INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICE

Study in Poland - General Microbiology

Program Information | Location Information | Courses Available | Eligibility | Costs | Deadlines & Dates | Orientation | Housing | What's Next? | Photos | Helpful Links

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Program Information
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) College of Science and Engineering in association with the UMD International Education Office will offer a unique summer study abroad program at the University of Wrocław, Poland for biology, cell and molecular biology and pre-professional students (pre-med, pre-dent, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-vet, etc.

The course offered is BIOL 4503 General Microbiology offered in Wrocław, Poland (4 credits). The lecture/laboratory course will be presented at the University of Wrocław’s Institute of Genetics and Microbiology. All instruction will be in English. Students will also receive 4-6 hours of introduction in Polish language, culture, and history (no credit). Three field trips and a weekend visit to Krakow and the surroundings to visit areas such as Wieliczka salt mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau are included. Students also have free weekend for individual travel.

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Location Information
Wrocław is the capital of Lower Silesia.  It is the fourth largest city in Poland with a population of 640,000. The city is at the foot of the Sudety Mountains along the banks of the Odra River. Odra’s many tributaries and canals helped to form one of the country’s most beautiful cities, complete with 12 islands and 112 bridges. It is interspersed with plenty of green parks and open spaces, including Szczytnicki Park, which contains 370 species of trees and shrubs and a Japanese garden.

Wrocław, founded in the 10th century, is a major eastern European educational center with 13 academic institutions and over 100,000 students. The University of Wroclaw is over three hundred years old. Nine graduates and professors of the university have received Nobel prizes and Charles Darwin and Johannes Brahms are among a long list of outstanding individuals receiving honorary doctorates.

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Courses Available
Students will complete BIOL 4503 General Microbiology offered in Wrocław, Poland , which is a 4-credit course. The prerequisite for the course is BIOL 2101 Cell Biology. The language of instruction is English. Participants also receive 4-6 hours of introduction in Polish language, culture and history for no credit.

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Eligibility
Participants MUST have a passport, valid for at least 6 months after their return to the U.S. Students also should be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.4. The program is geared for students of biology, cell and molecular biology and pre-professional students (pre-med, pre-dent, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-vet, etc.).

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Costs
The program package is approximately $3,830 . A non-refundable deposit will be due upon acceptance to the program. The remainder of the program fee will be billed through Student Accounts Receivable.

The program package price includes:

• Tuition for course
• Roundtrip airfare/taxes from Minneapolis/St.Paul to/from Poland
• Dormitory housing
• Bus/tram pass
• Laboratory coat
• 3 microbiology field trips
• Weekend visit to Krakow (transportation, lodging, some admissions)
• International Health Insurance
• International Student Identification Card
• Administrative fees

Items NOT included in the overall cost are meals, daily living expenses, the cost of obtaining a passport and personal spending money. It is recommended that all participants bring additional money for personal and miscellaneous expenses.

Additional costs are estimated to be $400-$600 for daily living expenses ($10.00-$12.00 per day for food, newspapers, pop, etc.). See information in the next paragraph for food costs. Travel and other personal expenses are extra. Round trip train fares will usually be $25-$60 for longer distance travel to places such as Warsaw, Gdansk, Prague, Vienna, Dresden and Berlin. An internet fee of $21.60 must be paid separately. The textbook and laboratory manual must also be purchased separately.

Poland is relatively inexpensive to live in and the estimated cost of meals is $10 per day ($2.00 breakfast, $3.00 lunch, $5.00 dinner). The housing accommodations include mini-kitchens where students may prepare their food. Food shops are across the street from the dormitory. Inexpensive student "milk bars" are available in the area. Restaurants will be more expensive. The restaurants in the city center are really fun.

Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be applied toward the cost of the program if you are enrolled as a full-time student (6 credits is full-time for May/Summer). Study abroad scholarships are available for University of Minnesota students.

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Deadlines & Dates
The registration deadline is Monday, March 24, 2008. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited and the class will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program dates are from Tuesday, July 22 through Sunday, August 24, 2008.

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Orientation
At least one pre-departure orientation will be held. The orientation will include information about financial aid opportunities, international travel insurance, classwork, passport and travel documentation requirements, travel tips and the distribution of a study abroad handbook and other materials.

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Housing
Participants will be housed in "suite-like" mini apartments in the University of Wrocław Student Residence Hall: Ołówek. Each apartment suite accommodates four students and contains a bathroom, kitchen, and two bedrooms (two students per bedroom). Sheets, blankets and towels are provided. The kitchen includes a refrigerator, hotplate, coffee pot and coffee cups.

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What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO website also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO website. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO.

Contact Dr. Conrad Firling, Professor Emeritus of Biology, at cfirling@d.umn.edu or (218) 724-3611 for program or itinerary questions. Also, you may contact Janny Walker in the College of Science and Engineering at (218) 726-7806. For application/registration and location questions, contact Leigh Neys in the UMD International Education Office (138 Kirby Plaza) at (218) 726-7053 or email: lneys@d.umn.edu.

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Photos
[UNDER DEVELOPMENT]

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Helpful Links for Poland and Wroclaw

• Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs information portal
• Wroclaw
• University of Wroclaw

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