According to the latest British Council report, The Future of English in Universities Worldwide, the number of degree programs taught in English in non-English-speaking countries has increased by as much as 48% since 2019. The figures highlight how rapidly the international higher education landscape is changing and how important English-language education has become.
The United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada remain among the countries offering the largest number of degree programs in English and continue to be popular destinations for international students. At the same time, however, students are increasingly looking beyond these traditional education hubs.
Universities in countries that were not previously considered major destinations for English-language study are becoming more attractive. The expansion of English-taught programs allows institutions to reach a much wider pool of prospective students and gives young people more opportunities to study abroad without necessarily choosing one of the traditional destinations.
According to British Council research, young people are increasingly taking factors such as political and social stability, career opportunities and quality of life into account when deciding where to study. The prestige of a university and the popularity of a particular study destination remain important, but they are no longer the only considerations.
Poland is becoming part of the trend
The growing popularity of English-language education can also be seen in Poland. Polish universities are increasingly developing programs that are fully or partly taught in English, making them accessible to students from abroad while also allowing Polish students to study in a more international environment.
For Polish students, studying in English can be an important step towards an international career. It allows them to develop specialist knowledge while using English in an academic context and interacting with people from different countries and cultural backgrounds.
The National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), for example, runs the Poland My First Choice program, which aims to encourage international students to pursue higher education at Polish universities, including programmes taught in English.
At the same time, an increasing number of Polish universities are expanding their English-language offerings. Institutions such as Warsaw University of Technology, the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University and Kozminski University offer programs aimed at international students and students looking for an international academic experience.
(aj)
SOURCE: British Council