Student exchange Germany : Poland
“Diversity - what is it? Social utopia or reality?” - Student exchange with Polish students in Olsztyn
From May 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, the Freiburg Student Services Association is offering a German-Polish student exchange to Poland for the first time as part of its partnership with the University of Olsztyn in Poland.
The focus will be on jointly experiencing and reflecting on diversity in Olsztyn and the Warmia-Masuria region – an area that is historically, culturally, and socially diverse.
The exchange is aimed at students from state universities/colleges in Freiburg, Offenburg/Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Lörrach, and Kehl.
The maximum number of participants is 15.
Registration information will follow shortly.
What is the student exchange with Polish students in Olsztyn (Poland) all about?
Diversity shapes societies, but its significance is understood differently depending on the historical, cultural, and national context. The student exchange explores how students in Poland and Germany perceive social diversity, what challenges this entails, and what they can learn from each other.
During the study trip to Olsztyn, we will address these questions by experiencing diversity on site:
• in the city and its history
• in student life
• in social debates
• in the nature of the region
The program combines city tours, workshops, excursions, and encounters with various social groups.
What can you expect?
• City tours on the multicultural history of Olsztyn
• Nature experiences in the region, including a canoe trip on the Łyna River
• Participation in student events such as the faculty parade as part of the “Kortowiada” student festival
• Workshops and discussions on identity, remembrance culture, and cultural and social diversity
• Encounters with students, representatives of the German minority in Olsztyn, and refugees
• Joint lunches, exchanges, and time for encounters in German-Polish groups
What will you take away with you?
• Practical insights into student life in Poland through excursions, workshops, and personal encounters
• Intercultural experiences in direct German-Polish exchange
• Broader perspectives on social issues relating to identity, migration, and remembrance culture
The cost for the one-week program is €60, including accommodation, meals, and all program activities. Accommodation is provided at the University of Olsztyn, with separate facilities for men and women.
Students from the universities in Freiburg, Offenburg/Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Lörrach and Kehl are eligible to participate.
German / Polish
Knowledge of the Polish language is advantageous, but not mandatory.
For one week, we will explore diversity in Olsztyn and the Warmia-Masuria region from a historical, cultural, social, and student perspective.
Workshops, city tours, nature experiences, and encounters with different social groups will enable an intensive German-Polish exchange and new perspectives on the topic of diversity. Together, we will explore the question of how diversity is lived and where areas of tension, differences, and similarities become visible.
See programm
Excerpts from the program
- City tour “On the trail of diversity” – discover the multicultural history of Olsztyn
- Canoe trip on the Łyna River – experience the diversity of nature in Warmia-Masuria
- Workshop “What does it mean to be German in Poland?” – identity, history, and the present
- Encounters and discussions on migration, flight, and social change
- Participation in the faculty parade at the Kortowiada student festival – experience student diversity live
23.05.-30.05.2026
Olsztyn, Poland