Poland

In Poland psychology may be studied at 22 higher education schools including 5 privately owned. To be admitted to a course one should pass the final secondary education exam of and the score determines the chances of getting a place on a psychology course.

Some courses are accredited, which enhances the prestige and guarantees the quality of the course. There are two accrediting institutions; the University Accreditation Committee and the State Accreditation Committee. The State Accreditation Committee evaluates higher education institutions, opinionates and resolves issues concerning institutional entitlement to run a degree course.

Psychology students take the following basic group of subjects: Philosophy and elements of logic, Biological bases of behavior, Introduction to psychology and history of psychological thought, Methodology of psychological research and statistics, Ethical issues in psychology. The major subjects include: Cognitive processes, Emotions and motivations, Personality Disorders, Psychology of individual differences, Social psychology, Psychology of human development in the life-span, Psychometrics, Psychological diagnosis, Psychological help, Abnormal psychology.

Before graduation a student is obligated to complete an apprenticeship, which usually takes place at the end of the 8th semester over four weeks and covers 25 hours per week. The principles and form of apprenticeship is up to an institution educating in this field.

A psychology graduate should be prepared to play different social roles and take up various jobs. He/she should use a foreign language at the level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF) and use professional language in the field of psychology. A graduate should possess habits of perpetual development and be prepared to take up research challenges and take up the third level degree (doctorate).