University of Silesia in Katowice is one of the largest and most dynamically developing public universities in Poland. Founded in 1968, the University of Silesia quickly established a reputation as a vibrant academic institution and an important interdisciplinary research hub. With a tradition of launching new programs to best meet the needs of rapidly changing labor markets, the University of Silesia offers students a variety of programs and specialized fields of study. With outstanding research teams and well-equipped laboratories, we are an important player in the global research arena. We actively participate in European Commission initiatives focused both on educational and scientific development, and realize projects within the framework of programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020.

About Poland

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Since Poland abolished Communism in 1989, the country has gone through a rapid transformation and is now the sixth largest economy in the European Union. Although the country is quickly changing, it is still a place of charm steeped in history and tradition. Poland shares borders with many countries. To the west, it borders Germany, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia are to the south. In the east, it borders Ukraine and Belarus, and in the north, it borders the Baltic Sea and Lithuania in the northeast. With all these countries surrounding Poland, it is a great place to travel from. The weather in Poland is characterized by warm, but wet summers and cold winters. Poland’s mountainous areas such as the Tatra Mountains receive a fair amount of snow making them an attraction for snow sports enthusiasts. Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004, but it is not part of the Euro currency. Instead, the country has its own currency: the zloty. The tuition fees in Poland are very competitive. Living in Poland is also very affordable, with a month’s rent costing around 250 euros.

About Katowice

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At first glance, Katowice seems to be rather less attractive, unless you want to learn more about post-communist transformations. However, deeper exploration of its industrial areas and unusual monuments reveals that Katowice is actually very interesting. It is the heart of the biggest agglomeration in Central Eastern Europe, resembling the Ruhr in terms of the development of industry and urbanization. Nowadays, heavy industry has significantly decreased, and Katowice is moving towards small businesses and trade. There are still several dozen collieries, ironworks, and steel plants, and the city remains the center of the GOP (Upper Silesian Industrial Region). Each year, Katowice plays host to trade fairs, including the second biggest event of its type in Poland. Apart from being the principal science and educational center of the region, this lively city with its tall buildings is comparable to Warsaw (see: tours in Warsaw) in number, offering a wide range of entertainment that can compensate for the rarity of sights.