Please read carefully before accepting internship offer!

The IAESTE National Committee in Poland is 100% student run and it is not part of any government institution. The office of the National Committee is located in Warsaw.

There are 16 Local Committees at the largest Universities of Technology in Poland, all of which are run by students only. In few cities, there is more then one Local Committee, because there is more than one University involved in the IAESTE programme.

The members of local committees are responsible for arranging your accommodation and picking you up when you arrive to the city of destination. They will also introduce you to the employer at your first day of the traineeship.

Local committee’s contact information is printed on the form “O”. However, please remember that you can contact them only after you will receive your acceptance papers.

We will do our best to make your stay in Poland a great and memorable experience.

What we expect from you:

We expect you to read the job description carefully and apply only if you consider yourself qualified and your language fluency meets company requirements. Also, we expect you to properly prepare all the necessary documents.

Any missing document listed below can be a reason of the rejection for the traineeship.

Documents required:

1. Student Nominated Form

2. Curriculum Vitae with photo

3. Cover letter addressed to the employer

4. Language Certificate

5. List of subject studied

6. Transcript of records with legend, in English or with translation prepared by professional translator. NOTE: You do not have to enclose this document, if it is not specified in the form “O”.

7. Certificate of Enrolment. NOTE: It is not required, if you are a graduate and you apply for an offer that does not require student status

8. Reference Letter. Any kind of references (e.g. from your university, companies where you worked before) are desired and can help you getting the acceptance.

9. Additional Certificates. Enclose any certificate you have, language (e.g. FCE, CAE) or technical, as they can improve your chances.

10. Passport scans. NOTE: Required for citizens of the country outside European Union.

We expect you to enclose all required documents in one file, in order as listed above. The file has to be in PDF format, with the maximum size not exceeding 3 MB. Please name the file according to the scheme:

Ref.No._Name_Surname. In example: PL-11-ULO-234_Tom_Smith.pdf

For Architectural Offers please always enclose an electronic version of your portfolio in a separate file (not exceeding 6 MB).

In example PL-11-ULO-234_Tom_Smith_portfolio.pdf

Language

The official language in Poland is Polish. The most popular foreign language is English, especially among young people.

Accommodation

The members of IAESTE Local Committee arrange lodging in a student dormitory, at the same conditions as polish students. Rules of paying rent can differ, depending on the local committee; however you need to be prepared that you have to pay the full month rent in advance. For more details please contact the Local Committee responsible for your offer. If you do not wish to stay in the student dormitory with other trainees, you can arrange other lodging yourself. If you plan to do so, you are required to inform the Local Committee in advance.

Visa

Poland is a member of European Union. If you come from the country outside EU, you need to apply for a visa. You can do that in the Polish Embassy or Consulate in your home country. You should do this as soon as you get your acceptance papers, since the application procedure can take up to 8 weeks. You do not need to apply for additional work permit. All necessary VISA information can be found on our webpage for incoming students http://incoming.iaeste.pl.

Insurance

In order to start an IAESTE traineeship in Poland, an adequate health and accident insurance is mandatory. Also, we strongly advise you to get liability insurance before leaving for Poland.

Payment/Taxes

Your salary will be paid at the end of each month according to the amount stated in the form “O”. It is absolutely necessary for you to have sufficient funds for the first month, approximately 1000 PLN, to cover your expenses until you receive your first salary. The taxes you need to pay depend on the form of employment chosen by the employer. Form “O” will provide you with all necessary information. For more details please contact the Local Committee of your destination.

The Schengen rules include uniform rules as to the type of visas which may be issued for a short-term stay, not exceeding 90 days, on the territory of one, several or all of those States. The rules also include common requirements for entry into the Schengen area, and common procedures for refusal of entry.

According to the Schengen Borders Code, the conditions applying to third-country nationals for entry are as follows:

• The third-country national is in possession of a valid travel document or documents authorising them to cross the border; the acceptance of travel documents for this purpose remains within the domain of the member states;
• He or she either possesses a valid visa (if required) or a valid residence permit;
• He or she can justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, and they have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a third country into which they are certain to be admitted, or are in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
• There has not been issued an alert in the Schengen Information System for refusal of entry, and
• He or she is not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen states.

Schengen Visa lists

1. Negative visa list of countries from whose citizens a visa is required to enter the territory of the EU member states :
   • All countries and territories not mentioned below.
2. Visa list of countries from whose citizens no visa is required to enter the territory of the EU member states for a period of maximum 90 days:
   • All countries and territories that are members of the Schengen acquis, of the EU or of EFTA.
   Additionally:
   • Andorra
   • Argentina
   • Australia
   • Brazil
   • Brunei
   • Canada
   • Chile
   • Costa Rica
   • Croatia
   • El Salvador
   • Guatemala
   • Honduras
   • Hong Kong (SAR of China)
   • Israel
   • Japan
   • Macau (SAR of China)
   • Malaysia
   • Mexico
   • Monaco
   • New Zealand
   • Nicaragua
   • Panama
   • Paraguay
   • San Marino
   • Singapore
   • South Korea
   • United States
   • Uruguay
   • Vatican City
   • Venezuela

Fees

On the territory of Schengen nationals of third-countries require a visa allowing to travel on the whole Schengen territory.

The cost for a short-term visa is 60 €. In individual cases the visa fee can be reduced or canceled according to the national laws.
Visa fees are not requested from children under 6 years, students and accompanying teachers traveling to start education, trainings and seminars and also in case of scientists working on researches corresponding to EC 2005/761/WE.
The EU signed treaties for reducing the visa fee to 35 € with several countries: Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Serbia, Montenegro, BiH.

The request for the visa should be places in the polish embassy in the corresponding country.

Most information you can find in a TRAINEE BOOKLET. Here you can find some general information which may be useful for you! We recommend also to look for information about Poland in Wikipedia –

COST OF LIVING

The costs of living (and therefore the salary) in Poland depend on the city. The salary paid by the host institution usually covers basic living expenses (although this will be a bit "tight budget"), including lodging, urban transport and food (it's cheaper if you prepare meals by yourself or arrange university canteen).

You should be prepared to cover all non-obligatory, extra expenses such as traveling in and outside Poland, participating in IAESTE events and other entertainment.

Please make sure that you will have enough money (in cash or on your bank account) for the time before your receive your first salary, usually four weeks (maybe a few days more).

Accommodation rent is paid in advance at the beginning of each month.

Major credit cards, i.e. Visa, EuroCard - MasterCard, Maestro, are accepted in cash dispensers (ATMs) but they are not very common in rural areas. Credit cards are accepted in supermarkets, shopping centres and travel offices, but please remember that small shops and groceries usually take ONLY cash.

Average prices:

• Bread (0,5 kg) 1,20 - 2,50 PLN
• Butter 2,00 - 3,50 PLN
• Milk (1 litre) 2,00~2,50 PLN
• Coca-Cola (0,33litre) 2,00 PLN
• Beer in pub (0,5 litre) 4,00~8,00 PLN
• Beer in supermarket (0,5 litre) 2,00 - 3,00 PLN
• Big Mac 5,50 PLN

For up-to-date currency rate go to: http://www.nbp.pl/kursy/ratesa.html

WEATHER

The weather in POLAND is diverse and changeable. Climate depends on continental influence from middle of Eurasia or on maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes there are beautiful and warm holidays, whereas sometimes it can get chilly and damp.

In one season, the first month can be hot and the other - wet. Warm summer days can get stifling, but also scorching with temperatures rising up to 35°C. Unfortunately, it is possible to experience various types of damp weather in the summertime as well. You can observe drizzles changing in to showers or long-lasting downpours.

Frequently, it can be raining cats and dogs and as a result floods may occur in many parts of Poland. Storms and thunderstorms are also features of Polish climate As temperatures can vary from 10°C to 35°C it is really hard to predict what clothes will be needed.

That is why it is advisable to pack rain coat and umbrella, warm sweater and trousers, as well as T-shirts, short skirts or shorts and sandals.

TRAVELLING

We hope that traveling around Poland will bring you a lot of pleasure! Your stay and training wouldn't be complete without visiting the most beautiful and famous places in our country. We are able to provide you with all information about places worth seeing (also ask your Local Committee about the events that are planned), but unfortunately we cannot cover costs of your trips.

By train

The most popular way of traveling around Poland is by train. Unfortunately ISIC Card holders do not have any special discount for tickets, and you have to pay full price.

We strongly recommend asking members of our Local Committee for help with organization of trips - it is far more convenient and much faster.

IC and EC, EN and EX are more expensive than regular trains. There are fees for reservation of the seats and special charges for the sleeping places as well. If you are interested in traveling, we can try to contact you with other IAESTE committees, not only in Poland, but also abroad. It might be really useful especially while reducing the cost of accommodation.

You can find also some information on Polish Railway Website: http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en

By bus

If you don't like trains, you can travel around Poland by bus as well. But of course it is less comfortable than train. The ticket prices for bus are lower than for train. For discounts and special offers you should ask at the counter.

There is a National Bus Network (PKS) or a private-owned (Polski Express, www.polskiexpress.pl)

By plane

In Poland there are twelve airports: Warszawa, Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice, Wrocław, Szczecin, Poznań, Łódź, Zielona Góra, Rzeszów, Bydgoszcz and Szczytno (http://www.polish-airports.com). The largest one is in the capital (Frederick Chopin's airport) and if you are entering Poland by plane, you will probably land in Warsaw. Domestic connections are rather expensive, but you can fly to larger Polish cities quite fast, safely and comfortably.

Polish National Airlines LOT: www.lot.pl

List of cheap airlines flying to/from Poland http://www.whichbudget.com/?lang=en

By car

We suggest not to come to Poland by car.

If you are bent on coming here by car, you need:

• insurance against accidents (full service) – international liability insurance, so-called 'Green Card' is obligatory;
• insurance against theft.

In Poland, the speed limit is 50 km/h in towns and villages and 90 km/h on ordinary roads. Everyone in a car must have their seat belts fastened while driving. It is also obligatory to use loud-speaking system or hands-free set when using mobile phone.

Petrol cost approx.: 4.3 PLN per litre unlead

CURRENCY

The currency used in Poland is Zloty (PLN).

Banks in Poland are open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.; some banks are open until 4:00 p.m.

Money exchange is possible in many places, e.g. ATMs, banks, hotels, exchange offices ('kantor') or even at some post offices.

1 zloty (PLN) = 100 groszy (gr)

At the moment there are issued:

Coins: 1 gr, 2 gr, 5 gr, 10 gr, 20 gr, 50 gr, 1 zl, 2 zl, 5 zl. Banknotes: 10 zl, 20 zl, 50 zl, 100 zl, 200 zl.

LANGUAGE

The official language of IAESTE Exchange Program in Poland is English. Generally nobody expects that a foreign student would speak Polish. Knowledge of other languages, if it is necessary or useful for trainee is always determined in Form 0.

There will be a person who will be able to communicate and work with you in the language chosen by company and appearing in your training offer. Please keep in mind that in many places in Poland e.g. in shops, buses or cinemas, it is very likely to meet non - English speaking people, so having a dictionary or book with common Polish phrases may be useful.

Polish language belongs to western Slavic language family (as well as Czech, Slovak and some others, southern Slavic languages: Russian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian and Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian and Slovenian). All citizens of Poland speak Polish and for almost 98% it is a mother tongue.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

During the three summer months: July, August and September there is only one public holiday: August 15 (Catholic Holiday).

The academic year at Polish Universities usually starts on 1st of October and finishes at the end of June. Summer holidays are from the beginning of July until the end of September. Within July - August there are no regular university studies or exams, whereas September is dedicated to those who failed their exams in June.

We suggest finishing your training a few days before October when the dormitory is peaceful and empty. At the very beginning of July entrance exams take place, so one part of the dormitory is occupied by the candidates.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Police, emergency 997

Fire Brigade 998

Ambulance, emergency 999

If you use mobile phone please call 112 in case of emergency!