Student exchange Germany : Poland
“Diversity – What Is It? A Social Utopia or Reality?” – Student Exchange with Polish Students in Olsztyn
Since 2025, Studierendenwerk Freiburg has been offering a German-Polish student exchange programme in cooperation with the University of Warmia and Mazury (Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski) in Olsztyn. The exchange takes place every two years, alternating between Olsztyn and Freiburg, and enables students from both countries to get to know each other's university, region, and culture. For students from Freiburg, the programme offers the opportunity to discover Poland and the Warmia-Masuria region through:
- History, culture, and social diversity
- Intensive encounters with Polish students
- Workshops, excursions, and nature experiences
The exchange programme is open to students enrolled at public universities and universities of applied sciences in Freiburg, Offenburg/Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Lörrach, and Kehl. Students from universities associated with the Studierendenwerke Karlsruhe and Mainz are also warmly invited to participate.
The maximum number of participants is 15 students.
All information regarding the next German-Polish student exchange programme will be published on this page. Please check back regularly for the latest updates and announcements.
Review 2026: Study Trip to Olsztyn
From 23 May to 30 May 2026, 15 students from Freiburg visited Olsztyn, Poland, as part of the German-Polish student exchange programme. During the one-week stay, participants explored the topic of social diversity from different perspectives. The programme included city tours focusing on Olsztyn’s multicultural history, workshops on identity, memory culture, and social diversity, meetings with students and representatives of various social groups, as well as excursions throughout the Warmia-Masuria region, including a canoe trip on the Łyna River.
Through the direct exchange, participants gained practical insights into student life in Poland, developed intercultural competencies in a German-Polish context, and broadened their perspectives on social issues relating to identity, migration, and collective memory.
Review 2025: Polish Students in Freiburg
From 8 June to 14 June 2025, 15 students from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn visited Freiburg as part of the German-Polish student exchange programme. During the one-week stay, participants explored various aspects of social diversity. The programme included cultural exchange between German and Polish students, cooking workshops featuring Polish and German specialties, guided tours of Freiburg, a visit to the Initial Reception Centre for Refugees (Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung), and hikes in the Black Forest. Through these shared activities, participants gained insights into student life in Germany, developed intercultural competencies, and engaged in discussions on diversity, migration, and social cohesion.
