Poland: Europe's new university destination?

By Anthony Ash. Studying in Poland is far cheaper than going to a UK institution – but this isn't the only reason to travel east. From its gingerbread treats to restaurants and pubs, Polish culture has become a part of British life. Around 579,000 Polish-born people have moved to live in the UK – all during the lifetime of today's 18-year-old university applicants. But will the increasing ties between Poles and Brits encourage more school-leavers to travel eastwards to study?
Poland – hardly a top choice for international students – is currently trying to rebrand itself as Europe's new educational destination. It has long lagged behind other countries in terms of attracting students from abroad. At the moment foreign students account for only 1.39% of those attending Polish universities, with most of these students coming from Ukraine, Belarus and Norway. The number of British students enrolling at Polish universities is growing, but it remains small. In 2006-07 only 72 studied there, a figure which stood at 164 in 2010-11. Read more...