4-WEEK INTENSIVE POLISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY

TORUN

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Picturesquely situated on the Vistula River in northern Poland, Torun makes an unforgettable impression on visitors. The city is filled with quaint medieval cobblestone streets winding around the ruins of a 13th-century castle built by the Teutonic Knights. Its well-preserved architecture includes examples of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-Gothic buildings. Because of its architectural variety and beauty, Torun was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. It is also famous for being the birthplace and childhood home of the renowned astronomer Mikolaj Kopernik (Nicolas Copernicus).

Nicolas Copernicus University (NCU) is the largest academic center in northern Poland with over 42,000 students. The university’s international reputation, especially in the sciences, attracts both research scientists and students from all over the globe. NCU was established in 1945, but its roots go back to the 16th century when it started as a school that educated the youth of that time period. Modern-day Torun, with over 220,000 inhabitants, is not only a university town but also an important cultural center. Numerous museums, galleries and, above all, a variety of cultural events contribute to this Gothic city’s unique atmosphere.

DATES & FEES

Dates July (to be announced) September (to be announced)

Fees $3,300

What’s included in the $3,300 program fee:

Tuition and fees

The program includes full tuition and fees at Nicolas Copernicus University.

Official transcript

One to two months after completing the program, we’ll send your home university an official transcript from Nicolas Copernicus University, which is accredited by the Polish Ministry of Education. This allows you to transfer credit back to your university. The transcript contains the course title, grade, and number of hours for each course.

Housing and meals in a university residence hall

During the program you’ll live in a double room in a residence hall in Torun. This is a great way to meet Polish students and get involved in student activities. Two meals a day are also included. At the beginning of the program you’ll receive meal tickets for the student cafeteria.

On-site program director (24-hour support)

Throughout the program, you’ll receive on-site support from the Program Director. The director will meet you at the airport, lead the orientation session, organize activities, and be available 24-hours a day.

Airport transfers

You should fly into Warsaw’s international airport (Frederic Chopin Airport), where you will attend a 3-day orientation session before departing for Torun. Your Program Director will meet you at the airport and organize all airport transfers. At the end of the program, the Director will also take you to Warsaw’s airport before departure.

In-country orientation

You’ll take part in a 3-day orientation session in Warsaw at the beginning of the program. The Program Director will provide you with helpful advice and tips for living in Torun, review the schedule of activities for the program, distribute cell phones, and teach a survival Polish class.

Free use of pre-paid cell phone

During the orientation session you’ll be provided with a cell phone and a number of initial minutes. You’ll be responsible for recharging your phone with minutes. A cell phone is a great way to keep in touch with your friends and family back home. Also, text messaging is a popular and economical way to communicate with your friends in Poland.

Transportation pass

To help you travel smoothly around Torun, we’ll provide you with a transportation pass that can be used on all buses and trams.

Free Internet access

You’ll receive free access to the computer room at the residence hall.

Extra-curricular activities

Extra-curricular activities will be planned throughout the program. These activities are designed to help you get to know Torun and the Polish culture better. For many of the activities the Program Director will invite local Polish students. Some sample activities include: a tour of Torun, a bonfire, pierogi tasting, a boat ride on the Vistula River, a trip to the planetarium, museums, concerts, and many more. You’ll receive a schedule of activities during the orientation session. All activity fees are included in the program price.

During the program two excursions will be organized: one to Gniezno, Biskupin and Kruszwica, and another one to the Teutonic Knight’s castle in Malbork.

Health insurance

You’ll be provided with health and accident coverage through HTH Worldwide Insurance. The HTH U.S. Study Abroad Health Plan is designed especially for U.S. Study Abroad students, and provides 100,000 USD of coverage. HTH has a list of approved doctors and health facilities in Torun. Your policy information will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

What’s not included in the program fee:

• spending money

• pre-paid phone cards for your cell phone (we provide you with an initial amount of minutes)

• round-trip airfare to Poland

• one meal a day

COURSES & DESCRIPTIONS

The intensive Polish language course is taught on different levels by experienced and competent teachers. If you are a beginner, it will allow you to quickly learn the basics of the language, necessary in some important communication situations (conversations at the post office, the train station, at the doctor’s, shopping, asking for directions, etc.). More advanced students will have a chance to develop their speaking, reading, writing and grammar skills.

The classes are held on the main campus of Nicolas Copernicus University. The Center of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners is located in Collegium Maius, a historic building which initially served as the administrative offices for the university, and which today houses the university's Faculty of Languages. Collegium Maius is situated on the edge of Torun's historic Old Town, which makes it an attractive meeting place for people interested in art and literature. Student residence halls, cafeterias, and clubs are all within easy reach of Collegium Maius.

The classes start at 8:30 AM and last 5 teaching hours. In addition, twice a week students can participate in lectures on Polish social and political life, Polish culture and literature, taught in English. In the afternoons there are a variety of cultural and social events.

You can earn 5 semester/8 quarter credits.

TRANSFER CREDIT

Nicolas Copernicus University is fully accredited by the Polish Ministry of Education. Most colleges and universities allow you to transfer credit from courses taken abroad. Before applying it’s important to speak with the study abroad advisor at your home institution to obtain pre-approval for your courses and determine how many credits you’ll receive. Every educational institution has different policies about transferring credit, so we encourage you to follow your institution’s regulations. Usually the number of credits that you receive depends on the number of teaching hours. Following the American system, we suggest awarding 1 semester credit for every 15 hours of class time or 1 quarter credit for every 10 hours of class time.

After completing the program, we’ll send your registrar or study abroad advisor an official transcript with the course titles, course hours, and grades. Your university will need this transcript to transfer credit. You can earn 5 semester/8 quarter credits.

HOUSING

During the program you’ll live in a double room in a residence hall in Torun, close to the university. In your room you’ll have your own bed, desk, chair, closet, and bookshelves, and each room has its own bathroom and shared kitchen facilities. Single rooms are available for an additional fee. The residence hall also includes a laundry room (coin-operated washers and dryers). Living in a residence hall is a great way to meet Polish students and get involved in student life!

Two meals a day are also included. At the beginning of the program you’ll receive meal tickets for the student cafeteria.

HOW TO APPLY

The program is open to US and Canadian undergraduate students. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Application Deadlines

May 15 (for the program in July)

July 15 (for the program in September)

Late applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applying for our programs is simple! Fill out the on-line application form and wait for more information from us.

ON-LINE APPLICATION FORM

PASSPORTS & VISAS

All US and Canadian citizens need passports to travel to Poland. If you don’t have a passport yet, you should apply for one as soon as possible. The application process could take a long time. For more information on applying:

American students should visit:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Canadian students should visit: http://www.ppt.gc.ca

If you already have a passport, you should check to make sure it is valid at least 6 months after the program ends.

Summer students do not need a visa.

FINANCIAL AID

It is possible to transfer your financial aid to pay for some or all of the program costs. The first step is to check with your home institution’s financial aid advisor before applying. Since every home institution has different rules, only your advisor can tell you what kind of aid can transfer. Study Abroad Poland is happy to provide you with a certificate of enrollment or any other documents that your university might require.

The International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC) provides student loans for you who are interested in studying abroad. Please visit their website for more details: http://www.iefc.com

Another lender providing loans for study abroad programs is My Rich Uncle Education Finance: http://www.myrichuncle.com

SAMPLE BUDGET

As part of your program fee, Study Abroad Poland pays for your tuition & fees, housing, 2 meals a day, on-site staff, health insurance, use of a pre-paid cell phone, transportation pass, and scheduled extra-curricular activities and excursions.

You are responsible for paying for the following:

• meals (one meal per day)

• spending money

• round-trip airfare to Poland

• textbooks (including photocopies and readers)

• additional travel

• pre-paid phone cards for your cell phone (we provide you with an initial amount of minutes)

Here is a suggested budget:

Meals (one meal a day)	150 USD
Airfare (round-trip from the US or Canada)	800-1000 USD (depending on the city)
Additional Travel	100-300 USD (depending on how much you want to travel)
Personal Expenses	200 USD
Total	1,250-1,650 USD