SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities Speciality : Sociology
programme: Psychological Science

I enrolled as an international student in a Bachelor of Psychology program expecting preparation aligned with European academic standards. Unfortunately, the program structure and administration raise serious concerns.

The degree does not include a bachelor thesis, and students were told this is legally impossible for private universities in Poland. This is false — Polish higher education law allows institutions to decide whether to include a thesis. The same university includes theses in other bachelor programs, making this explanation misleading.

Due to the lack of a thesis and missing core psychology content, graduates encounter systematic difficulties when applying for master’s programs in Europe.

Administrative practices also create financial pressure:
• Students are required to pay for full course retakes due to medical absences despite passing exams.
• Tuition payments have repeatedly gone “missing” in the system until legal escalation.
• Courses of minimal academic value are still billed at full cost.

For a high-tuition program, the academic rigor, transparency, and student protection mechanisms are not adequate.