Campus life [2026-09-28]

From All Over the World to NCU

— Editors

165 people from 21 countries will be joining the international community at Nicolaus Copernicus University in the new semester. The Erasmus+ students are spending their first days in Toruń getting to know the university, the city and their new fellow students. The Orientation Week was organised for them by the Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility.

The Orientation Week is an event for international students who have chosen to take part in a student exchange programme at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The programme includes lectures, workshops and meetings focusing on topics such as intercultural communication. Participants also gain practical knowledge about how the university operates, the rules for studying in Poland and life in Toruń. It is also an opportunity to socialise and get to know others who are starting their exchange programme at Nicolaus Copernicus University.

Students from 21 countries have chosen Nicolaus Copernicus University. The largest group consists of students from Turkey – 61 of them have decided to come to Toruń and Bydgoszcz. The second-largest group consists of students from Spain – 45 people. Thirteen people from Italy have also chosen Nicolaus Copernicus University. Among the exchange participants are also people from Asia and Africa, including Kazakhstan, South Africa, Nigeria and Cape Verde.

The Orientation Week began on 23 September at the Faculty of Chemistry. On that day, students from Toruń and the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz learnt about the rules of etiquette applicable at our university, as explained by dr habil. Michał Balcerzak, NCU Prof. from the Faculty of Political Science and Security Studies. This was followed by a session on intercultural communication, led by Małgorzata Grudzińska – a coach and mentor, as well as a member of staff at the Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility.

Students learnt about the mental health support available at Nicolaus Copernicus University during a lecture entitled 'You are not alone in Poland', delivered by Joanna Hajduk, who serves as a Mental Health First Aider at NCU.

The Department of Promotion and Communication, meanwhile, ensured that everyone found their way around the Toruń campus. Participants took part in the “NCU CATching" outdoor game. Guided by a specially designed app, they were led by the friendly cat Niki, who helped them discover the campus's key landmarks. The game was created as part of the “Welcome to Poland, Welcome to NCU – Grow Among Us" project, funded by the National Agency for Academic Exchange.

A number of activities are planned for the coming days, including a short Polish language course and intercultural workshops led by dr Lidia Chylewska-Barakat. All sessions take place in small groups, giving participants the chance to get to know one another better. Each group will also have their own patron: Nicolaus Copernicus, Zdzisław Beksiński, Olga Tokarczuk, Fryderyk Chopin and Maria Skłodowska-Curie. In this way, the organisers are introducing students from other countries to the lives of important figures in Polish science and culture.

There will also be plenty of physical activity during the Orientation Week. One of the highlights of the programme is a series of dance workshops led by instructor Katarzyna Kostańska-Maziarz. The sessions have been organised as part of the 'Welcome to Poland, Welcome to NCU – Grow Among Us' project.

By courtesy of Toruń City Council, international students will also get to explore Toruń's Old Town during walks led by professional guides.