Applied Computer Science at PK or AGH? Where is it easier to combine studies with work?

Applied Computer Science at AGH UST

Faculty of Physics

• Profile: Science, Physics, Simulation
• Difficulty: Very High (Physics)
• Elasticity: Low

WIMiIP (Faculty of Metals)

• Profile: Industrial, Databases, CAD
• Difficulty: Moderate (metallurgy)
• Flexibility: Medium

1. Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science (WFiIS)

Studies here have a strong scientific and research profile. In addition to programming (C++, Python) and databases, students go through a rigorous course in general, quantum physics, and numerical methods.

• Challenge: Physics is the main filtering object here (the so-called “lawn mower”).
• Flexibility: The schedule of classes at WFiIS can be very rigid, and laboratories require absolute presence and prior preparation (entrance fee). Combining these studies with work before the 3rd year borders on a miracle.

2. Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Informatics (WIMiIP)

Here, Applied Computer Science has a more engineering and industrial profile. The focus is on databases, ERP systems, CAD/CAM design and control system programming.

• Challenge: There are subjects related to metallurgy and metal processing, which can be burdensome for clean IT enthusiasts.
• Flexibility: WIMiIP is considered to be a slightly more student-friendly faculty in terms of organizing the schedule, which makes it easier to take up a job in the last year of engineering studies.

AGH UST Campus and Logistics

A great advantage of AGH UST is a single, compact campus in the center of Krakow (between Mickiewicza Avenue, Czarnowiejska Street and Reymonta Street). Moving between the WFiIS and WIMiIP buildings takes a few minutes on foot, which facilitates logistics, but does not solve the problem of “windows” in the timetable that break up the whole day.

Applied Computer Science at the University of Technology: Practical Dimension and Organization

At the Cracow University of Technology, Applied Computer Science is conducted mainly by the Faculty of Computer Science and Telecommunications (WIiT), which was created from the separation of the structures of the former Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science (FMI).

Profile of education at PK

Studies at PK have a reputation of being very artisanal and practical. There is less pure scientific theory and advanced physics, and definitely more software engineering, web technologies, computer networks and operating systems. The university puts a lot of emphasis on learning object-oriented languages (Java, C#) and database technologies, which directly translates into the requirements set for juniors in Krakow-based IT companies.

PK campuses: Warszawska and Czyżyny

The Cracow University of Technology is dispersed, which is its biggest logistical disadvantage.

• Main Campus (24 Warszawska Street): Located opposite Galeria Krakowska and the Main Railway Station. It is an ideal communication point. From here, you can reach most of Krakow’s office parks in 10-15 minutes by tram.
• Campus in Czyżyny (37 Jana Pawła II Avenue): Some of the laboratories and faculties (especially the mechanical faculty) are located in Czyżyny. The journey by tram (lines 4, 5, 9, 52) between Warszawska and Czyżyny takes about 20-25 minutes.

Where is it easier to work during your studies? Detailed comparison

Combining full-time studies with work in the IT industry requires a flexible schedule and the favor of the teaching staff. In this respect, the two universities differ significantly.

Comparison of conditions for working students:

Individual Organization of Studies (IOS)

At the Cracow University of Technology (WIiT), it is easier to negotiate individual conditions for passing laboratories with the instructors if you present an employment contract (even for 1/2 of a full-time position) or a mandate agreement from an internship in an IT company. At AGH UST (especially at WFiIS), assistants very rigorously monitor their presence in laboratories and rarely agree to pass projects without physical presence in classes.

Krakow’s IT market: Where are students of PK and AGH UST looking for internships?

Krakow is an office area. The location of the university is of great importance when planning commuting to job interviews and daily duty at work.

1. Czyżyny and Życzkowskiego Street

This is historically the first large IT hub in Krakow, dominated by Comarch’s headquarters.

• For whom? It is a natural environment for PK students studying in Czyżyny. The mechanical campus of PK is directly adjacent to Comarch’s office buildings – after the lecture, it is enough to walk 5 minutes to sit at a desk at work.

2. Ruczaj (Red Poppies)

The southern region of Krakow, where Motorola Solutions, Nokia, Shell and UBS have their huge technology campuses.

• Access: From the main campus of PK (Warszawska) you can take a direct tram line 52 (it takes about 35 minutes). From AGH, access requires a change at the Grunwaldzki roundabout or a walk to the bus on Trzech Wieszczów Avenue.

3. Zabłocie and Grzegórzeckie roundabout (Enterprise Park, Kotlarska)

The headquarters of companies such as Cisco, Sabre, Aon and Brown Brothers Harriman.

• Access: From PK (Warszawska) it takes less than 10 minutes to get to the Grzegórzecki roundabout by tram 50. It’s an excellent option for a quick jump between lectures and work.

Practical tips for a working student in Krakow

If you decide to combine work with study at any of these universities, implementing these rules will make it easier for you to survive the session:

• Invest in connections (material databases) Both at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Prague, the key to passing difficult subjects (mathematics, physics, circuit theory) are the so-called “databases” – Google Drives with colloquia from previous years. Ask older colleagues from science clubs about them.
• Compress the Timetable: When registering for laboratory groups (at AGH UST in the USOS system, at PK in dedicated faculty systems), fight for dates that allow you to close classes in as few days as possible. Free Fridays and Mondays are standard for working 3rd year students.
• Choose semester projects instead of entrance fees: If you have a group choice with a tutor who grades based on one large project at the end of the semester, always choose this option instead of the tutor who takes quizzes in each class. You can write the project at night or at the weekend, you will not have time to study for tickets during the week.

The choice between the Cracow University of Technology and the AGH University of Science and Technology depends on your life and professional priorities for the duration of your studies.

• Choose AGH UST (especially WFiIS) if you want a prestigious diploma, strong theoretical preparation, want to enter the area of R&D, physical simulations or scientific work and accept the fact that it will be difficult for you to take up a stable job before the 3rd year of study.
• Choose Cracow University of Technology if Your priority is to enter the labor market as soon as possible (e.g. already in the second year), you value the flexibility of the schedule, you want to learn the practical programming craft and you care about an excellent transport location in the center of Krakow.

Differences in study regulations:

• Cracow University of Technology (WIiT): The cost of one ECTS point for repeating a course oscillates between PLN 100 and 130. The Dean’s Office of WIiT allows for a relatively large deficit of points (often up to 12-15 ECTS per year). This means that if you “fail” a difficult subject for 6 ECTS (e.g. Object-Based Programming or Discrete Mathematics) due to the workload in the office, you can enroll in the next semester without any problems. You will pay to repeat the course, but you retain your student status.
• AGH UST (WFiIS): Rates at the Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science are higher (often PLN 130-160 for ECTS). What is more important, AGH UST is extremely strict in monitoring the limit of the ECTS credit deficit (as a standard, it is a maximum of 10 ECTS per semester). In addition, the settlement at AGH UST is usually semester-based, not annual. Stumbling in two difficult subjects (e.g. General Physics for 6 ECTS and Mathematical Analysis for 5 ECTS) means exceeding the deficit limit, which automatically blocks the possibility of registering for the next semester and results in the need to apply for a dean’s leave (or be removed from the list).

USOS (AGH) vs. Virtual Dean’s Office (PK): The war over the creation of a plan

For a working student, the day of registration for classes is the most important day of the semester. The arrangement of the schedule at work depends on which laboratory groups you manage to sign up for.

Token registration and “exchange” at AGH UST

AGH UST uses the central USOS (University Study Service System) system. Registrations for electives and laboratories take place rigorously at certain times.

• Overload problem: USOS servers, under the influence of thousands of logged-in students, can slow down drastically in the first seconds of registration. If you have a weaker internet connection and the system “freezes” for 20 seconds, you will be assigned to groups with the worst possible class hours (e.g., classes scattered from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with windows of several hours).
• Rescue (USOS Exchange): At AGH, there is an unofficial, but efficient student “group exchange” on discussion groups, where students exchange places (often for a small fee or academic favor). Unfortunately, this requires the consent of the lecturers and coordinators of the courses, which can be difficult to go through formally.

Virtual Dean’s Office and flexibility at PK

The Cracow University of Technology at the Faculty of Military and Technical University uses its own registration panels as part of the Virtual Dean’s Office.

• Trading Practice: PK systems are less likely to fail completely during registration. What is more important, the instructors and laboratories at the PK are much more in favor of the so-called “manual recordings”. If you present a certificate from your employer that you work 6 hours a day from Tuesday to Thursday, most assistants at PK will easily add you to the Monday or Friday group over the limit of places, as long as there are physically enough computers in the laboratory room.

“Time-Eaters” at AGH UST (WFiIS)

At WFiIS, subjects such as General Physics I/II or Numerical Methods are assigned, for example, 3-4 ECTS credits. However, the amount of work required to prepare for the weekly lab passes, write detailed measurement reports (often rejected by assistants due to errors in the analysis of measurement uncertainties), and study for colloquia is actually over 150 hours per semester. This is the time that you directly take away from your professional work.

Practical approach at PK

At PK (WIiT), subjects with a similar ECTS value (e.g. Algorithms and Data Structures or Software Engineering) are based on the implementation of programming projects.

• Why does this make work easier? When writing a project (e.g. a web application in Spring Boot or a microservice in .NET Core), you learn exactly the technologies that your employer requires of you. Working on a project for a university directly develops your commercial programming skills. In addition, you can flexibly adjust the time of work on the project to your schedule (e.g. code on weekends or at night), which is impossible with rigid physics laboratories at AGH.