The general principles governing the system of higher education and science in Poland are set out in the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science, as amended. The Act defines the mission and fundamental values that should guide the system. One of these values is the autonomy of universities, which are the main entities within the system. This means that each institution independently determines its detailed rules of operation within the framework of generally applicable law, in the form of internal legal acts such as statutes, regulations, and ordinances. Some of these documents are particularly important for the student community, and this article focuses on them.
Study Regulations – This document governs students’ rights and obligations, including the right to leave, excusing absences, obtaining an individual course of study, transferring and recognizing ECTS credits, or repeating courses and stages of study. It also contains information on the conditions that must be met to be admitted to an exam, the number of retake attempts available, and when a student is entitled to a board (committee) examination. The document also regulates the obligations of academic teachers, such as deadlines for presenting course assessment criteria, grading coursework, and providing access to assessed work. It is worth checking before each academic year whether any significant changes have been introduced to the Study Regulations.
Study Programme (Curriculum) – Young people often choose a field of study based on its name, but this does not mean that it will be the same at every university. To verify this, one should review the study programme, which specifies the knowledge, skills, and social competencies to be acquired. An exception applies to programmes with defined educational standards, such as those preparing for professions like doctor, architect, or teacher, which must comply with guidelines set out in the relevant regulation of the Minister. This document explains the learning outcomes to be achieved during the course of study, the subjects to be completed, the form in which classes will be conducted, the number of hours, and whether professional internships are required. The study programme also includes foreign language courses, physical education classes, elective courses, and possible specializations.
Syllabus / Course Description – This document outlines the scope of a specific course (or classes) and the conditions for passing it. According to the quality assurance standards of the Polish Accreditation Committee, it should be publicly available already at the recruitment stage. Students are usually informed about it before classes begin, and the document is typically available on the university’s website or in the university system, such as USOS.
Regulations on Student Benefits – This document sets out the rules for awarding the Rector’s scholarship, social scholarship, scholarship for students with disabilities, and emergency grants. From this regulation, you can learn how to submit applications, what documents must be provided to determine per capita family income, in what cases you may apply for an increased social scholarship, and which achievements increase your score for the Rector’s scholarship. It may also include information on the criteria for allocating places in student dormitories and the rules for their distribution. Information that changes frequently, such as scholarship amounts, is usually specified in a separate ordinance.
Additionally, at the university or within specific units such as a faculty or department, there may be documents regulating particular processes or rules. These include, for example:
- Rules for charging fees for educational services;
- Regulations for student professional internships;
- Diploma (graduation) procedures;
- Academic year organization;
- Laboratory safety rules;
- Regulations of student organizations.
Familiarity with the above documents in force at your university, and keeping track of any changes, will significantly facilitate your studies. It will help you avoid many misunderstandings and find solutions in difficult or conflict situations. I strongly encourage you to read them carefully!