What’s it really like to live in Warsaw for a semester? Staying long-term in a city is much different from just vacationing there. You’ll need to navigate more of the practical, everyday services of the city and budget to include more miscellaneous and long-term expenses. Thus, this guide covers everything from haircuts to pharmacies and […]

One of the best ways to jump into a new culture is through the local food. The sheer act of sharing food experiences also gives you instant conversation starter material with locals. At the same time, you’ll be looking for an array of gastronomic pleasures during your time abroad and Warsaw will not disappoint! Below […]

Warsaw boasts a number of massive shopping malls, including the largest shopping center in Central Europe, Arkadia, with some of the most in-demand brands and stores. You’ll find the market quite well developed with most needs easily accessible. Below is some helpful advice from some of the students and staff that have worked on SRAS […]

There are affordable gyms, scenic jogging routes, and other fun ways to stay fit while in Warsaw! Below is some advice on how to take advantage of all that city has to offer. It comes from SRAS staff on the ground in Warsaw as well as graduates of SRAS programs in Poland. This resource is […]

Some of our students report not feeling culture shock at all. Some are surprised by how much culture shock they experience. Often, those most affected are those who did not expect it. So how can you prepare to live in a new culture and get the most out of the experience? How do you prepare […]

A semester or year stay abroad requires considerable planning. You will need to consider the season and location as well as what you need to bring and what you should find abroad. If you will be spending winter months in most SRAS locations, luggage can quite easily become unwieldy, which can mean airline charges for […]

Eurasia today is still quite affordable. However, students can also be surprised at how easy it is to run into troubles – like blocked bank cards or overspending while abroad. This guide will help you plan in advance to avoid these mistakes and make the most of your budget abroad. Its advice comes from SRAS […]

Each summer, SRAS offers courses in Warsaw, Poland in Polish and Ukrainian language and culture. Students can specialize in either language and all participants take part in the Slavic Seminar – a series of lectures and workshops diving into topics of identity, language, literature and film, history, and more – and enjoy an extensive cultural […]

Kraków is Poland’s most visited city and is known as the county’s cultural capital. Krakow’s old town was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a UNESCO City of Literature, and offers amazing architecture, history, and food. Just 2.5-3 hours from Warsaw, you take in many of the major sites in three days […]

SRAS programs in Warsaw are hosted at Collegium Civitas in the downtown area. For summer programs, housing is provided in a nearby hotel, with twin rooms and breakfast (substantial). For spring or fall programs, students find apartments with assistance from Collegium Civitas. See the individual programs linked above for more information. This page is meant […]

Travel from Warsaw to Gdańsk A Day of Exploring ~$60 for a day trip (for details on expenses and logistics, head to the end of the article!) With winter finally coming to an end in Poland, I have begun to travel to some places that were long recommended to me by Warsaw. One of the […]

Travel from Warsaw to Auschwitz-Birkenau An Eye-opening Experience ~$80 for a day trip While in Poland, I decided to take in one of its most famous tourist sites – which also happens to be the site of one of the 20th century’s most horrific and painful events. In terms of budget, if you are looking […]

Travel from Warsaw to Ustroń Polana A Spring Break of Quiet Solitude ~$150 for 2-3 days Usually about the time spring break comes around in the US, I am ready for a week off class. I like to spend this time in some remote region where the sound of a car driving by is unlikely […]

We asked some SRAS graduates to share their open and honest evaluations of their experiences on SRAS Study Abroad in Warsaw. SRAS actively seeks out feedback from students on all programs so that we can continually improve our offerings.   Benjamin DeYoung (Summer, 2015) Note: this is an evaluation of Crossroads of Empires, SRAS’ inaugural […]

Did you ever stop to think about the fact that, technically, Harry Potter was also studying abroad? Here are 16 ways that Harry’s adventures are likely to be just like yours.   1. When you first decide you’re going abroad, you’re in a state of shock- you can hardly believe it’s real! 2. Getting on […]

After settling in with my host family, I’ve looked back on my notes from my first couple of weeks abroad and come to a realization – in a lot of ways, Abroad-Olivia is a child, just a little bit bigger. I’ve compiled these notes to make a list of seven reasons why living abroad is […]