Study in Poland

Choose Your Program

During your stay in Poland, you will live with a Polish host family and attend a local high school.

PROGRAM DEPARTURE RETURN FULL TUITION
2025 Fall Year Late August Late June $14,095
  • Placement with a host family
  • Enrollment in a local Polish high school
  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic and international travel
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
  • Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
  • Support from a YFU Poland Area Representative while on program
  • Comprehensive insurance

Your Polish education will take place in a secondary technical or secondary grammar school, with 10 to 12 courses during the school year. Polish secondary students usually follow a previously elected profile of coursework throughout their 3 years of education. This means that they decide “majors” similar to those in American colleges. After students determine their profile, they are assigned a class, which is made up of students who share similar interests.

All students applying for a year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

Students will have a 3-day arrival orientation in Poland. During the orientation, students will have an intensive language course and will be provided with free self-study books and CD resources. There will also be a re-entry orientation towards the end of your program. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

Because of its beautiful and diverse landscape, Poland is host to endless outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking. Sports are very popular in Poland, namely skiing, soccer, and many watersports!

Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay at an additional cost.

Trip to Craków: During this 3-day trip, students will have the opportunity to visit Poland’s second-largest city! While visiting this historic Polish city, students will visit some of the most important cultural sites, such as Old Town, the Jewish District, Schindler’s Factory, and the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Trip to Tricity: This weekend trip typically takes place in the spring. Students will travel with their host siblings to discover the beautiful Polish seaside and explore the scenic coast of the Baltic Sea. While visiting Northern Tricity there will be sightseeing in the towns of Sopot, Gdynia, and Gdansk.

  • 2025 Fall Departures: Students born August 31, 2007 – August 30, 2010
  • Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Students who graduate before the start of their program will not be considered for admission.

Polish. Previous language study is not required, but students must have the motivation to learn Polish. Students will attend an intensive Polish language course and be provided with self-study resources.

Students may be placed in host families throughout the entire country. Students are rarely placed in large urban centers.

During your stay in Poland, you will live with a Polish host family and attend a local high school.

PROGRAM DEPARTURE RETURN FULL TUITION
2025 Fall Semester Late August Late January $13,095
2025 Spring Semester Late January Late June $13,095
  • Placement with a host family
  • Enrollment in a local Polish high school
  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic and international travel
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
  • Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
  • Support from a YFU Poland Area Representative while on program
  • Comprehensive insurance

Your Polish education will take place in a secondary technical or secondary grammar school, with 10 to 12 courses during the school year. Polish secondary students usually follow a previously elected profile of coursework throughout their 3 years of education. This means that they decide “majors” similar to those in American colleges. After students determine their profile, they are assigned a class, which is made up of students who share similar interests.

All students applying for a semester program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (Spring departures).

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

Students will have a 3-day arrival orientation in Poland. During the orientation, students will have an intensive language course and will be provided with free self-study books and CD resources. There will also be a re-entry orientation towards the end of your program. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

Because of its beautiful and diverse landscape, Poland is host to endless outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking. Sports are very popular in Poland, namely skiing, soccer, and many watersports!

Semester program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay at an additional cost.

Trip to Craków: During this 3-day trip, students will have the opportunity to visit Poland’s second-largest city! While visiting this historic Polish city, students will visit some of the most important cultural sites, such as Old Town, the Jewish District, Schindler’s Factory, and the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

  • 2025 Fall Departures: Students born August 31, 2007 – August 30, 2010
  • 2025 Spring Departures: Students born January 31, 2007 – January 30, 2010
  • Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Students who graduate before the start of their program will not be considered for admission.

Polish. Previous language study is not required, but students must have the motivation to learn Polish. Students will attend an intensive Polish language course and be provided with self-study resources.

Students may be placed in host families throughout the entire country. Students are rarely placed in large urban centers.

Study Abroad Participants
What to Expect

Dobry dzień! (Good day!) Although most people you meet will speak Polish, the most widely spoken foreign language is English, which helps many exchange students eliminate the language barrier. Poland is famous for its inclusive culture filled with Eastern and Western traditions. As one of the first European countries to have organized education, education plays a huge role in Polish society.

As a member of a Polish family, you will have an opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, including celebrating holidays, attending cultural events, and spending time outdoors. If you enjoy sports, you may have the chance to participate in a soccer team, as it is Poland’s number one sport. You will also have the chance to enjoy some notable foods in Polish cuisine, such as rye bread, borscht (beet soup), pierogis (dumplings), and bigos (a dish of sauerkraut, cabbage, and pork).

You will surely be welcomed, well-fed, and challenged intellectually if you choose to spend your exchange in Poland.

YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, need-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students who are previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Poland:

YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund

Applications for tuition-based programs must be submitted by September 1 for Winter/Spring departure programs and March 31 for Summer and Fall. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending upon availability.

Visa Information
Information concerning Visas will be provided upon enrollment. To learn more about the process, you can refer to the Polish Embassy.

Additional Costs
Program tuition does not include visa fees, school-related expenses such as textbooks, school activities, and transportation costs. Personal spending money is not included in tuition.

Application Deadlines
The application deadline for all winter and spring departure programs (January-March) is October 1. The deadline to apply for scholarships is December 1. The deadline for all summer or fall departure programs (June-September) is March 15. Programs can fill up before the deadline, so we encourage early submission!

Copernicus, Chopin, and Pope John Paul II were happy to call Poland home, and now you can too! You will find your stay in Poland adventurous, educational, and full of opportunities to make life-long friends and understand Polish culture.

Have questions or want to learn more about YFU Study Abroad Programs?