Partner Country of the Month: Poland

Our eastern neighbour Poland is often underestimated, quite wrongly so. Poland is a paradise for nature lovers, with the mountains of the High Tatras and the Baltic Sea coast, Central Europe's only desert and more lakes than in any other European country except Finland. In its chequered history, Poland has often been subject to partitions, and has been a part of many different states. It is the country of origin of Marie Curie and Fryderyk Chopin. Politically, Poland is known for occasionally causing offence in the EU, but here too, more relaxed times are slowly emerging.

With the "Partner Country of the Month" campaign, we want to shine a spotlight on the countries, regions and partner universities of TU Dresden that aren’t necessarily the first to come to our students' minds when thinking about a semester abroad.

Morskie Oko, a mountain lake in the High Tatras

General facts and figures about Poland

Capital: Warsaw
Population: 38 million (2022)
Official language: Polish
National holiday: 11^th November (National Independence Day 1918)
Currency: Złoty (zł), 1€ = 4 złoty and 30 groszy

You can find further facts, figures and information on Wikipedia, on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office, or e.g. on wikivoyage and poland.travel.

Small language excursion:

Hello / see you – Cześć [cheshch]
How do you do? – Jak leci? [yuk lachi]
Yes / no – Tak / nie [nye]
Good day – Dzień dobry [djen dobre]
I would like … – Poproszę … [poproshe]
Thank you – Dziękuję [djenkuye]
Goodbye – Do widzenia

Polish is the second largest Slavic language in terms of the number of speakers, after Russian and before Ukrainian. It's most closely related to Sorbian, but shares a lot with Czech and Slovak as well. Like most Slavic languages, Polish has quite complex grammar and many sibilant sounds. These are represented by additional letters or letter combinations such as cz or sz.

You don't need to fear the language barrier. You can get around quite well in Poland when speaking English, especially with younger and urban Poles. However, learning Polish will certainly help you get to know the country and put a smile on people’s faces, even if the grammar isn't quite right yet. There are Polish language courses in Dresden, e.g. at TUDIAS or at VHS.

Our partner universities offer a wide range of courses in English. Studying entirely in English during your exchange is absolutely possible. However, please check your chosen university's exact requirements before applying.

Opulent city houses in the Dutch style in Gdańsk

Did you know that ....?

Mordor lies in Poland? The dark realm from the Lord of the Rings lends its name to Warsaw's main business district, officially Służewiec Przemysłowy, seat of numerous multinational corporations. The nickname Mordor originated in 2013 with the Facebook page of an annoyed employee venting about the corporate pressure, rat race culture and the notorious traffic jams in the district. It then caught on quickly, although the local government has so far steadfastly refused to make the name official.
in Poland, a fish scale in your wallet brings good luck? On Christmas Eve, many Polish families prepare a carp for the feast. Keeping its most beautiful scales (cleaned and dried, of course) is said to ensure that money will not run out next year. Christmas Eve is the most important family celebration in Poland, and the time for bringing good luck. Another tradition is the sharing of Christmas wafers as a sign of community and peace. The wafers are even sent to relatives and friends around the world to let them share in the festivities.
the element of polonium is named for Poland? The famous physicist and chemist Marie Curie named her discovery after her home country. She was born in Warsaw as Maria Skłodowska, and is one of only two people to ever have received a Nobel Prize twice and in two different fields. Poland can also boast another great scientific mind: Renaissance astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who proposed the heliocentric system.
Bagels were invented in Poland? This bread roll which nowadays is especially popular in and associated with North America was first mentioned in a Jewish source from Krakow in 1610. Today, Krakow still has a similar speciality called obwarzanek.
Poland is a stronghold of jazz? During the Cold War, American jazz music was a symbol of the desire for freedom and a different lifestyle in many Eastern Bloc countries, including Poland. The communist authorities eyed jazz with suspicion, so Poles initially played it in secret, developing their own style. The genre is still very popular today and is often played in bars.
name days are more important than birthdays in Poland? In the Catholic tradition, a female and a male saint's name are assigned to every day of the year. In the past, children were named after the saints of their birthday. Today, Poles choose their children’s names freely and just celebrate both days. An advantage to the name day: You just need to have a look at any Polish calendar to know when to congratulate whom.
that moose and European bison live in Poland, which is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in Europe? Poland provides habitats for many rare animals, also including brown bears, lynxes, beavers, and wolves. One of the last primeval forests in Europe (in Białowieża National Park) counts among their refuges. Poland, with its many lakes and wetlands, is also the most important European breeding ground for migratory birds.

River in the light of sunset, Białowieża National Park

Cooperation with TU Dresden

You can find an overview of all cooperations of TU Dresden that you can use for your exchange in our database. Our cooperations with Polish partner universities are part of Erasmus+. It is also often worth your time to ask professors in your own faculty who might have direct contacts to your partner university of choice.

There are attractive scholarships of the Community for Student Exchange in Central and Eastern Europe specifically for Poland, which can be used both for exchange semesters and for internships.

Universities in Wrocław

Wroclaw University of Technology
- Mathematics
- Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Mechanical Engineering (faculty)
- Architecture
- Civil Engineering
Uniwersytet Wroclawski
- German Language and Literature
- Political Science
- Communication Science
- Computer Science
- Biology
- History of Art
- Physics
- History
- Slavic Studies
- Sociology
- Geosciences
- International Relations
Universytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu
- Social and Business Studies
- Business Administration and Economics
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences
- Landscape Architecture
- Geosciences
Akademia Medyczna im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu
- Medicine
- Dental medicine
Dolnośląska Szkola Wyższa: General Education Science

Universities in Kraków

Uniwersytet Jagielloñski
- History
- Communication Science
- Business Administration and Economics
Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie
- Physics
- Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Materials Science
- Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology
Politechnika Krakowska
- Landscape Architecture
- Architecture
Uniwersytet Rolniczy im. Hugona Kołłątaja w Krakowie: Forestry

Universities in Warsaw

University of Warsaw
- Business Administration and Economics
- American and British Studies
Warsaw University of Technology
- Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology
Uniwersytet Kardynala Stefana Wyszyñskiego w Warszawie
- Catholic Theology
- Forestry
Swps Uniwersytet Humanistycznospoleczny: Psychology
National Defence University: Transport Engineering

Universities in Gdańsk

Uniwersytet Gdański
- Transport and Economics
- Hydro Sciences
Politechnika Gdanska: Materials Science

Universities in Poznań

Uniwersytet Im. Adama Mickiewicza
- Slavic Studies
- Business Administration and Economics
Poznan University of Economics: International Relations
Poznan University of Life Sciences: Forestry
Akademia Medyczna im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu: Medicine

Other locations

Szczecin University (Western Poland): History
University of Zielona Góra (Western Poland): German as a Foreign Language
Politechnika Śląska (in Gliwice, Southern Poland): Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology
Uniwersytet Slaski (in Katowice, Southern Poland): Psychology
Academy of Business in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Southern Poland): Business Administration and Economics
Uniwersytet Lódzki (in Łódź, Central Poland): Slavic Studies
Lublin University of Technology (Eastern Poland): Mechanical Engineering (faculty)
Białystok University of Technology (Eastern Poland): Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology

Don't miss...

Great fortress built of bricks, with a river in the foreground

Malbork Castle is a World Heritage Site and the largest fortress in the world, founded in the 13th century by the knights of the Teutonic Order. Today, there is a lot to explore among its many towers, bridges and palaces in brick Gothic style. On guided tours, you can also visit the interior and its various exhibitions, including a famous collection of amber. Every year in July, Malbork is the scene for Poland's largest medieval fair, with a reenactment of the castle siege. Our partner city of Gdańsk is close by, with a direct train connection to Malbork.

Dwarf figurine riding a pidgeon, next to a real pigeon

Gnome hunting. Hundreds of little bronze gnomes hide in the corners of Wrocław, some in plain sight, some well concealed. They are up to mischief, climbing up lampposts or sleeping, posing as rubbish collectors, prisoners, or tourists. When gnome hunting, you can discover what else they are up to. The gnomes are a monument to the Orange Alternative, a 1980s protest movement that poked fun at the communist regime in a whimsical way. They started out by drawing gnomes on top of covered-up anti-regime slogans.

Krakow. Poland's former capital is now a lively student city and the country's cultural hub. During the day, you can stroll through the historic old town and admire its many Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Don't forget to see the magnificently painted interior of St. Mary's Basilica. In the evenings, Krakow's nightlife attracts visitors with countless events and live music bars. In the Kazimierz district, you can learn about Krakow's Jewish history and visit the museum of Oskar Schindler's factory. You can also take an informative and moving day trip to the former Auschwitz concentration camp.

Poland's Sahara. The mighty shifting sand dunes of Słowiński National Park on the Baltic Sea coast near Gdańsk are unique in Europe. Reaching heights of up to 40 metres they move, driven by the sea wind, several metres inland each year, where they swallow up the surrounding forests. The dunes are of course the park's highlight and are best reached on foot or by bike from Łeba. But the national park is also worth a visit apart from the dunes. On its hiking trails, you can discover marshland, forests, lakes and rivers and enjoy birdwatching.

A crate full of St. Martin's Croissants from Poznań

St. Martin's Croissants. Our partner city of Poznań is known for celebrating St. Martin's Day on November 11th with parades, fireworks and specialty pastries. Around 700,000 croissants, stuffed with a mix of poppy seed and nuts, are consumed during the holiday. Fortunately, they are also available throughout the year. In Poznań's Croissant Museum, you can learn about the croissant tradition and recipe in an entertaining way - and gain a certificate allowing you to bake the protected heritage treat yourself.

Let's get cooking...

Pierogi are probably the most famous Polish dish. Potatoes and cheese, cabbage and mushrools, and meat are the classic types of filling for these delicious dumplings - and typical ingredients of Polish cuisine. Pierogi are so important that they even have their own patron saint.

Hollowed-out loaves of bread often serve as the bowl for Polish soups, such as sour, flour-based Żurek, or Bigos, a hearty stew of cabbage and meat. Many typical dishes show similarities to Eastern German cuisine, with specialties such as stuffed cabbage rolls or beef rolls, schnitzel-like kotlet schabowy, and many kinds of potato dumplings. A go-to meal for parties of any kind is Polish potato salad, salatka jarzynowa.

Poland, like Russia, claims to be the cradle of vodka, and the Polish consume a lot of it. However, the most popular alcoholic drink is beer, often sweetened with raspberry or ginger syrup.

Kluski z makiem - sweet poppy seed pasta

This popular Christmas dessert - one of traditionally 12 courses on Christmas Eve - may be a bit out of time in April. The unusual combination of noodles and sweet poppy seeds comes from Silesia, a region nowadays largely located in Poland, whose cultural heritage also lives on in neighbouring countries. This recipe uses homemade noodles, but store-bought pasta or Schupfnudeln work as well. For summer, Poland also has a popular sweet pasta dish with strawberries and cream.

Ingredients:

For the pasta dough:

320 g wheat flour
115 ml hot water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small egg
a pinch of salt

For the sauce:

300 g sweet poppy seed paste (from the baking section)
dried fruit and nuts to your liking – e.g. raisins, almonds, candied orange peel, figs
½ cup of sweet cream

Preparation:

1. Put all the pasta ingredients into a bowl. Mix everything together and knead it into a dough, preferably by hand. The dough should be soft, malleable, and elastic. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and leave to rest for 20 minutes.

2. Sprinkle a countertop or table with flour, put the dough there and sprinkle it with flour as well. Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 2 mm. To make this easier, you can also section the dough and roll the sections out one by one. Then cut the dough into wide strips with a knife. Sprinkle with flour to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

3. Chop the dried fruit and nuts.

4. Put the poppy seed paste in a saucepan with ½ cup of sweet cream and heat slowly, stirring until well combined.

5. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Then add the pasta and stir to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. The pasta is done when it rises to the surface (after about 3-4 minutes). Use a sieve, slotted spoon or something similar to get the pasta out of the water.

6. Immediately mix the warm pasta with the poppy seed mixture. Garnish with the dried fruit and nuts. Smacznego!

(Many thanks to aniagotuje.pl!)

Contact and further contact persons

Have you had great experiences in Poland? Do you have tips for places and things that should not be missed? We would be happy to share your experiences either here, on Facebook or, if you want, in an online information event for other TUD students. Get in touch with us:

Advice on studying abroad

Ms Federica Serra

Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America

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Contact Information

International Office

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Visiting address:

Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6

01069 Dresden

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Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office

01062 Dresden

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Office hours:

Tuesday:: 10:00 - 12:00; 13:00 - 15:00

Please register at the SCS (FOE, floor 0).

Office hours by phone:

Thursday:: 10:00 - 12:00

Do you want to get first-hand information?

Would you like to know more about Poland? Ask our regional ambassadors - TUD alumni who are active in many countries around the world and can give you information and advice for your stay.

Getting in touch is very easy: On this interactive world map, markers indicate the cities where our regional ambassadors live. There is a short profile with contact information for each one.