STP for students at a glance

Study Tours to Poland (STP) for students was one of the first cyclical Polish educational programs aimed at student youth from Eastern Europe. Since then, as part of the program, students have taken part in study visits to Poland.

Students apply to participate in the Program individually as part of a competition. Visits take place in small groups of people, twice a year – in spring and autumn. About 200 people visit Poland annually as part of the Program.

The aim of STP for students is to show the different aspects of life in Poland, to present the mechanisms of systemic change and modernization, as well as to provide the experience of participation in European structures. It is also very important to get to know the non-governmental sector and all forms of civic activity.

An important source of inspiration is the contact with other members of the group. The meeting of people from different countries and regions that the visits bring about, enables students not only to get to know Poland, but also each other; to look at both diversity and the elements common to our part of Europe.

The program for student visits includes:

Meetings with leaders of public life in Poland

Visits to offices and public institutions

Meetings with representatives of academia – university authorities, academic teachers and students; and getting acquainted with students’ forms of social activity of

Business innovations and activities presentations

Learning about non-governmental organizations, their place in society, their interactions with authorities at various levels, and their activities for the benefit of local communities

Visits to the editorial offices of newspapers or radio and television stations, meetings; with journalists

Getting to know the culture and history of Poland

Showing the characteristics of individual regions

Integration and educational workshops aimed at acquiring new competences

Study visits are prepared and implemented by experienced Polish NGOs, and are selected through a competition. So far, students have visited, Białystok, Bielsko-Biała, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Nowy Sącz, Olsztyn, Poznań, Przemyśl, Szczecin, Świętochłowice, Toruń, Warsaw, and Wrocław, among others.

When and how to apply for STP?

Students from Moldova and Ukraine are invited to participate in STP.

Current information on recruitment is available on the website, the STP page on Facebook, and Instagram.

Participants in STP must be:

  • aged 18–23
  • citizens of  Moldova and Ukraine
  • to live or study at universities in Ukraine, Moldova (or Romania)
  • students who hold a valid passport
  • not have been participants in STP for students previously

To take part in STP student visits, you must complete an online application form, which becomes available at the start of the recruitment period. Candidates are selected through a competitive process.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To complete the application, you must prepare scans or photos of the following documents in PDF, PNG, or JPG format. Each file must not exceed 500 KB:

  • passport – pages containing personal data and a photo
  • student record book (index) or its electronic equivalent – pages showing grades from the two most recently completed semesters
  • a letter of recommendation written by the head of a non-governmental organization with which the candidate cooperates, a representative of the student government, a volunteer movement leader, etc.

The letter of recommendation should, if possible, be written on official organizational letterhead and signed by the person issuing the recommendation. It should include the date of writing, the full name, position, and function of the referee, as well as their contact details: email address and phone number.

Recruitment for the visits takes place twice a year: December/January and June

 

 

 

 

A competition for students

The deadline for applications for study visits  was:  February 4th, 2026

The next competition is planned for June 2026.

kalendarz rekrutacji

If you are active, open, want to get new experiences and broaden your horizons, and meet your peers from different countries – send your application!

Where do STP visits take place?

Zakres działalności Study Tours to Poland

FAQ

Is it a mandatory to have a valid passport to participate in a competition?

Yes. This document is necessary to meet the formal conditions of participation in the competition.

Is it possible to take part in the competition if I do not meet the age criterion?

No. And this is regardless of whether an applicant’s age does not meet the criterion by several days or several months.

Do I have to meet all of the formal conditions together when taking part in the competition?

Yes. This is necessary to take part in the competition.

Can I choose which city to visit?

No. This is the decision of the organizers of the Program. Visits to all cities are designed to achieve the same goal and cover similar issues.

Can the recommendation letter be written by a lecturer?

No. The letter of recommendation must be written by the head of the non-governmental organization with which the candidate cooperates, or by a representative of the student council or leader of a volunteer movement. The letter of recommendation serves to better understand the candidate for participation in the STP, in particular their extracurricular and non-academic activities. Achievements at the university are reflected in the grades contained in the student record book and other information in the questionnaire. The letter of recommendation should not repeat this information, but rather provide new insights into the candidate, their activities, personality traits, teamwork skills, interests, etc.

Do I have to participate in all events taking place during the visit?

Yes. Attendance and participation in all events is mandatory.

How many hours per day are devoted to events and activities during the visit?

The length of the program day depends on the planned activities. On travel days, the program may be longer due to travel. When events take place at the visit location, the joint program day ends with dinner.