Briac

Briac‘s experience

Politechnika Poznańska

The university:

Overall, my experience at university in Poland is very satisfactory. The equipment and facilities are adequate. The university is modern and well organised, with many buildings, even though, as a cybersecurity student, I only needed to visit two of them. My accommodation is in a dormitory a stone’s throw from the campus, which is very convenient.

The infrastructure on campus is also very good. The IT equipment is modern, with Juniper firewalls and Cisco switches available for my work. Wi-Fi, both in the boarding school and on campus, is reliable. What’s more, there are a number of relaxation areas, cafeterias and coffee machines providing a pleasant environment for students. The university also makes it easy to get organised, with an online teaching platform and a digital timetable.

Teaching:

My experience of teaching at university in Poland is very positive overall. Although some of the teachers don’t have a perfect command of English, their lessons are interesting and, above all, rich in technical knowledge. The practical work is a real asset, as it enables the subjects covered in class to be explored in greater depth. Generally speaking, the courses are interactive and well structured, with the exception of one module which lacks a little in the way of technical documentation and guidance.

The teachers are always available and sympathetic, which creates a reassuring framework in which to ask questions and make progress. At the same time, the other students, both Polish and international, are very welcoming and open, which makes integration easier. In fact, I didn’t notice any significant cultural differences between the Polish and French students.

The level of the courses is very balanced: they remain accessible while offering a good challenge. I was impressed by the many practical projects, including the creation of a web login system, data projects and methodological courses on writing theses. This enriching experience enabled me to combine theory and practice effectively.

I’d advise you to have a physical means of payment and not just a Revolut card on your phone.

A friend of mine broke his phone and couldn’t pay for anything.

Otherwise, it’s not too cold!

Bring an international bank card, as Poland’s currency is the zloty (PLN). The approximate exchange rate is 1 EUR = 4 PLN.

A building I can’t identify in Wrocław.

The tram is accessible everywhere and very affordable: 50 cents for 15 minutes if you are a student. On the whole, my experience at the boarding school was satisfactory, with a few special features worth noting.

The dormitory is located a stone’s throw from the campus, which is very convenient for getting to classes.

The dormitories are made up of small flats shared by three people. Each flat has bathroom facilities, a functional kitchen (without oven or microwave), a single room for one student and a room shared by two students. While the single room offers an intimate space, the shared room is more compact and lacks space for hanging laundry.

The ten-storey building has free washing machines on the odd-numbered floors, which is a real plus for students, although it has proved necessary to buy a clotheshorse.

Cleaning has to be done once a week, as the administration carries out regular checks.

Despite these requirements, the atmosphere remains friendly, with a school restaurant located right next to the boarding school, where a meal costs around €5. Although the staff do not always speak English, they are warm and welcoming.

ESN (Erasmus Student Network) offers a wide range of activities, including trips, museum visits, laser tag, pool tournaments, karaoke nights and much more.