Departments and institutes
The University of Wrocław is one of the largest universities in the country and sometimes… it is easy to get lost here – due to both the location of the buildings and the variety of functions that the various units perform. You do not need to know everything – you will most likely not need it. Most often you will be in your institute or your department, sometimes you will look in the dean’s office, a few times, or maybe just once, in the main building. However, it is worth briefly finding out what you can do and where you can get new knowledge to complement that offered in your home faculty.
Let’s start with the departments. Departments group together researchers working in similar areas of research. Research work involving students, volunteers and trainees is carried out in the establishments, and theses are also conducted here. The lecturers and examiners for specific subjects usually come from the same departments, so you can, based on the research of a particular lecturer, choose the lecturer that interests you more – although this is not always possible. If you want to prepare a thesis in a specific department of your discipline – check who does what in the different departments (it is worth reviewing the staff bibliography). Students, especially in the upper years, can establish collaborations with researchers and carry out their research together with them.
Your direct supervisor within the unit is the year supervisor and, in some faculties, the dean’s representative for courses. He or she is the one who will help you in the first instance to solve any puzzles or problems in your relationship with the staff or management system of the unit. You should also receive support from the student council, which is worth contacting
quick to contact.
Occasionally you will need to deal with the director or management of a unit. All types of applications, extensions, departures are reviewed and approved by her/him, as she/he is directly responsible for the students. Therefore, if you want to complete any administrative procedure quickly and successfully, you should first go with your application to the respective director during office hours: the director for teaching or student affairs if you have a problem related to your studies; the director for general affairs if you are looking for funding for scientific or social projects; the director for science if you want to establish closer scientific cooperation between students and staff. In some faculties, the student representative or dean for student affairs will help you solve your problem. You should also consult with the management, as the team of people responsible for the building and order in the unit, about any activities that will involve the use of the premises.
