an appropriate document from the management of the student hostel, fill it in and go to one of the above mentioned addresses with a valid passport. Persons living in private flats must have a tenancy agreement.

You can live in a dormitory or rent a private flat or a room in a larger apartment. Many universities have their own dormitories which are usually a cheaper type of accommodation. The standard of such dormitories is various so it is worth checking a suggested variant and compare the costs of particular dormitory before deciding which one to choose. The cost of a student hostel is around EUR 60–80 per month for a shared room and around EUR 80–145 per month for a single room.

Foreign students often rent private flats together with other people or a room in bigger apartments. An average cost of renting a room is around EUR 150–200. The cost of renting a private flat depends on the city in which it is located, on the part of the city in which it is located, as well as on the size of the flat and the standard of its equipment.

Every foreigner staying on the territory of the Republic of Poland is obliged to hold a valid medical costs insurance in Poland.

• European Health Insurance Card is a document that authorises its holder to use health care during the stay in EU countries (and EFTA: Island, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway).
• Persons who are not of Polish origin should buy medical costs insurance in their country of origin (valid for the stay in Poland) or hold a European Health Insurance Card, or individually sign an agreement on medical costs insurance directly with an insurer.
• Students of Polish origin outside of the European Union and holders of Karta Polaka [Pole’s Card] may be covered by medical cost insurance by a university, under the principles binding for Polish students, provided that a student submits appropriate documents (a confirmation of Polish origin issued by the Consulate of the Republic of Poland).

One must enter into an individual agreement with Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia [National Healthcare Fund] (NFZ) http://www.nfz-lodz.pl/ The Agreement is concluded based on a written application and a certificate confirming having a student’s status, and a passport. A student who concludes the agreement and pays premiums on time is entitled to the full scope of healthcare in Poland in facilities that have concluded an agreement on the provision of healthcare services with NFZ. Within 7 days after the conclusion of the agreement, the student is obliged to register it in Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS) [Social Insurance Company] by submitting an application form called ZUS ZZA. A contribution on account of the agreement must be paid each month to the account indicated by ZUS, by the 15th of the following month. The agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time.

Students may also pay an accident insurance contribution at a chosen university – around PLN 30–80 (EUR 7–20).

In the case of an emergency, injury, sudden illness or a serious deterioration of your health you may call an ambulance (call 112 or 999) or go directly to a hospital. In such cases, an ambulance and possible transport to the hospital are free of charge. Remember to show a valid European Health Insurance Card or any other valid, adequate insurance document.

In Poland, there is also a well-developed private healthcare. Medical consultation with a specialist costs between PLN 100 and PLN 250 (EUR 24–60). The costs of hospital treatment are adequately higher.

WE CREATE SAFE ŁÓDŹ TOGETHER

To get to know our country better we present selected legal provisions:

• hold valid health insurance;
• do not consume alcohol in prohibited places;
• there is a ban on smoking in generally not allowed places;
• possession of any quantity of narcotics is subject to a sentence of imprisonment;
• right-hand traffic is binding in Poland;
• driving a vehicle after consumption of alcohol is banned (maximum blood alcohol
  content is 0.2 per mill)

IF NECESSARY, INFORM THE SERVICES! Emergency line: 112

1st Police Station in Łódź, Sienkiewicza Street 28/30

Depending on your personal situation, lifestyle and habits you may have different needs. In practice, you will need at least PLN 1.800-3.500 per month. This amount should cover the costs of rent, food, clothing, personal hygiene, local transport, study materials, telephone and other expenses – not the tuition fee, however.

may take up a job in Poland without a special permit.

may work without a work permit for 6 months in a period no longer than 12 months. However, a declaration of employment must be submitted in a local employment office (for Lodz: www.pup-lodz.pl).

If employer would like to hire foreigner for longer period of time, employee is allowed to have a
work permit or temporary residence and work permit or temporary residence permit in order to
work in a profession requiring high qualifications.

Universities in Poland offer many study courses conducted in English as well as other languages. In many public facilities you will be able to communicate in English, and the knowledge of this language is getting more and more common in Poland. Regardless of this fact, it is worth learning Polish in order to use it in every-day private contacts or if you decide to take up studies in Polish.

• School of Polish for Foreign Students http://www.sjpdc.uni.lodz.pl/
• Polish Language School Glossa https://e-polish.eu/learn-polish-with-e-polish.eu
• Polonus Lodz school of Polish for Foreigners http://polonuslodz.com/
• Centrum Języków Romańskich http://www.jezykiromanskie.com.pl/Kursy-jezyka-polskiego-
  dla-obcokrajowcow
• Modern Language Center https://www.studium.com.pl/jezyki/polish-for-foreigners/
• Szkoła Języków Obcych Perfekt OK http://perfekt-ok.edu.pl/kursy-jezykowe/polski/
• Together – Szkoła języka polskiego https://together-school.pl/pl/kursy_polskiego_w_lodzi/