Study Abroad

   Lublin, Poland - The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL)

  

The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) is considered one of the most important universities in eastern Poland. The city of Lublin is home to four universities and several colleges, so it is an ideal city for students to study. KUL has 14,000 students, including approximately 600 international students. Courses are offered in 40 programs taught in Polish and English in the following faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, Law/Canon Law/Administration, Theology, Philosophy, Biotechnology/Environmental Sciences, and Mathematics/Computer Science/Landscape Architecture. Extensive language training is also available. Students can take courses in major ancient and modern languages, including Chinese, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. The university is home to the only Department of Celtic Studies in Poland, which offers courses in Welsh and Irish. The School of Polish Language and Culture of KUL offers Polish language courses for international and exchange students every year. 

All exchange students will be assigned their own Guardian Angel; a Polish student who will help an international student solve practical problems and adapt to the new environment.

Study Abroad Alum Onochie Kaosisochukwu shared his experience in Poland with us:

"After being a part of the program, I can definitely brag of having a little knowledge of Polish. This program has also increased my ability to adapt to a new environment and any situation I may find myself. It has also promoted my independence skills greatly, my interpersonal skills and my communication skills." 

To read the full report, click here. 


UMass Boston ERASMUS+ student Giovanna Pessa studied at KUL in the spring of 2017.

If you're interested in learning more about Lublin, Poland and KUL, watch the following videos:
John Paul II Philosophical Studies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi1lPqkBmRQ
Fall in love with Poland!: http://www.philosophy.kul.pl/fall-in-love-with-in-poland/

To apply for the Exchange Program:

1. Confirm that this program works for you both academically and financially. Check the courses offered and speak with your academic advisor on which courses you should try to take while abroad that will count towards your degree. If you are receiving financial aid or want to apply for financial aid for the study abroad program, contact Nicole.Brennan@umb.edu so you know what you can expect in aid for the program. 
2. Once you are sure this is the program for you, apply on this website for the program (click apply at the bottom). 
3. Once completed, contact the Office of Global Programs to have your nomination submitted to KUL. From there you will also need to submit the exchange application through KUL directly: https://www.kul.pl/how-to-apply,art_62439.html

For all of the steps and information on applying to study abroad through UMass Boston, download the checklist: Study Abroad Steps to Stay on Track 2020.pdf

COURSES
The language of instruction at KUL is Polish, however many courses are available in English in the following disciplines: Biotechnology, Philosophy, European Studies, Mathematics, International Relations, History, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, Education, Journalism, Economics/Management, and Languages and Philological Sciences. Please scroll down to "Course Transfers Reference Table" to see how courses from KUL transferred to UMB. 

CREDITS
Students must study full time at the home and host institutions. With the completion of the Request for Prior Approval of Transfer Credit of Study Abroad Programs form, your credits (not grades) will transfer toward your degree at UMass Boston. This form can be obtained from the Study Abroad office.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Fall (I semester) - October to late January
Spring (II semester) - February to June

ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduate and graduate students who have currently completed at least one year of full-time study with the most recent semester completed at UMass Boston are eligible. Students must be in good academic standing (at least 2.75 GPA) with no disciplinary problems.

Required documents to submit to the study abroad office after approval:
1) 2 copies of application form
2) a photocopy of your ID or passport
3) a photocopy of your health insurance policy (European Health Card)
4) a photocopy of accident insurance
5) provisional Learning Agreement
6)  A certificate of the English language level confirmed by the International Relations Office/Erasmus+ Office (at least B1 level; for English Studies programme at least B2) 
7) 3 colour passport photograph and a digital one sent by e-mail (Please note that your photographs must be of good quality (300x300 pixels), full face and a plain white or off-white background)

Important notice:
The application forms must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted! Remember to sign the forms and get them signed by your university!
You must send a complete set of application documents to be accepted. Please also be aware of the fact that your level of English must be good (at least B1) - you must be able to understand, speak and write both general and academic English. 

COSTS
See budget sheet. 
Please note, the Office of Global Programs use estimated price values for our UMass Boston Reciprocal Exchange’ budget sheets. Actual prices may vary, please contact your program provider for more details. 

Do you receive any financial aid, such as scholarships or grants to fund your education? Find out if your financial aid will apply towards studying abroad using the following Financial Aid Guide here

The Financial Aid Guide provides lots of information. However, prior to applying it is advised to contact Financial Aid services for financial aid inquiries and concerns. Link to Financial Aid services website: https://finaid.umb.edu/

HOUSING
KUL has 3 dormitories and they are usually available for foreign students. A limited number of single rooms are available, which include kitchens and bathrooms shared with 4-5 other people. Double and triple rooms are also available. Students can also choose to rent a private flat on their own in Lublin.  

   

VISA

You are responsible for obtaining the correct visa before you travel. 

Students staying Poland must obtain a Student Long Stay Visa D (National). Each visa application must be registered in advance in the electronic system at the website e-konsulat.gov.pl. The applicant then needs to apply for a visa in person at the Consulate General in New York no earlier than 3 months and not later than two weeks before a planned trip. There is no expedited service to process an application. Visa processing can take up to 15 days. In individual cases, processing may take up to 30 days.


Course Transfers Reference Table: 

Course Title	Credits abroad	Course Transfer #	Course Transfer Title	Credits Transferred to UMB
Polish Language Course	2	LANG 9000		2
Cross-Cultural Communication	3	MGT 9000		3
Music Therapy and Clinical Applications	3	Music 9000		3
Advances in Theory and Research of Personality	3	PSYCH 210	Personality	3
Current Trends in Psychotherapy	1.5	PSYCH 210	Personality	1.5
Current Trends in Psychotherapy	3	PSYCH 9000		3
Current Trends in Psychotherapy	3	PSYCH 9000		3
Family Psychology	3	PSYCH 9000		3
Music Therapy	3	PSYCH 9000		3
Sociology of Health and Illness	3	SOCIOL 384	Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care	3
Famous American Trails	3	SOCIOL 9000		3
Legal Pluralism	1.5	SOCIOL 9000		1.5
Transformation of the Polish Family	1.5	SOCIOL 9000		1.5

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Pre-decision Phase Instructions: 
This is a UMass Boston Reciprocal Exchange Program. There are two separate applications. First, students apply to the program by completing this online UMass Boston application. If eligible to study abroad, the UMass Boston Study Abroad Office nominates the student to the university abroad. The student is then informed with a letter or an email about next steps to complete the university's abroad application (online or hard copy forms). Please click here for application instructions. 
 
Post-decision Phase Instructions: 
The final decision to accept a student is made by the university abroad and the student will be emailed. Once accepted by the university abroad, UMass Boston students must complete all the requirements indicated by the university abroad, in addition to completing all forms and submitting all the post-acceptance documents to UMass Boston Study Abroad Office. Please click here for instructions and forms.