Central Europe (Krakow) Semester Fall 2017
Why Study in Krakow?
- Krakow is a vibrant contemporary city with a thriving culture, much of it student-oriented.
- Krakow is a stunning historic city, so important that when UNESCO began to designate World Heritage Sites it was on the first list.
- Krakow is at the heart of Europe (and now is in the EU). Every phase of European history happened here. The major cities of central Europe are within easy reach (Prague, Berlin, Vienna to name a few) during semester breaks and even on weekends.
- Through the famous Jagiellonian University, located in the heart of Krakow, Guelph offers an array of courses in culture, art, history, current politics, rural development and language.
- Besides living and studying in Krakow, Guelph students take a number of tours, covering much of historic and modern Poland.
The Krakow Semester is the University of Guelph's best-kept study abroad experience. While on the Krakow Semester, students take courses and live in residence at the Jagiellonian University. The Jagiellonian University is the oldest university in Poland, established in 1364, and is considered Poland's top university. Field trips throughout Poland are organized by the Semester Abroad coordinator.
Find out more about the Krakow Semester
Interested in Krakow and want to learn more? Attend a Krakow Information Night - meet the Guelph coordinator, hear from past participants, and ask questions!
Wednesday January 18
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
UC 332
Krakow Semester Coordinator
The Semester Abroad Coordinator, a University of Guelph faculty member, supervises all academic activities, teaches a course, organizes group activities and field trips and provides information and support to students prior to departure and during their time in Krakow.
The Krakow Semester Coordinator for the Fall 2017 semester is Dr Jordi Diez, Department of Political Science. You can contact Dr. Diez at jdiez@uoguelph.ca, or x 58937
Tentative Courses for Guelph students
The courses offered on the Krakow Semester were created specifically by Jagiellonian University for University of Guelph students. The courses are taught by instructors from the Jagiellonian University and incorporate the culture, history and politics of Poland and Central Europe into the curriculum. As with all of the Semester Abroad programs, local field trips are integrated into the courses.
All courses are taught in English.
HUMN 3210 Culture and civilization, includes survival Polish
HUMN 3220 Art & architecture
HUMN 3230 History of Poland
ISS 3250 Politics of Central Europe
ISS 3260 Advanced Polish language
Costs and Funding
Students who have participated in the Krakow semester say that the costs, including their expenses for independent travel, were similar to a semester at Guelph. The costs through the university are regular Guelph tuition fees and a semester fee of approximately $3500 (which covers residence and semester-organized in-country tours). On their own students arrange for travel to and from Poland plus their own food, independent travel and sundries.
Students studying on a UG semester abroad program must pay full-time tuition regardless of the number of courses that they take.
Scholarships: Some scholarships and bursaries are available. For details consult the Student Financial Services website, Travel Grants Search.
Accommodations
Students on past Krakow Semesters have lived in the Dom Piast and the Bydgoska, residence hostels run by the Jagiellonian University.
Field Trips and Group Events
UG students in Krakow enjoy a large number of field trips as part of the semester, in Krakow and throughout Poland.
During the Fall 2015 semester, students participated in the following field trips (subject to change for 2017):
- Guided tour of Wawel castle
- 5-day trip to Berlin (Cold War/Espionage theme)
- Castle tour of Eastern Poland
- A weekend in Zakopane (Polish Tatra Mountains)
- Guided Cold War themed tour of Krakow
- Jewish Cultural Week included a series of trips to various destinations in Kraków (i.e., Kazimierz's Old Synagoge, Schindler's museum, etc.) and was concluded by a one-day trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp.
Applying for the Krakow Semester for Fall 2017
To apply for the Krakow Semester you must first attend a Study Abroad information Session with Centre for International Programs, UC, Level 3. Once you attend a Study Abroad Information Session, you will receive access to the online Semester Abroad application.
Applications for the Fall 2017 Krakow Semester were due 27 January 2017. Late applications will not be accepted.