Nikita Krivchikov about Exchange Program at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology

INRTU maintains friendly academic cooperation with many universities around the world. Wroclaw University of Science and Technology is one of such long-standing partner universities. Cooperation with this university in the field of academic exchange has been well established since 2014.

The University has been operating as the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology since 1945. Its creators and organizers were scientists from Lviv and Warsaw. Today it is one of the largest and best technical universities in the country, wh ere about 30,000 students study at 16 faculties, more than 2,000 professors and academics work and do their research. Every year the University improves the quality of education and is highly valued among technical universities throughout in Europe. A high research potential, a decent level of teaching, the introduction of innovations, as well as close ties with industries fully contribute to the development of the university.

Every year, among the students of INRTU who want to participate in the exchange program and go to study abroad, there are those ones who purposefully choose Poland and go to the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. After all, it is the right choice for exchange students as they can choose among a large variety of study programs. Nikita Krivchikov, a 4th-year student of the Institute of Architecture, Construction and Design, has recently returned from Poland and is happy to share his experience of academic exchange.

(from Nikita Krivchikov 's review )

“Culture shock

There was a great impression of the neat and tidy streets of the Wroclaw city, as well as the openness and hospitality of the citizens. All it makes you feel comfortable and safe there. A large percentage of Wroclaw residents spoke English, which is why the language barrier did not affect the quality of life.

Study

Academic loads are comparable at universities, but at the same time I had to study both at the host university and in my home one, which was very difficult, banal due to lack of time. Comparing the courses, I would note the fact, that it is very important to choose courses for exchange students, personally I chose even a master’s course, but anyway felt comfortable and successfully finished it, having received advanced knowledge in the field of architecture methodology.

Quality of teaching

The university teaching staff were very kind and responsive to us, answered our questions about studies and gave us the opportunity to meet in their free time to explain a particular topic to us. Special thanks to: Marcin Raiman (marcin.raiman@pwr.edu.pl ) - a teacher of the Polish language, in his free time he organized trips for everyone and was always happy to communicate outside the study room.

Additional courses

The courses are accessible and useful. We were provided with a wide range of language courses, which included: Japanese, French, German, English, and Polish. I completed the course of the Polish language at the A2 level with “excellent”.

Accommodation

Upon arrival, we were arranged accommodation in a hostel, which was located 5-6 tram stops from the building of architecture, wh ere we had classes, 200 meters from the hostel there was a supermarket "Bedronka" (the most popular supermarket in Poland) and a local grocery store. There is a large shopping center 3- stop - away from the hostel, which had everything you needed, right up to the gym.

Costs/expenses

Renting a dorm room cost 550 zlotys per month (≈11,000 rubles); I spent about 200-400 zlotys per week (≈4000-8000 rubles) on food, including short trips to various places: exhibitions, museums and unusual cafes, etc.

Public events

I especially liked the following sights: The Eiger Climbing wall, the board game cafe: Cybermachina and AR bar, paintball, trampoline park, the Hydropolis Museum, the Museum of Video Game History and a Concert of Traditional Music, etc.

As part of the Erasmus+ program, the university organized a team of students, and it was assumed that they would participate in various activities, including hiking, board games, nightclubs, traveling to different cities in Poland and even to other countries of the European Union.

Sports/recreation

The university offered many kinds of sport and courses from visiting the pool to volleyball. I made a choice in favor of a climbing wall, which I’d been visiting until the quarantine and distance learning were thrown up, but later I visited private climbing walls, which cost 20 zloty (≈400 rubles) per visit. I also went to the gym 3-4 times a week, according to the "Be Active Program”, which significantly reduced the payment of the gym for students. Also, together with a company of the other students from different countries, we visited a trampoline park, paintball, laser tag, bowling, water park, bangee jumping

General impressions

I am very glad and grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the international mobility program and studied in another country, immersed myself in a different culture and language environment, this is a very significant experience for me. I’ve visited about 5 countries and 9 cities, both in Poland and abroad. However, the most important thing that I learned from this experience is the friends from different countries that I found there. I hope we will keep in touch with each other.”

For questions on academic exchange, please, contact the International Office: room И-205.

Tel. number.: +7 (3952) 405-200, +79086609773 (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

E-mail:mobility@ex.istu.edu