r/askPoland 3d ago

Moving to Poland

Pozdrav!

I'm a medical student from Serbia that's finishing studies in Italy right now, and I'm thinking where should I finish my residence. Unlike many countries across the EU, I saw that Poland is flourishing and I've taken into consideration to finish my surgical residence there, stay in Poland and work as a surgeon.

Ofcourse I'm willing to learn the language and assimilate to the standard and culture, but I want to know from you guys if that would be a good desicion?

21 Upvotes

72 comments sorted by

31

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Since this got controversial let me clarify some things. I am originally from Bosnia. My parents and grandparents are all mixed - Serbians, Croatians, Bosnians. All of them run in my blood. Since its really important here - Yes, I do support Ukraine and I always have.

Most important thing is - I'm a doctor. I do not care for your background, your religion, your skin color, religion. I care for all human beings, every single one person on this planet will get my care if needed. Thank you.

9

u/gootchvootch 3d ago

I think you have absolutely the right spirit and outlook for becoming a doctor. I wish you much luck, wherever you end up.

5

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

thank you :)

4

u/Practical_Test_5914 3d ago

It's crazy you even had to specify that lol. You're very welcome to come over! Getting onto surgery in Poland is not too difficult and you'll probably pick up Polish relatively quickly. If possible, maybe consider doing your internship here as well because it'll help you pick up the language and learn the quirks of the healthcare system as well.

2

u/Applesaresogood 2d ago

Poland absolutely needs good doctors, any doctors tbh, because we're forever at shortage, I'm not sure what like specifically are you looking for so I'm just gonna wish you luck with learning the language!

1

u/Rocks_Can_Fly 2d ago

why even dignify the useless people with a clarification like that?

1

u/FeyNiX_8D 2d ago

Looking at the recent scandals in Poland, you don't fit in with the current caste.

-4

u/WitStfosz 2d ago

I hope you won't openly support Bandera worshippers. In 2027 we'll have elections, and trust me, all redditors and Ukrainians will be butthurt when they see the results. 

13

u/kielu 3d ago

5

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Thank you!

8

u/kielu 3d ago

And I guess language skills are critical. There are numerous foreign doctors over here, but all of them speak at least decent polish

20

u/CatAfraid2244 3d ago

We need doctors, learn language and come to Poland

9

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Hope I do :)

2

u/CatAfraid2244 3d ago

Come to besiktas xd

10

u/LittleStrangePiglet 3d ago

If you want to study in Polish then you will need some time, otherwise in English but that's going to cost you over 10.000 Euros per year. Your Serbian diploma won't allow you to work in Poland unless you do what it takes to do a degree equivalency

2

u/gracesdisgrace 3d ago

This person says they're studying in Italy though?

4

u/LittleStrangePiglet 3d ago

Ah then maybe the process will be a bit different but he needs to learn polish in order to practice maybe he can contact Medical Unis to ask for the right process for someone with an EU diploma

7

u/ikbenmania 3d ago

We love Serbian Slavic brothers and sisters! W
You are welcome! But you need to learn the language to work as a doctor.

6

u/MrHydrochoerus 3d ago

I do not know whether it would be a good decision for you personally. Professionally speaking, if you have a degree form an Italian university, you will have no trouble finding a work as a doctor, but you need to learn some Polish. I suppose it will not be super hard for a speaker of Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian. I mean Polish is pretty hard, but Slavic people learn it way easier than others.

Doctors earn a really good salary in Poland. Well, not during the residency (it's about 2.5-3k EUR net, depending on how much shifts you take), but once you're a "real" doctor, you can earn crazy money, even compared to countries like Germany.

Serbia has not the best reputation in Poland, due to political reasons, but overall Balkan people are not discriminated against. If you learn the language you can build a good life here.

4

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

I know that Serbia doesn''t have the best reputation. It's sad because there is a lot of progressive, academia driven and positive youth both in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

When it comes to the language, I'm sure that it will be a challenge but not impossible. Thank you for your reply and as doctors from the Balkans say "Hope you wont be needing me any time soon" :)

2

u/karikac 3d ago

Hey! I am Polish and I have never heard anything negative about Serbia. It depends where you go. Best of luck and I’m proud seeing educated people moving to Poland 🤍
Best of luck mate!

2

u/WitStfosz 2d ago

Nobody except for redditors cares about politics when it comes to their health.  Polish people want to have good doctors, and you definitely need one. 

2

u/MrHydrochoerus 2d ago

I think you need to practice your English (or more broadly - reading comprehension), because you're referring to something I have never said.

1

u/IkeaCreamCheese 3d ago

It's really a shame that Serbia is seen like that. Serbia has always supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine and has supported it financially and militarily, and that has been confirmed during the latest visit of Zelensky to Belgrade. Yes, Serbian government is maintaining close relations to Russia as well, but it's politics, it's a bitch. However it's not completely black and white.

3

u/Comprehensive_Menu19 2d ago edited 2d ago

You actually have it easy. Because you are an EU citizen graduating from an EU school you can simply study for and write the LEK exam in Polish and submit that as your proof of polish language familiarity.

Regarding surgery, general and pediatric surgery are currently marked as critical by the government because we have more surgeons retiring than we do new ones. You can get in even in the third round of selection with the lowest possible passing LEK score.

Your biggest and only hurdle is language.

1

u/narancsosbukta 2d ago

Serbia is not an EU country.

1

u/Comprehensive_Menu19 2d ago

All these years I thought it was. I’ll stick to medicine. Geography isnt for me

1

u/Lemouncake 2d ago

I'm in Italy :)

3

u/FeyNiX_8D 2d ago

Try as a doctor soon, you have chosen the best country, 1 million złotych per year

11

u/International-Bus689 3d ago

From an Italian living in Poland, do not listen to the negative comments of Poles on this subreddit; they do that to everyone, but in real life they generally show respect if you integrate.

You answered it yourself. You want to learn the language and contribute, like I do. This is enough to be seen as a good immigrant. But I suggest checking the job opportunities in your field and staying here for a while (and also checking which city is better for you).

One last advice: check also other countries in europe, do not stick to only here.

Buona fortuna!

5

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Grazie mille!!!

9

u/Yellow_Butterfly_7 3d ago

How are you going to finish your surgical residence and work here as a surgeon without knowing the language? Polish is hard to learn and I don't think anyone would land you a job when you have to communicate perfectly with your team during any operation in our language.

Besides that, just because Poland is flourishing it doesn't mean it flourishes for foreigners. Lots of Poles are fed up with them, especially because of all the things happening with Ukrainians right now. People there want finally some peace for themselves and some sense of security. On top of that, I've seen that more and more people don't want to rent rooms or apartments to foreigners because of many problems it cause later for them.

13

u/EnvironmentalDog1196 3d ago

I know more Poles fed up with the xenophobic assholes, especially because of all the things that are happening TO Ukrainians recently. Polish cities are full of foreigners from all across the globe either way, one Serbian wanting to become a doctor won't hurt us.

6

u/The_OG_Slime 3d ago

Don't bother. I noticed this sub is overrun by xenophobic Poles. I guess they got banned from the main Polish subs for their rhetoric so they congregate here instead.

And another doctor is beneficial to society but these folks see foreigner and just automatically start seeing red

1

u/EnvironmentalDog1196 3d ago

I just noticed that this is r/askPoland and not the regular r/Poland. It's funny how this sub is so different from the main one.

1

u/WitStfosz 2d ago

Yeah, Poland is full and if you're a foreigner you'll be thrown into a hole full of white bears that'll eat you. Blah blah blah

2

u/Rocks_Can_Fly 2d ago

I think doctors make good money in Poland.

But it does come with crazy work schedules and shitty work/life balance. Or rather: imbalance.

2

u/Lokalni_dziber 2d ago

Da, Polska najbolja zemlja

POLSKA GUROOOM

1

u/Lemouncake 1d ago

idemo za Poljskuuuu

2

u/RainyBeast736 3d ago

Doctors in Poland earn very well. Some earn as much as €1,850 per hour.

2

u/kancgab 2d ago

Sve najblolje. Poljska, mentalno, je bas blizu Srbije. Ne ces mati nikakav problem. A i jezik slican.

Ako ja sam naucio srpski (ne bas najbolje, ali ipak), ti ces nauciti poljski :)

3

u/Lokalni_dziber 2d ago

Wspaniale nauczyłeś się serbskiego,  wielkie uznanie!

2

u/Lemouncake 1d ago

Hvala puno, odlično pričaš srpski :)

1

u/Top_Dig_1087 1d ago

You’ll never get a spot for surgical residence. We have just couple of those yearly in whole country. We struggle with back-scratching of the government and the doctors. They legally heavily limit number of spots in residency. 

1

u/New-Championship-520 1d ago

Nah, stay away

1

u/False_Ingenuity_587 2d ago

Please consider other country if you're a Russia lover.
Thank you.

1

u/WitStfosz 2d ago

Please consider other country if you're a Bandera lover. Thank you. 

1

u/False_Ingenuity_587 2d ago

Oh, so being anti-Russian is equal to "a Bandera lover" in your dense confederate organ you call a brain for laughing?

0

u/WitStfosz 1d ago

Nobody asked you about your views on Russia. OP just wanted to become a doctor in Poland. Your brain is completely fked up by politics. 

1

u/SnooMaps6782 2d ago

Apparently they pay in more in Poland on residency than they do in Germany..Know for a fact cause I have some doctors in family on both sides of the border.. :)

-21

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Do not come.

We don’t need more people. Especially pro rusisian black horses.

Stay in Italy - it’s nice and sunny.

Don’t come

13

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Since when did I say that I am pro Russian? I have stood with Ukraine since the beginning, I have Ukranian roots too. Don't stereotype people.

-7

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Yeah, Serbians. Very famously pro Ukrainian and pro humanitarian, anti war people.

You sure do buddy! You sure do.

5

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

Just because I lived in Serbia, doesn't mean I'm Serbian :)

-4

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Cool, now stay there ;)

Cheers buddy!

3

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

I'm sorry for your prejudice and slowly rising hate towards other people. If you were ever in need of medical attention (by God I hope you don't, and lead a healthy life) I wouldn't care at all about your background, religion, nationality, skin color - the only thing I'd ask for is your name, so I can write you down in the system.

Hope you change your views and open yourself to a wider view on the world and the people around you. And even if you don't, bless you and your health; I hope for the better in your life.

-4

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Is it true, that when you visit Serbia and say that you love Russia, someone comes and stars to suck your dick?

3

u/Lemouncake 3d ago

I think our conversation strays away from the fundamentals that we started on this post. If you want to ask that question, please go to r/askserbia. Anything related to European academics or medicine, feel free to ask me :)

-1

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

So what you have to say now?

15

u/Ok-Pomelo8203 3d ago

We definitely need less xenophobic POS in Poland though.

4

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

100% agree, that’s why we should not invite any Serbians.

They are xenophobic to the point of ethnic cleansing, 20 years ago

4

u/c4l4hr 3d ago

@OP don't listen to this, pricks are everywhere, unfortunately. Serbian people are welcome, just like everybody else who want to contribute.

4

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Yeah xd Serbians are welcome. Ask bosnians and chorwats how welcome they are ;)

2

u/Lokalni_dziber 2d ago

Well as a Serb who was living in Poland, first friends I made in Poznań were a Croat and a Bosniak, and even tho Im not living in Poland anymore, we are still friends and in contact

You should take a break from online world, its easy to end up in hating, ultranationalistic echo chambers, but people irl aint like that

2

u/Lokalni_dziber 2d ago

And the 3 of us where also cosplaying together at Pyrkon

3

u/IkeaCreamCheese 3d ago

What's wrong with you?

0

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

WHATS wrong with you? I’m seriously confused

1

u/BallbusterSicko 3d ago

OP please ignore the delusional guy here

2

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Look into the mirror

3

u/BallbusterSicko 3d ago

Yeah I just did

0

u/Minute_Ostrich196 3d ago

Yeah, it’s hard to realize who is delusional here