Frequently asked questions
- What are the language requirements at the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU)?
- In which language can I pass my final exams at NCU?
- What do I need to do to apply for Erasmus scholarship at NCU?
- If the Erasmus agreement between Torun and my home university is in, say, History, will you allow me to follow courses in Economy or Literature at NCU?
- Will I have an academic coordinator at NCU?
- Where may I find information on the courses offered at NCU?
- Do you use the ECTS system?
- Should I come to NCU with the learning agreement signed by my home university?
- Who will sign my learning agreement and prepare a transcript of records at NCU?
- When should I arrive at NCU?
- What is the Orientation Week and is it obligatory?
- Who will help me find accommodation in Torun?
- Where and when can I get a key to my room in the student dormitory?
- Is there a student organisation helping international students at NCU?
- Will I have a Polish student who will help me during my stay in Torun?
- Where and how can I learn Polish?
- How should I plan my finances?
1. What are the language requirements at the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU)?
The language of instruction at NCU is mainly Polish. However, we provide international students with a special offer in foreign languages, usually in English. Students applying at NCU should have a knowledge of Polish or English at the level of B2 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
2. In which language can I pass my final exams at NCU?
It depends on the courses you follow at NCU and on professors themselves. Sometimes you attend classes in Polish, but you are allowed to pass your exams in English. We strongly recommend you discuss this matter with NCU professors at the beginning of your stay, when you choose your courses at different faculties.
3. What do I need to do to apply for an Erasmus scholarship at NCU?
First, you must check with your home university that both institutions have signed an Erasmus+ agreement.
Then, your home university must nominate you for this exchange, e.g. your coordinator writes an e-mail to the Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility - DIPEM ("Erasmus Office") including your name, e-mail, address etc.
Finally, you must fill in our online application form and have it signed by your home university and sent to our international office. More information here.
4. If the Erasmus agreement between Toruń and my home university is in, say, History, will you allow me to follow courses in Economy at NCU?
There are certain courses in foreign languages at many departments or faculties at NCU (e.g. history, political sciences, economy and management, law, humanities, earth sciences) which are available to all Erasmus students regardless of your major subject of studies. However, it is important that you get the approval of your major coordinator (e.g. at History) and the coordinator at a respective faculty (e.g. at Economical Sciences and Management).
If you know the Polish language, we will be even more flexible about your choice of courses, so that you may attend lectures at different departments at our university. However, this will be discussed individually with your coordinator and professors.
5. Will I have an academic coordinator at NCU?
Yes, at each faculty at NCU there is one academic coordinator responsible for Erasmus+ students - Faculty Coordinator for Mobility.
However, at some faculties, e.g. at the Faculty of Humanities, there are academic advisors at each department (English, French, Italian, German etc.) or at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences. As soon as we receive your application, we will send you the name of your coordinator.
If you choose courses at different departments of NCU, you may have one major Erasmus coordinator at your faculty and several academic advisors. For example, if you choose courses in History, your academic coordinator for this field will be the history coordinator. And if you also choose Political Sciences courses, you will also have an academic advisor at the Faculty of Political Sciences and Security Studies. Nevertheless, it will be your main coordinator who will sign your Learning Agreement and Transcript of records (please check the question 9: Who will sign my learning agreement and prepare a transcript of records at NCU? )
The list of NCU academic coordinators by fields of studies.
6. Where may I find information on the courses offered at NCU?
Our offer in foreign languages may be found here.
For more detailed information about other courses, contact your Erasmus coordinator at NCU (the history coordinator for history courses for example). Please note that the International Programmes Office does not provide details about the courses.
7. Do you use the ECTS system?
Yes we do. At NCU Polish students are asked to collect 30 ECTS per semester. Please contact your coordinators regarding the number of ECTS for your courses.
8. Should I come to NCU with the Learning Agreement signed by my home university?
You are asked to prepare and upload the first Learning Agreement (Before Mobility) during the online application process. This official document should be signed by your home university and should include the list of courses to study at NCU and the number of ECTS credits you are asked to bring back home. Without it, it will be very difficult for our coordinators to help you build your study program at NCU. Usually you are asked to bring the original of the Learning Agreement when you arrive in Toruń.
9. Who will sign my Learning Agreement and prepare a transcript of records at NCU?
Your Learning Agreement will be signed by your main coordinator at NCU usually after your arrival to Torun. We will leave you about a month at the beginning of a semester to choose your program of study, which will allow you to discuss your choices with our professors. You will also have an opportunity to make changes to the Learning Agreement. Before your departure it will also be your coordinator together with the Dean's Office that will prepare for you a transcript of records (which is a list of exams you have passed at NCU).
10. When should I arrive at NCU?
It depends on the campus where you are going to study: in Torun or in Bydgoszcz.
On the Toruń Campus, courses usually start on the 2nd of October for the first semester, and around the 15th of February for the second semester.
The calendar for the following academic year is decided on in April.
For information on the academic calendar please check here.
11. What is the Orientation Week and is it obligatory?
The Orientation Week is a program organised by the Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility - DIPEM ("Erasmus Office") and Erasmus Student Network at the beginning of each semester in order to help you adapt to life in a new university environment and in a new country. We prepare several meetings, lectures, and parties, as well as Polish lessons during the whole week. It is obligatory for Erasmus+ students. Students participating in the OW may get 2 ECTS (each time we check the list of attendance).
More information here.
12. Who will help me find accommodation in Torun?
At NCU, the Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility - DIPEM ("Erasmus Office") tries to book rooms in its student dormitories for each Erasmus+ student coming to Torun. You must just fill in online application procedure before the deadline. However, the number of rooms is limited. Those who send applications after the deadlines will not be guaranteed university accommodation.
For more details about types of accommodation (including private sector) please check our Guide for Visitors.
13. Where and when can I get the key to my room in the student dormitory?
You will be given a key to your room upon your arrival to the student dormitory. In each dormitory there is a reception which is open 24h per day. Even though you will be coming late at night or very early in the morning, you will get your key. However, please inform the student dormitory about it as soon as possible.
14. Is there a student organisation helping international students at NCU?
Yes, of course! You will find a section of the Erasmus Student Network in Toruń. ESN members are Polish students (many of them are former Erasmus students) who are willing to give you information and support during your stay in Torun. They organise various meetings and trips. They are also responsible for certain projects, such as the ESN-ID Card, Travel, Mentor, Tandem, Discover Europe and many more.
More information here.
15. Will I have a Polish student who will help me during my stay in Torun?
Yes, certainly. Your very own mentor – a Polish student (very often a former Erasmus student) - will pick you up from the station and helps you during your stay in Torun. After Erasmus Student Network has qualified students for being mentors, they send you e-mails with the names and data of your mentors, so that you can contact them even before your arrival.
More information here.
16. Where and how can I learn Polish?
You will have many opportunities to learn Polish during your stay in Torun. All Erasmus students are offered an intensive language course of Polish during the Orientation Week (2h per day). Then you can join regular classes twice a week. You may obtain 5 ECTS per semester for attending this course.
More information Center of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners.
Moreover, you may participate in the Tandem project run by ESN and learn Polish from a Polish student, while teaching him or her your mother tongue. All in all, you will have several possibilities to learn Polish!
17. How should I plan my finances?
The minimum monthly budget required is about 300 EUR (1200 PLN), but the experience of students coming to NCU has shown that they spent around 400 – 600 EUR per month (1600 – 2400 PLN) including accommodation: 430 PLN (100 EUR) for a double room, or 650 PLN (150 EUR) for a single room. In general, Poland and especially Torun is regarded as affordable comparing to Western Europe. Those students who come from Eastern and Central-Eastern Europe (new members of EU and candidates) tell us that the prices do not differ that much from what they are used to.