History of Wroclaw Medical University

Wrocław is the city of rich medical tradition. The first hospital was founded in the 13th century but teaching of medicine started in the 19th century. However, many famous doctors educated in different European cities had lived in Wrocław before. In 1745 the first medical school – Collegium Medico−−Chirurgicum – was established and in 1811 citizens of the city organized foundation of the University of Wrocław as the result of a merge of the local theology school (Academia Leopoldina) and the University of Frankfurt on Oder (“Viadrina”). At the end of the 19th century (1886–1909) the clinics and the department’s buildings were built and many of them are still in use. The second half of the 19th and the beginning of 20th century are known as the gold period of the Medical Faculty in Wrocław. During the II World War the University as well as the whole city was almost totally destroyed. Three months after the end of the II World War the first institutions of higher education were established in Wrocław. The Medical Faculty was one of the six university faculties. Many staff members who came to Wrocław were graduated from the Jan Kazimierz University of Lvov and the University of Vilnius. Wrocław medical school is continuing the best Lvov and Vilnius tradition. In 1950, the Medical Faculty of the Wrocław University became an independent school and was named the Wroclaw Medical University consisting of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Famous scientists who worked for Wroclaw Medical University

JAN EWANGELISTA PURKYNE – physiologist (1787–1869), the Head of the Institute of Physiology, the University of Wrocław in 1823–1850. Most of his scientific findings was done during his work in the University of Wrocław. He received the position of the Professor and the Head of the first autonomous experimental unit in Germany.

CARL WERNICKE – neurologist and psychiatrist, 1890–1904 professor in the University of Wrocław.

ALOIS ALZHEIMER – neurologist and psychiatrist who worked as the medical director of the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry and Neurology. He presented his findings regarding degeneration of brain cortex (Alzheimer’s Disease) at the beginning of 20th century. His house still exists at Bujwida St. 44.

JOHAN PFANNENSTIELOW – performed the first Caesarean in the world in St. Elisabeth hospital.

ROBERT KOCH – creator of modern bacteriology.

PAUL ERLICH – bacteriologist. He was the pioneer of present chemotherapy, obtained Nobel Prize in 1908.

LEOPOLD AUERBACH – pathologist (Auerbach’s plexus).

ALBERT NEISSER – (1855–1916) dermatologist, professor of the University in Wrocław from 1882. In 1879 he discovered a bacteria called after his name Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

ALBRECHT THEODOR MIDDELDORPH – professor of surgery, inventor of triangle dressing.

JAN MIKULICZ−RADECKI – professor of surgery. He studied and worked at the beginning of his career in Vienna under the supervision of Theodor Billroth. Mikulicz−Radecki lived and worked in Wrocław for the last 15 years of his life. Mikulicz together with his student Ferdynand Sauerbruch were pioneers of thoracosurgery.

LUDWIK HIRSZFELD – microbiologist, discovered one of the bacteria causing parathyphus called Salmonella hirsfeldi and also established the basis of the blood groups science.

WIKTOR BROSS – surgeon, in 1958 performed the first operation on the open heart in Poland. In 1965, he transplanted the kidney from the cadaver body and in 1966 from a living donor which marked the very beginning of the Polish transplantology. He was the first physician in Poland to excise the abdominal aortic aneurism.

HUGON KOWARZYK – pathophysiologist, presented an innovatory work on blood coagulability, fibrynolysis and the proteasic nature of thrombin.

ZYGMUNT ALBERT, TADEUSZ BARANOWSKI, EDWARD SZCZEKLIK, APOLINARY SZEWCZUK – researchers in biochemistry and immunology.

STEFAN ŚLOPEK – bacteriologist.

BOGUSŁAW BOBRAŃSKI – pharmacist, investigated chemistry of drugs.

Nowadays, the Wroclaw Medical University is an active centre of medical student education in wide range of scientific activities and highly specialized clinical services for the Lower Silesia. The Wroclaw Medical University consists of 5 faculties which carry out educational and scientific activities at many departments and university hospitals. Altogether, 818 academic professors and teachers work in our Medical University. Among the staff there are 64 full academic professors, 60 associate professors, 474 lecturers and 220 assistant lecturers. In the academic year 2005/2006 over 5100 students commenced or continued their studies.

Academic Press

The Wroclaw Medical University has been publishing the scientific periodic: Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine www.advances.am.wroc.pl, Dental and Medical Problems www.dmp.am.wroc.pl and Polymers in Medicine www.polimery.am.wroc.pl. Our University has also its own monthly bulletin Gazeta Uczelniana www.gazeta.am.wroc.pl, bringing news from the academic life of the university. There is also a periodic Bakcyl (Bacillus) www.bakcyl.am.wroc.pl published by the Students’ Self−Government Association. If you want to be a journalist of academic press please contact the Association. You can write the articles either in English or Polish.

Statutory activities

• Teaching of students in the field of medicine and preparing for the following professions: physician, dentist, pharmacist, medical analyst, nurse, obstetrician, physiotherapeutist, emergency medical technician and others.
• Research activities.
• Diagnostic and clinical treatment.

Faculties

Faculty of Medicine
ul. Mikulicza−Radeckiego 5
50−345 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 11 67
fax: +48 71 784 11 67
e−mail: dziekan@dwl.am.wroc.pl 

Faculty of Dentistry
ul. Krakowska 26
50−425 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 03 56
fax: +48 71 784 01 18
e−mail: stomat@dwl.am.wroc.pl

Faculty of Pharmacy
pl. Nankiera 1
50−140 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 02 01
fax: +48 71 784 02 00
e−mail: farm@bf.am.wroc.pl

Faculty of Public Health
ul. K. Bartla 5
51−618 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 341 95 33
fax: +48 71 341 91 07
e−mail: bartla@wzp.am.wroc.pl  

Faculty of Postgraduate Education
ul. Mikulicza−Radeckiego 5
50−345 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 00 39
fax: +48 71 784 11 55
e−mail: dwlkp@dwl.am.wroc.pl

Organisational Units

International Relations Office
ul. Chalubinskiego 6a
50−368 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 11 44
fax: +48 71 784 00 33
e−mail: grasza@zagr.am.wroc.pl  

Main Library
ul. Parkowa 1/3
51−616 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 348 30 22
fax: +48 71 347 93 25
e−mail: biuro@biblio.bg.am.wroc.pl  

Foreign Languages Department
ul. Mikulicza−Radeckiego 7
50−345 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 14 81
fax: +48 71 784 14 82
e−mail: sjo@sjo.am.wroc.pl  

Physical Training Department
ul. Wojciecha z Brudzewa 12a
51−601 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 348 65 09

General description of courses
more detailed list might be found on website at www.am.wroc.pl  

MEDICINE
Year I
Biology, Anatomy, Chemistry, Histology, Human Embriology, Medical First Aid, History and Propaedeutics of Medicine, Medical Psychology, Sociology, Medical Computer Science, Latin Language, Foreign Language, Physical Training
Year II
Clinical Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Histology and Cytology, Physiology, Preventive Medicine, Foreign Language
Year III
Pathomorphology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Genetics, Medical Microbiology, Immunology, Internal Diseases (Propaedeutics), Propaedeutics of Paediatrics, Laboratory Diagnostics
Year IV
Internal Diseases, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Skin and Veneral Diseases, Pharmacology with Toxicology, Environmental Medicine with Elements of Epidemiology, Radiology and Image Diagnostics, Biostatistics, Nuclear Medicine
Year V
Internal Diseases, Phthisiatry, Paediatrics, Paediatric Surgery, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Infectious and Parasitic Childhood Diseases, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Neurology, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation, Psychiatry
Year VI
Paediatrics, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Neonatology, Resuscitation and Anaesthesiology, Ophthalmology, Otolaringology, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine with Basis of Law, Propaedeutics of Dentistry, Oncology, Ethics, Bioethics and Deontology, Clinical Pharmacology, Family Medicine, Palliative Medicine, Public Health

DENTISTRY
Year I
Biology, Normal Anatomy, Chemistry, Histology, Embriology, Medical Psychology, Biophysics, Morphology of teeth, Use of scientific literature, First Medical Aid, Medical Informatics, Latin Language, Foreign Language, Physical Training
Year II
Biochemistry, Social Dentistry, Histology and Cytophysiology, Physiology, Physiology of Masticatory System, Ergonomics in Dentistry, Dental Materials, Restorative Dentistry and Preclinical Endodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Foreign Language, Physical Training
Year III
Pathological Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Immunology, General Oncology, Optional Subject, Restorative Dentistry, Biostatistics, Physiotherapy, Medical Ethics, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Dental Radiology
Year IV
Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Paediatrics, General Surgery, General Radiology, Ophthalmology, Paedodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Neurology, Orthodontics, Disaster Medicine, Physiology of Pregnancy, Periodontology, Functional Disturbances of Masticatory System
Year V
Restorative Dentistry, Paedodontics, Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Anaesthesiology and Resuscitations, Orthodontics, Clinical Radiology, Oral Pathology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Otolaringology, Forensic Medicine, Oncology, Clinical Pharmacology, Optional Course, Management and Economy of Health

PHARMACY
Year I
Inorganic Chemistry, Biology with Genetics and Parasitology, Physiology, Human Anatomy, Mathematics, Statistics, Microbiology, Sociology, Ethics, Biophysics, Philosophy, Introduction to Computer Science, Foreign Language, Physical Training
Year II
Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Botany, Ecology, Foreign Language, Physical Training
Year III
Biochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry of Drugs, Drug Dispensing Technology, Foreign Language
Year IV
Drugs Formulation Technology, Drugs Technology, Bromatology, Environmental Medicine and Prevention, Natural Drugs, Pathophysiology with Pathomorphology, Pharmacodynamics, History of Pharmacy, First Aid Procedures, Basics of Computer Science
Year V
Biopharmacy, Applied Pharmacy, Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Pharmacoeconomics, Computer Programmes for Pharmacy, Practical Training in Pharmacy

MEDICAL ANALYTICS
Year I
Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Genetics, Biophysics, Statistics, Anatomy, Histology, Physiology, Sociology, Parasitology, English Language, Physical Training, Optional Courses
Year II
Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology and Genetics, Physiology, Immunology, Parasitologic Diagnostics, Instrumentation, Computer Science, English Language, Physical Training, Optional Courses
Year III
Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Chemistry Part I, Pathomorfology, Pathophysiology, Blood Banking, Immunopathology, Hygiene with Epidemiology, Molecular Biology, General Clinical Analysis, Scientific Medical Information, Optional Courses, Clinical Rotation−Blood Banking
Year IV
Clinical Chemistry, Pharmacology, First Aid Procedures, Haematology, Toxicology, Hygiene with Epidemiology, Foreign Language, Radioisotope Diagnosis, Microbiology, Clinical Rotation−Clinical Biochemistry and Haematological Laboratory
Year V
Laboratory Diagnostic, Propedeutics of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Organisation of Laboratory, Organisation of Public Health, Clinical Genetics

Curriculum of courses to be studied at faculty of public health might be found on website www.am.wroc.pl/programy  

Student organizations www.am.wroc.pl/student/orgstud.html  

Students’ Self−Government www.samorzad.am.wroc.pl The major student organization in the Wroclaw Medical University. SSG helps to every student with any problem of the study process. The Students’ Self−Government members take part in university commission of didactics, social matters, statue, publishing, discipline, finance and budget. The Students’ Self−Government organizes “Medicalia” – traditional students’ festivity. The organization prepares the orientation camp for newcomers (freshmans) and publishes newspaper “Bakcyl”.

Student Science Association www.stn.am.wroc.pl
Develops theoretical and practical knowledge of every student−member. SSA helps to improve the science skills.

The Academic Choir of Wroclaw Medical University www.chor.am.wroc.pl
Set up by Agnieszka Franków−Żelazny, graduate of the Wrocław Musical University and the Wrocław University is based on students from WMU. The choir performed concerts in many Polish cities and abroad in Slovakia, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, Hungary and Lithuania. The academic choral group is the artistic cooperator of the Lower Silesia Opera and the winner of many prestigious prizes. The choir performs concerts during the academic symposiums, events and messes in churches.

Polish Association of Dentistry Students www.ptss.pl/wroclaw
Represents dentistry students. PADS is the cooperator of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS).

Lower Silesia Medical Analitics Forum www.fda.am.wroc.pl
Gathers medical analitics students and graduates. LSMAF represents the group of young people who want to work in this specific branch of pharmacy. The organization prepares stages, practices and academic science meetings. LSMAF is supported by the National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnostics, The Polish Association of Laboratory Diagnostics and the magazine “The Laboratory Diagnost”.

Forum Medicum www.forummedicum.pl
The Association of Polish Medical University students and graduates. FM is the organizer of many academic events and students meetings in the Wroclaw Medical University.

International Federation of Medical Students’ Association www.ifmsa.pl
The biggest student organization of 2 million members from 91 countries. IFMSA organizes a lot of medical events in the Wroclaw Medical University – for example Save the smile, Teddy bear under the hospital Christmas tree, Women in red etc. The students united in IFMSA go to many exotic countries: Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Brazil etc. for international science change and medical experience. The structure of IFMSA is based on six Standing Committees: SCOPH (Public Health), SCOME (Medical Education), SCOPE (Professional Exchange), SCORA (Reproductive health including AIDS), SCORE (Research Exchange) and SCORP (Refugees and Peace). IFMSA cooperates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is a partner of the United Nations agendas: UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNIDS, UNFPA.

Independent Students’ Union (NZS) www.nzs.am.wroc.pl
Historically famous organization standing against totalitary system in the early 80’s. Nowadays, democratic student organization if full of young, lively people who want to change the world. NZS is known as the organizer of honorable bloodgiving called “Wampiriada” in the Wroclaw Medical University.

Academic Sport Association www.azs.pl (AZS)
The biggest sport students’ association in Poland. AZS works for development of sport culture and healthy lifestyle. AZS coordinates professional student sport events in Polish universities. AZS works for physiotherapy of handicapped students. The Association develops practical knowledge of the recreation, leisure and the environment.

Young Pharmacy www.farma.topus.pl/mlodafarmacja
The organization of pharmacy students is cooperator of the Polish Pharmaceutical Association, the Lower Silesia Chamber of Pharmacy, the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) and the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA). The Young Pharmacy develops knowledge of wide range scientific aspects of the pharmaceutical field.

Socrates/Erasmus at Wroclaw Medical University The Socrates/Erasmus programme was launched in Poland in 1998. The Wroclaw Medical University has joined the programme since the very beginning of its existance. It covers activities such as the exchange of students (including PhD students) and academic teachers. There have been 34 Socrates/Erasmus agreements implemented at our university.

COORDINATORS OF SOCRATES/ERASMUS PROGRAMME

Institutional Coordinator
Marcin STAŃDA MD, PhD
Department of Physiology
ul. Chałubińskiego 10
50−368 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 14 25
e−mail: mstanda@fizjo.am.wroc.pl

Departamental Coordinators
Medicine
Tomasz PIETRASZKIEWICZ MD, PhD
Department of Physiology
ul. Chałubińskiego 10
50−368 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 14 25
e−mail: tpietra@fizjo.am.wroc.pl

Dentistry
Hanna GERBER−LESZCZYSZYN MD, PhD
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery
ul. Chałubińskiego 5
50−368 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 22 61
e−mail: hanna.gerber@wp.pl

Pharmacy
Adam KOWALCZYK PhD
Department of Pharmacognosy
pl. Nankiera 1
50−140 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71 784 02 22, 784 02 25
e−mail: akow2@poczta.onet.pl

Public Health
Magdalena MILAN MD, PhD
Department of Clinical Nursing
ul. K. Bartla 5
51−618 Wrocław
tel.: +48 71341 91 07 ext. 120
e−mail: ememsik@poczta.onet.pl

Administrative guidance is provided in:
Socrates/Erasmus office at English Division
ul. Chalubinskiego 6a
50−368 Wroclaw
tel.: +48 71 784 15 58
fax: +48 71 784 15 56
e−mail: erasmus@zagr.am.wroc.pl

Enrollment with regards to Socrates/Erasmus students

Each applicant must be a student of a partner university which has signed a Socrates/Erasmus agreement with the WMU. Such a student is addmited with no charge. The language of instruction is mainly Polish. However, the students who are willing to study either medicine or dentistry may join classes at the English Division providing there are courses available. The students may also follow an individual programme after having agreed its content with a departamental coordinator. In other cases students should have a good command of Polish language. Information about courses is available on the following web pages:
http://www.am.wroc.pl/programy.html
http://www.am.wroc.pl/ang/studia.html

To get further information students should contact departamental coordinators.

The documents to be sent to the Socrates/Erasmus office at the English Division are:

• application form,
• learning agreement,
• accommodation form.

Once all documents have been submitted and approved the students will receive the acceptance and more information about the stay. Upon arrival students should come to the English Division (Socrates/Erasmus office) and then to departamental coordinators in order to plan their studies. As soon as the student’s statut is confirmed in the Dean’s Office the student will follow courses and obtain a student identity card which entitles to public means of transport discount.

English Division

There have been introduced programmes of studies in English at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the Wroclaw Medical University.

Admission criteria

Medical studies in English at the Wroclaw Medical University are available only for the holders of a foreign country citizenship (but may be ethnically Polish).The candidates for the studies have to:

1. Pass the original high school diploma or certified copy of a sufficiently high standard, enabling them to enter the university medical school in their own country. That should be legalized by a Polish consulate in the country of student`s origin as the equivalent to Polish secondary school certificate also students with diploma from members of the Hague Conference on Private Law should also receive an apostille (www.hcch.net). Having received the documents, diploma will be then sent to grant an official recognition at Department of Education in Poland (Kuratorium Oswiaty).

2. Possess at high level an adequate knowledge of the studied subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics. This will be checked during the enrolment procedures including personal interview.

3. Prove to have a good command of both written and spoken English by providing a certificate (FCE, CAE, CPE, TOEFL) or any other document of reasonable proficiency in English.

4. Be preferably under 27 years of age.

All documents should be originals or certified copies (i.e. originally sealed and signed by the eligible institution/person). Deadline for the application: 30 July each year for the following academic year

The applicants are expected to submit the following documents:

• filled in application form
• filled in affidavit of citizenship
• school certificate
• High School Diploma (original) plus apostille (both with Polish translation)
• certificate from Polish embassy or consular office stating that student with that diploma is eligible to continue higher education (if not on diploma)
• English or Polish translation of the above document, translated and certified by a sworn translator or by the applicant’s school
• Medical Health Certificate form filled in by the applicant’s doctor
• English language certificate (as described above)
• photocopy of the applicant’s passport
• birth certificate (authenticated copy)
• 6 recent passport photographs passport size signed on the back (NO HEAD COVER, PLEASE)

All the above documents should be submitted to:

English Division
Chalubinskiego 6a
50−368 Wrocław, Poland
tel. +48/71/784−15−57
tel./fax +48/71/784−15−56
ed@adm.am.wroc.pl
ed−finance@adm.am.wroc.pl

Concerning applicants from the United States of America Wroclaw Medical University is recognized by:
United States Department of Education,
Federal Student Aid, Schools Channel
Attention: Foreign Schools Case Team Union
Center Plaza, 73C3
830 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20202−5340
ref. number: OPE ID 01233700
http://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw0506/fslookup.htm

According to the contract between the University and Selection Committee in Malmö, Medical Agency “Recomed” www.jedlinski.com is an Agency that is authorised to recruit medical students. Please, write a short statement (to the address below) concerning your previous study and personal data. The following points should be mentioned:

• full name,
• date and place of birth,
• present and permanent address, telephone and fax number,
• citizenship and nationality,
• additional education, complementary courses,
• any work experience in medicine and health,
• send also xerocopy of school certificates.

The Selection Committee will provide you with all information and counselling services when needed.

Phone or write to:
Mrs Barbara Jedlinska
Selection Committee
Truedsgatan 2−F
215 67 Malmö, Sweden
tel.: +46/40/926325
fax +46/40/928898
e−mail: sel.com@jedlinski.com

It does not apply to candidates of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Austria and Greece. Citizens of those countries should submit the documents to the Wroclaw Medical University (English Division) directly.

Payments

After receiving “Certificate of Enrolment” from the English Division, you are formally accepted as a student of the Faculty of Medicine or the Faculty of Dentistry. When you signed the application form, you agreed to abide by the curriculum regulations and undertook to make the necessary regular payments of the university fees.

Tuition fees

1. Admission Fee of 500 EUR paid by the end of June. This is only for the FIRST year students and is non−refundable.
2. Annual University Fee: Year of Study Tuition (EUR) 1- 12 000, 2- 8 000, 3- 8 000, 4- 8 000, 5-8 000, 6- 8 000; Total 52 000
3. Students transfered to the Wroclaw Medical University are obliged to pay the same fee as students for the first year. The tuition and admission fees from the students of the English programme should be paid directly to the Wroclaw Medical University in two instalments:
   • first instalment by 30th September each year
   • the second instalment anytime before the beginning of the second semester

Number of the account of the University:
Akademia Medyczna we Wroclawiu
address: Pasteura 1,
50−367 Wrocław, Poland
number of the account: PL 35 1500 1793 1217 9000 9997 0000
SWIFT code: KRDBPLPW
in Kredyt Bank SA, IV o/Wroclaw
address: Ofiar Oświęcimskich 41/43,
50−950 Wrocław, Poland

Do not forget to write ED or English Division on your bank payment.

Students recruited by “Recomed”:

The payments only for the first year in EUR should be transferred to the bank:

Account name:
MEDIEURO Ltd. Exeter
Barclays Bank, Exeter, England
BIC: Barc GB 22
IBAN: GB49 BARC 2030 4783 0846 00

It is worth remembering that the transfer may take more than one week. Do not forget to write your name on the bank money order. Keep your bank receipt as a proof of money transfer.

Assessment

The granding system is numerical (2–5) and literal Wroclaw Literal grade ECTS grade

Medical University grade
5 very good (bardzo dobry) A
4,5 better than good (ponad dobry) B
4 good (dobry) C
3,5 better than satisfactory (dośc dobry) D
3 satisfactory (dostateczny) E
2 unsatisfactory (niedostateczny) F
Zal. credited without marks (zaliczono) credit/approval

Academic year

The academic year usually starts at the beginning of October and finishes at the end of June. It is divided into two semesters, each lasting for 15 weeks. The winter semester starts in October and lasts until mid February with Christmas holidays of about ten days. The examination session usually lasts for two or three weeks beginning in late January. The summer semester starts in mid February and ends in June with a oneweek break for Easter. Summer holidays last for three months from the beginning of July to the end of September but only for those students who passed all exams during the summer examination session (lasting about two−three weeks in June). The ones who did not succeed take the exam(s) in September. Visa (coming to Poland−formalities)

EU/EEA citizens

An EU student can enter Poland with his/her ID document (a valid travel document e.g. passport) or another document certyfing his/her identity and citizenship. If a student intends to visit Poland’s neighbouring countries (not all of them are EU Member States), a passport is recommended. For stay up to 3 months no legalisation of stay is necessary. For stay exceeding 3 months an EU student has to obtain a temporary residence permit (Karta pobytu obywatela UE). In case of students the residence permit is issued for one year. The document is issued by the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Voivodeship Office (province administration, Urząd Wojewódzki). Temporary residence permit is granted to EU students who have health insurance and sufficient resources to cover their expenses without needing social security support. Documents that have to be submitted by the student to the Voivodeship Office in order to obtain the residence permit:

1. copy of travel document (passport or other ID document),
2. health insurance document,
3. official letter of acceptance from the Polish university (with information about the planned period of study),
4. declaration about sufficient resourses to cover the subsistence costs in Poland,
5. 2 photographs,
6. application form (wniosek o zezwolenie na pobyt, in Polish).

Non−EU/EEA citizens

Visa requirements. Students of a non−EU/EEA country can enter Poland on the basis of a valid travel document (passport) and a visa (if required). A student of a non−EU country has to obtain a visa from the consulate of Poland in his/her country of residence. A short−term visa entitles the holder to stay in Poland for up to 3 months, a long−term visa up to 1 year. Prolongation of a visa in Poland is possible only in cases of force majeure or situation impossible to foresee while applying for the visa in the consulate. The visa can be prolonged only once. Students coming for a period of study longer than 3 months are therefore obliged to apply for a visa in a consulate for the whole planned period of stay in Poland. Current information on existing regulations is available on the following website: www.msz.gov.pl

Health treatment

Students from EU/EEA countries

A student from a member country staying temporarily in the teritory of Poland is entitled to free health care on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card issued in home country. The student is obliged to present the card together with an identity document directly to the health care provider. The student can benefit from free health services at health care providers who have concluded a relevant contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ – Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia).

Students from non−EU/EEA countries

Students of a non−EU/EEA country should purchase health insurance in their home country before departure. Insurance might be included in international cards such as ISIC or EURO < 26. However, if someone wants to increase its scope or value there is need to buy another one.

Where to sleep?

The Wroclaw Medical University has own hostels and offers a room on arrival at a monthly cost approximately 200 EUR (single rooms, Jubilatka) and 80 EUR (double or triple rooms, Bliźniak). The price includes the use of pillows, blankets, linen, cost of gas and electricity, change of linen each month, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. Rooms are equipped with bed, overbed shelves, 2 chairs, wardrobe, table, desk, access to the internet, wash basin, shower (Jubilatka), bed sheets, blanket and pillow, bedside lamp, refrigerator, blinds. Bathrooms and toilets are available on each floor. A kitchen is also available on each floor equipped with a gas cooker and a sink. Kitchen utensils are not provided. There is also a laundry in the hostel available for the students.

Students' Hostel “Jubilatka”
Wojciecha z Brudzewa 10
51−601 Wrocław
tel. +48/71/348−54−10

Students’ Hotel “Bliźniak”
Wojciecha z Brudzewa 12
51−601 Wrocław
tel. +48/71/348−47−61

If you want to live outside of the academic campus see more at: www.terazwroclaw.pl
www.dlastudenta.pl/stancje
www.stancje.pl
www.wroclaw.gumtree.pl
www.stancje.manus.pl
www.stancje.wroclaw.pl
www.bank.stancji.pl
www.stancje.twoje.pl

Sport and leisure

The Physical Training Department is situated in the academic campus at Wojciecha z Brudzewa street near the Odra river. Every student of the first year has obligatory sport and recreation activities two houres a week during the academic year. For those students who can not take part in regular activities department prepared special program of reeducation training and gymnastics. There are wide range of sport activities offered to you such as: basketball, volleyball, handball, football (soccer), swimming, aerobics, badminton, athletics, ski, table tennis, tennis, paddle, climbing, self−defense, kick−boxing, body building, bike tourism, chess and bridge. Department organizes plenty of sport events for students and medical employees for example: Polish academic championships in tennis, basketball, table tennis, football (soccer), swimming and volleyball. The Physical Training Department also cooperates with the Academic Sport Association in Wrocław in plenty of students’ sport events.

Wrocław – one of the biggest cities in Poland

Some people say that Wrocław is the city of meetings, the city that develops people as well as the city of bridges being called “Venice of the East”. That is completely true. There are 650.000 people here living on 12 islands with 112 bridges on the 300 km square surface. The capital of the Lower Silesia has over 1000 years of tradition and culture. Our city is the place where the story of many nations crosses. You can feel the international character of the city on every street. People of many religions and countries exist together and share their everyday life. Wrocław lies on the crossroad of ancient market tracks. The city is a link of old and new, the east and the west tradition. The capital of the Lower Silesia is considered as the melting−pot which develops day after day. Wrocław is situated near three country borders of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. The city is full of many attractions. That is why, more than half a million tourists visit Wrocław every year. People here are friendly and open to news. Nobody said that we will tell you all the aspects of life in the city. You have to explore it by yourself. But remember! When you come back to your country, tell your Wrocław’s story to your friends as we did it for you.

Language

The Polish language belongs to the West Slavonic branch of Indo−European family languages. It has several dialects and it is regarded as rather difficult in terms of grammar and orthography. It is an inflected language with seven cases, three genders in the singular and two in the plural. Verbs are conjugated by person, tense, mood, voice and aspect. There are nasal vowels which is unique among Slavonic languages.

Weather

Poland has a moderate climate with both maritime and continental elements. Generally, in northern western Poland the climate is predominantly maritime, while the eastern part of the country has a distinctly continental climate with harsh winters and hot, dry summer. The long−awaited summer, with temperatures above 20°C, begins in May and is about four months long. The hottest month is July with the average temperature standing at 16–19°C. The hottest area is central and south−west Poland. Hot days, when the temperature excedees 25°C, occur from May to September. In autumn, the average temperature drops to between 5°C and 15°C. The coldest month in Poland is January. Cold continental air flowing in from the east in January makes the eastern part of Poalnd one of the coldest areas in the country. Sub−zero temperatures are recorded between November and March.

Money (currency)

The Polish currency is zloty (PLN). Convertible foreign currency can be exchanged to Polish Zlotys at banks, hotels, currency exchange offices and hotels. Credit cards are accepted in Poland.