Wroclaw University of Technology

Wroclaw University of Technology was founded in 1945, when Polish professors arrived in Breslau (now Wroclaw) from Lwow (now Lviv), following World War II. The destruction of the city during the war meant that the Poles inherited little more than a rubble heap, and the fate of the German Technological University, the 'Technische Hochschule Breslau', was no different. Nonetheless the twenty seven professors who had been forced to abandon their homes in Lwow were determined to set up a new institution and on 15th November the first lecture of the Polish academic society was given by Kazimierz Idaszewski.

It seems this determination proved a worthy foundation because over the decades this academy has grown and grown in both size and renown, and in both 2006 and 2007 was voted best technical university in Poland by the highly respected Wprost magazine. Today nearly 33,000 people study at the Wroclaw University of Technology (also known by its Polish initials 'PWR') in twelve different faculties. Indeed the campus is so large it takes up a whole sway of the city, just east of the Old Town by the river Oder.

If you're considering studying in Poland, and specifically Wroclaw and the PWR, you'll find plenty of good reasons to support your decision. The high quality of education, competitive tuition fees and relative low cost of living are all key factors, as are the attractiveness of the city, with its waterways, parks, Gothic churches and young vibrant nightlife. Those choosing to stay on in the city, will also find that Wroclaw is one of the most affluent areas of Poland with plenty of foreign investment and good job opportunities - especially for those with technical and IT backgrounds.

As for being looked after, the Wroclaw University of Technology is one of the most welcoming institutions you could wish for. All new international students are assigned a place in a students' dormitory (relegating worries about house-hunting!) and are automatically signed up for an Orientation Programme during which they are guided around the campus, given the lowdown on do and don't and told about their facilities and support network. In addition the students' organization arranges some integration activities, such as a boat trip, a barbecue or walk in the city. And if you're lucky enough to be arriving from outside the EU you even get picked up from the airport!

Click here for more info on student life in Wroclaw, or head to the English language section of the Wroclaw University of Technology to find out more on the PWR.