Most Demanding Subjects at PG and UG: A Student Guide

Engineering studies at the Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk University of Technology) are famous for rigorous verification of knowledge in the first and second year. There is a group of courses that generate the highest percentage of revisions at the faculties of WETI, WILiŚ, WEiA or WM.

THE MOST DIFFICULT PIECES AT THE GDAŃSK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (PG):

• Mathematics Teaching Centre (CNM PG: Mathematical Analysis 1 and 2 (All faculties)
• Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Strength of Materials & Structural Mechanics
• Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Control Engineering: Circuit Theory & Control Theory
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering / WIMiO: Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics

1. Mathematical Analysis 1 and 2 (CNM PG)

Run by the Mathematics Teaching Center of the Gdańsk Tech University. The first semester is a collision with derivatives, indefinite and definite integrals, and series.

• Why is it difficult? Unlike high school, PG requires a full understanding of theorem proofs and proficiency in solving complex integrals under time pressure.

• How to pass according to older generations? Recalculate tasks from the so-called “Kłos/Zgórzyński Scripts” and worksheets from the CNM from the last 5 years. You must pass the exercises at least 60-70% to enter the exam without unnecessary stress.

2. Strength of materials (WILiŚ / WM)

A classic “sieve” in the fields of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Mechanics. Graphs of bending moments, shear forces, stresses and statically indeterminate lattice systems keep students awake at night.

• How to pass? It is essential to work on an ongoing basis. Handing over the so-called “projects” (design of beams and frames) within the first set deadline is half the battle. Postponing project revisions until the end of the semester almost guarantees failing the subject.

3. Circuit Theory (WEiA / WETI)

Transient state analysis, nodal potential method, differential equations in the transient state of RLC circuits.

• How to pass? Go for consultations with the instructors in the Main Building or in the WETI building. Lecturers appreciate students who come with a specifically started, unfinished task and ask about a calculation error.

The most difficult courses at the University of Gdańsk (UG) – Where is the easiest to catch the condition?

The University of Gdańsk, which has campuses in Gdańsk, Oliwa, Sopot and Gdynia, has its own list of legendary subjects that decide whether to “be or not to be” at university.

THE HARDEST COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GDAŃSK (UG):

• Faculty of Law and Administration (Faculty of Law and Administration Oliwa): Roman Law & Civil Law (General Part / Obligations)
• Faculty of Economics / Management (Sopot): Econometrics & Mathematical Statistics
• Faculty of Chemistry / Biology (Oliwa): Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry
• Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science: Linear Algebra & Real Analysis

1. Roman Law and Civil Law (Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk)

Exams at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk in Oliwa are a gigantic test of memory and logic. Roman law in the 1st year requires mastery of Latin paremias, the construction of complaints (actiones) and the law of property and inheritance. Civil Law in the 2nd year, on the other hand, requires proficiency in the Civil Code.

• How to pass? Learn case studies! Memorizing articles is not enough – examiners check the ability to apply a provision in a specific factual situation. Use the case databases made available by the Scientific Circles of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk.

2. Econometrics and Descriptive Statistics (Faculty of Economics / Management in Sopot)

Testing statistical hypotheses, linear regression models and parameter estimation at Sopot faculties are the main barrier for people with a humanities profile.

• How to pass? Master the use of statistical programs (e.g. GRETL, SPSS, Excel) used in exercises and learn how to correctly interpret indicators (e.g. p-value, R² coefficient of determination).

3. Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (Faculty of Chemistry / Biology in Oliwa)

Writing mechanisms of chemical reactions, metabolic pathways (Krebs cycle, glycolysis) and identification of compounds based on NMR/IR spectra.

• How to pass? Draw reaction patterns by hand on a piece of paper several times. Biochemistry requires regularity from week to week – learning 3 days before the exam ends with an unsatisfactory grade.

5 golden rules of older years – How to pass the “sieves” in the first term?

Survival at Gdańsk University of Technology and University of Gdańsk University does not require being a brilliant scientist – it requires clever tactics and very good work organization.

• Get access to the “Question Exchange” (Database): Each year at Gdańsk University of Technology and UG has its own drives on Google Drive or servers on Discord, where exam questions from the last 5-10 years are collected. Questions at Gdańsk University of Technology and UG are very often repeated in 60-80%!
• Fight for the Zero Exam (“Zero Grade”): If the teacher offers a kindergarten in January or May for people with a high average in exercise – do everything to join it. Losing in kindergarten does not result in the entry of a grade of 2.0 into the protocol, but gives an invaluable preview of the questions!
• Come to Consultations / On-Call: Lecturers at Gdańsk Tech (in the Main Building) and UG (in Oliwa) have mandatory hours of duty. Showing up for consultations 2-3 times a semester with a difficult task makes you stop being anonymous.
• Organize learning together: Gather in subgroups at the Main Library of Gdańsk University of Technology (BG G-St in the Fahrenheit Courtyard) or in the Main Library of Gdańsk (BUG in Powiśle/Oliwa) and explain to each other more difficult issues.
• Keep an eye on ECTS and the deficit limit: Each subject has an assigned ECTS weight (e.g. Analysis = 7 ECTS, PE = 0 ECTS). Always invest 80% of your study time in subjects with the highest point weight!

Storing scripts from previous years, organizing the database of exam questions, checking grades in MojaPG or USOSweb and keeping an eye on the schedule of casual work can be difficult during the session. See how the comprehensive application for students Student360 works – it allows you to safely store materials and sheets on a 5 GB disk in the cloud, track the schedule of classes, calculate ECTS credits and any deficit, as well as settle bills for the apartment with roommates.

Additional “screeners” at Gdańsk University of Technology and University of Gdańsk Tech – Computer Architecture, Genetics and Thermodynamics

In addition to the flagship subjects-sieve (such as Analysis or Roman Law), there are smaller, but equally dangerous courses at individual faculties of Gdańsk University of Technology and UG that can paralyze learning throughout the semester.

1. Computer Architecture and Assembler (PG/WETI)

At the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Computer Science of Gdańsk University of Technology (WETI), the student is confronted with the need to understand the operation of the processor at the level of registers, memory indicators, and the Assembler and C languages.

• Why is it difficult? People who are proficient in Python or JavaScript will often rely on manual memory management (the so-called segmentation fault) and x86/ARM processor registers.

• Survival strategy: Writing small live programs and testing them in a debugger (e.g., GDB) from week 1 onwards. It is imperative to include the so-called “coding laboratories” on an ongoing basis.

2. Genetics and Molecular Biology (UG / Faculty of Biology in Oliwa)

At the modernly equipped Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk in Oliwa, students are subject to strict laboratory rigor.

• Why is it difficult? Obtaining permission to perform a laboratory exercise (e.g. DNA isolation, PCR reaction, electrophoresis) requires passing a difficult written pass at the beginning of each class. Failure to pass 2 passes means that it is not possible to perform the exercises and fails the entire module.

• Survival strategy: Use the scripts of the UG biologists’ science circles and learn microbiological terminology from week to week.

3. Technical Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (PG / WIMiO)

Objects based on Navier-Stokes equations, entomological balances and gas transformations (diesel, Rankine cycles).

The Commission Exam (“Commission”) – The Ultimate Weapon in the Fight for Justice

If you believe that the examiner assessed you unfairly, omitted your correct answers, exceeded the scope of the material specified in the syllabus or behaved in a biased manner, the Regulations of Gdańsk University of Technology and UG Studies give you the right to apply for the Board Exam.

When will the Dean agree to the board exam?

The board exam is not a “free extra chance for everyone”. In the application submitted via the MojaPG or USOSweb portal, you must prove procedural irregularities:

• The exam contained questions in a field that was not included in the syllabus of the subject.

• The form of the exam was changed without prior notice to students (e.g. from written to oral 2 days before the deadline).

• There were glaring discrepancies in the evaluation of works with similar content.

The role of the Student Government (SSPG/SSSUG):

The application should be consulted with the faculty Student Government (SSPG at the Gdańsk University of Technology or SSSUG at the University of Gdańsk). A representative of the Local Government has the right to participate in the board exam as an impartial observer, making sure that questions are asked in accordance with the rules and in a stress-free atmosphere.

Free pre-session tutoring from Scientific Clubs and Local Governments

Before you spend a few hundred zlotys on private tutoring in mathematical analysis or building mechanics, take advantage of free academic initiatives organized directly on the campuses in Gdańsk and Sopot.

• “Pre-session traffic jams” of the Gdańsk Tech Students’ Self-Government (SSPG):
  Before each winter and summer exam session, SSPG organizes open, free lectures and workshops in the most difficult subjects (Analysis, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanics). Classes are conducted by older students and doctoral students, who explain tasks from previous years step by step.

• Open workshops of Scientific Circles (Faculty of Law and Administration / WTiCh / WETI):
  Scientific clubs operating at faculties regularly organize the so-called “revisions before the exam”. This is the best place to shamelessly ask a question about Latin paremes in law or matrix transformations in computer science.

The final strategy for going through studies at Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk Tech

Going through the most demanding stages of studies in the Tri-City comes down to 4 steps:

• Be present from week 1: Don’t miss exercises and labs – working off absences in December or the May peak is a logistical nightmare.
• Use yearbook archives: Recalculating tasks from question exchanges is 3 times more effective than reading dry theory from a textbook.
• Collaborate with the yearbook: Share notes, take part in Science Club workshops, and don’t be afraid to ask older yearbooks for tips on specific lecturers.
• Check your ECTS status: Always keep an eye on the deficit threshold in MojaPG or USOSweb, so that in case of a possible stumble, you can be sure that you will receive a conditional entry for the next semester!

Frequently Asked Questions on Difficult Subjects at Gdańsk University of Technology and University of Gdańsk Tech

1. What happens if I fail a course for 6-8 ECTS at PG or UG?

If the sum of the ECTS credits not passed is within the acceptable deficit limit at your faculty (e.g. up to 12 ECTS at Gdańsk University of Technology or UG), you submit an application for conditional registration (the so-called condition) in the MojaPG or USOSweb system. You move on to a higher semester, but you have to repeat and pay for the failed course in the following year.

2. How much does the “condition” cost for failing a subject at the Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk?

The fee for repeating the course is converted from ECTS credits. At Gdańsk Tech and UG in the academic year 2026/2027, the rate is approx. PLN 110 – PLN 180 for 1 ECTS credit. This means that a subject requirement for 6 ECTS costs about PLN 660 – PLN 1080.

3. What is the difference between the “kindergarten” and the first exam date?

A kindergarten is an unofficial or official exam date conducted before the main exam session. It is usually granted to students with high attendance or good grades in exercises. Failure to pass the kindergarten usually does not result in entering an unsatisfactory grade in the main protocol.

4. Where to look for reliable notes and “question exchanges” at Gdańsk University of Technology and UG?

The main sources are closed yearbook groups on Facebook, Discord servers created by the starosts of the year, and Google Drive clouds transferred from year to year. Always ask for materials from students in the 2nd and 3rd year of your major.

5. How to arrange a conditional entry in the MojaPG or USOSweb system?

After announcing the grades from the retake session, you enter the system (MojaPG at the University of Technology or USOSweb at the University of Gdańsk), go to the Applications / Applications tab, select the Application for Conditional Registration, indicate the failed course and send the form electronically to the Dean.

6. Do the instructors have the right to change the rules of credit given in the syllabus?

No. The rules for passing the course given in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester are a binding document. The teacher may not raise the passing threshold or add new, unannounced strictures during the semester without the consent of the Faculty/Dean Council.