How many people drop out after 1 year of studies in Gdańsk? The brutal reality

Difference between a matura exam and a session

A high school diploma, even one passed with 90% in extended mathematics, does not prepare you for a collision with the academic system. In technical faculties of Gdańsk University of Technology or medical faculties of MUG, the amount of material to master in one semester exceeds what you have absorbed throughout high school. If you don’t get into the rhythm of systematic learning before the first winter session, you may wake up with a few “conditions” that you can’t handle financially or temporarily.

Where is the screening the highest? Ranking of difficulties of Tri-City universities

There is no single answer to the question of how many people drop out after 1 year, because it all depends on the faculty and major. However, let’s take a look at the local statistics leaders.

1. Gdańsk University of Technology: Kingdom of Analysis and Algebra

At Gdańsk Tech, especially at faculties such as ETI (Electronics, Telecommunications and Computer Science) or the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the screening after the first year can reach from 30% to even 50%.

The main culprit is general subjects: mathematical analysis, linear algebra and physics. It is here that many students “lecture” on the first term, and the September campaign (retake session) becomes their last fight for survival. The University of Technology has the reputation of a university that is easy to get into, but very difficult to stay at.

2. University of Gdańsk: Law and Philology

At the University of Gdańsk, the situation looks a little different. At the Faculty of Law and Administration, about 20-25% of students usually drop out after the first year. Here, the filter is, for m.in, Roman law or logic.

On the other hand, in difficult philologies (e.g. Scandinavian studies or Japanese studies), the sifting results from the enormous pace of learning the language from scratch. If you don’t have the basics mastered after the first semester, you are not able to understand the lectures in the second semester.

3. Medical University of Gdańsk: Anatomy Decides Your Life

MUG is a specific place. This is where the best of the best get in, so theoretically the screening should be minimal. However, the rigor of learning is so powerful that about 10-15% of people do not pass on to the second year. The reason? First of all, anatomy and molecular biology. In medicine, being removed from the list of students is often the result of burnout or a single, failed exam that could not be improved in the committee mode.

Tri-City logistics and your chances of passing

You may think that commuting does not affect whether you pass the session, but in the reality of Gdańsk it is a key factor.

• SKM trap: If you live in Gdynia and study in Gdańsk Oliwa, you spend at least an hour a day on Fast Urban Railway (SKM) trains. If you spend this time studying or reviewing your notes – you gain. If you want to mindlessly scroll your phone – you lose key minutes that you will miss in the evening.
• Campus Dispersion: The University of Gdańsk has faculties scattered from Sopot (Economics, Management) to Gdynia (Oceanography). The need to move between cities in one day can exhaust the most persistent. Physical fatigue directly translates into worse academic results and increases the risk of being in the group of people who drop out after 1 year.

Mechanisms of Falling Off: How Does Deletion Occur?

No one is crossed off the list of students “by accident”. This is usually a process that has its stages:

1. Ignoring colloquia: In many fields of study in Gdańsk, you will not be allowed to take the exam if you do not pass the exercises.
2. Exceeding the ECTS limit: Each item has its own point weight. If you fail the exam, you have a deficit of points. At most universities (UG, Gdańsk), the allowable deficit allowing for the so-called condition is about 10-12 ECTS. If you fail two “big” items, you automatically lose the right to enrol for the next year.
3. No Deposit for Item Repeat: Many people drop out because they cannot afford to pay for the “condition”, which in Gdańsk can cost from several hundred to even several thousand zlotys.
4. Failure to pass the retake session: September in the Tri-City is beautiful, but for students with revision it is a time of isolation. If you fail the amendment, all that remains is a request for a consignment, which is rarely successful.

Anatomy of Screening

Although the general statistics on how many people drop out after 1 year of studies may be scary, it is worth taking a look at the specific hotspots on the academic map of Gdańsk and Gdynia. It is not the entire university that decides about your fate, but specific departments that have been acting as strict filters for years.

Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of the Gdańsk University of Technology – “Service Provider” difficulties

The Faculty of Technical Physics and Applied Mathematics (WFTiMS) is a place that almost every student of Gdańsk University of Technology will come across. It is the lecturers from this faculty who teach mathematics and physics for other faculties. Statistics show that in fields such as Nanotechnology or Technical Physics, the screening rate after the first year is one of the highest at the entire university. This is often due to the fact that students do not appreciate the level of abstraction that is required at Gdańsk Tech from the very first classes.

Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk in Sopot – Mathematics at the Threshold of the Beach

The Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk, located a stone’s throw from the Sopot pier, is associated with prestige and great prospects. However, it is here that mathematics and statistics take their most abundant toll. If you think that economics studies are mainly management theory, the first session in financial mathematics will quickly verify this approach. Sifting in fields such as Economics or International Economic Relations often oscillates around 20%, and the main reason is quantitative rigor.

Faculty of Navigation of the UMG – Specifics of Gdynia

At the Gdynia Maritime University (UMG), the situation is even more specific. Here, how many people drop out after 1 year is determined not only by science, but also by discipline and health. Maritime internships and uniformed rigor make some people resign before the end of the first semester, coming to the conclusion that life at sea is not for them. This is a unique type of screening that you will not find at the University of Gdańsk or Gdańsk Tech.

The trap of “ECTS”: Why do students in Gdańsk lose to bureaucracy?

Understanding the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) system is crucial in order not to become part of the statistics of people crossed off the list of students. In the Tri-City, each university has its own specific rules regarding the point deficit.

1. Small points, big problem: Often, students focus on “big” exams (e.g. for 6 ECTS), neglecting smaller subjects (e.g. health and safety, language courses or PE) worth 1-2 points. Meanwhile, the USOS system is inexorable – if you miss 1 point to the deficit limit due to failing PE, you can be crossed off the list of students just as effectively as for failing mathematical analysis.
2. Applications and dates – battle with USOS: At the Gdańsk University of Technology (MojaPG system) and the University of Gdańsk (USOS), dates are crucial. If you know that you will fail the exam, you must submit an appropriate application for conditional entry or extension of the session within a strictly defined time window. Being one day late with an electronic application often means automatic deletion, even if your deficit is within the normal range.
3. Financial effects of the “condition”: In Gdańsk, the cost of repeating a course is directly related to ECTS credits. If you fail an item with a high point weight, your “condition” may cost as much as a vacation in warm countries. For many students, it is the financial barrier that becomes the reason why they drop out of college after 1 year.

Does loneliness in the Tri-City kill motivation?

Hardly anyone talks about it out loud, but the sifting of students in Gdańsk has a strong psychological basis. The Tri-City, despite its attractiveness, can be an isolating place for a newly arrived person.

“October Blue” Syndrome and Session Depression

October in Gdansk can be beautiful, but November and December are a time of rain, wind from the sea and short days. For someone who has left friends and family in another part of Polish, this period is critical. The lack of a support group makes learning difficulties seem insurmountable. Statistics show that a large proportion of people who drop out after 1 year are students who have failed to integrate into academia and have lost their sense of purpose.

The trap of a tourist city

Studying in a place where others come for vacation is a challenge for willpower. The temptation to spend time in atmospheric pubs in the Main Town or party in Sopot is enormous, especially when the summer session coincides with the beginning of the tourist season. Students who are unable to separate the “lifestyle of the Tri-City” from academic duties most often feed the statistics of people failing the first year.

Reactivation and Transfer: How do I get back into the game after being deleted?

Being removed from the list of students after 1 year is not the end of the world, but it requires quick action, especially if you want to stay in Gdańsk.

• ECTS Credit Recovery: If you have been crossed out, but have passed some of the subjects, your ECTS credits are not forfeited. You can apply for their recognition when re-enrolling or transferring to another university (e.g. from Gdańsk Tech to a private university in Sopot or Gdynia). This will allow you not to start everything from scratch.
• Change of study mode: Often, students who do not cope with full-time studies at the University of Gdańsk move to part-time (part-time) studies. In Gdańsk, this system is very developed, and the final diploma is the same. This allows you to combine study with work, which for many people is the key to stability and success.
• Reactivation procedure: Each university in the Tri-City has a reactivation path written in the regulations. This usually requires a break (e.g. a year) and the submission of an appropriate application. This is the time to rethink your strategy and better prepare for your return.

Survival strategies for students in Gdansk

Now that you know how many people drop out after 1 year of college, it’s time for an action plan that will protect you from this fate.

1. Networking and “question exchanges”

Studies are a team game. In Gdańsk, each cathedral has its own history and… your favorite questions. Join Facebook groups, make friends with older generations. Knowing the specifics of the exam at a particular professor from Gdańsk University of Technology or University of Gdańsk Tech is 50% of success. Ask about “stock exchanges” – these are collections of questions from previous years, which circulate in the Tri-City in the form of legendary PDFs.

2. Leverage scientific infrastructure

If it’s too noisy in your rented apartment in Wrzeszcz , run to libraries. The Main Library of the University of Gdańsk or the modern reading rooms of the Gdańsk University of Technology are places where concentration comes naturally. Often, just being among learning people motivates more than coffee from “Żabka”.

3. Manage work wisely

If you have to work, look for employment in the area of Olivia Business Centre or Alchemia, where many companies offer flexible schedules for students. Avoid night work before the days when you have important lectures – recovery is crucial for your brain.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Tri-City universities offer psychological support and free consultations with teachers. If you feel that the material is too much for you, go to the emergency room. Lecturers at UG or Gdańsk University of Technology often appreciate the interest and willingness to improve, which can save your final grade.

Frequently asked questions about student screening in the Tri-City

Which field of study in Gdańsk drops out the most?

Statistically, the largest number of people drop out of technical faculties at the Gdańsk University of Technology (Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering) and at difficult science faculties at the University of Gdańsk (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry). This is often the result of the wrong choice of direction by candidates who are not able to cope with advanced mathematics.

What happens if I fail 1 year of study?

If you do not obtain the required number of ECTS credits, you will be removed from the list of students. You then have several options: you can apply for resumption of studies (usually after a year), try to transfer to another field of study (if you have passed some of the subjects), or take part in a new recruitment. Remember that in the event of deletion, you lose your student status and the associated discounts (e.g. for SKM or ZTM).

Is the “condition” at Gdańsk University of Technology and UG expensive?

Yes, conditional entry is paid. Prices depend on the number of ECTS credits assigned to the course and on the university itself. At Gdańsk Tech, the cost of one ECTS credit is usually several dozen zlotys, which in the case of a course for 6 ECTS gives an amount of 400-600 zlotys. At the University of Gdańsk, the rates are similar. It is worth checking the current regulations of the Rector of a given university in the USOS or MojaPG system.

Do extramural studies in Gdańsk have less screening?

Not necessarily. Although the requirements on exams are sometimes similar, part-time students at UG or Gdańsk University of Technology often combine education with full-time work, which causes great fatigue and difficulties with submitting projects on time. Screening in part-time studies often results from the resignation of the student himself, and not from the decision of the university.

Is it possible to avoid a retake session?

The best way to avoid the “September campaign” is to use the so-called “zero grades”. These are exam dates organized before the official session. Even if you fail the grade, it usually doesn’t count towards the official deadlines, so you get a free trial and an invaluable insight into the exam sheet.

How do I know how many people dropped out of my year?

The easiest way is to monitor lists in the USOS or MojaPG system (e.g. when signing up for language courses or elective courses). Universities rarely publish official statistics of “failures” during the year, but with the naked eye you can see the thinned rows in lecture halls after the first semester.

Will you survive the first year?

The number of people who drop out after 1 year of study in Gdansk may be worrying, but it shouldn’t paralyze you. The Tri-City is a fantastic place to develop, and the local universities give diplomas that really open the door to a career in Poland and around the world.

Success in the first year is not only a matter of IQ, but above all of strategy. The key is:

• Understanding that college is not high school.
• Smart financial management in an expensive city.
• Use of the local “exchange” of knowledge and support of colleagues.
• Quick adaptation to the specifics of SKM and Tri-City logistics.

Remember that even if you get the leg up, Gdansk offers many alternative educational paths. But if you approach the subject wisely, then in a few months you will be planning a vacation with peace of mind, while others will tremble before the September amendments.

Are you planning to stay in Gdańsk for longer? Don’t give in to statistics. Focus on the next colloquium and spend your free time resetting your head by the sea – this is the best balance you can provide.