Poland has emerged as a significant destination for international students, ranking 6th in Europe in terms of attracting foreign learners[^1]. This position is underscored by the fact that more than seven percent of Poland’s total student population is comprised of individuals from various international backgrounds[^1]. Ukrainians represent the largest group among these students, accounting for 55.8 percent, followed by Belarusians at 13.9 percent, and Zimbabweans also forming a notable segment[^1].
The United Kingdom leads the European list with international students constituting 25 percent of its student body, while the Netherlands and France have their international student populations at 14 percent and over 13 percent, respectively[^1]. In the 2022/23 academic year, Polish universities welcomed approximately 102,200 international students, with the most predominant nationalities being Ukrainian, Belarusian, Turkish, Zimbabwean, Indian, Azerbaijani, Uzbekistani, Chinese, Kazakhstani, and Nigerian[^1].
The academic preferences of these international students are diverse, with around 60 percent pursuing studies in Polish, 37 percent in English, and the remaining three percent in other languages[^1]. The data from various sources including the Integrated System of Information on Higher Education and Science POL-on, Perspektywy, the OECD, UNESCO, and Project Atlas, indicate that there were 89,420 international students in Poland in the 2021/22 academic year, marking a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year[^1].
Since 2005, the number of international students in Poland has been on an upward trajectory, with a significant jump from just 0.82 percent of international students in the 2016/17 academic year to over 7.3 percent in recent times[^1]. These statistics not only highlight Poland’s growing role in global education but also reflect the country’s commitment to fostering an international academic environment.
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https://erudera.com/news/poland-ranks-6th-in-europe-for-attracting-most-international-students/
