Vizja Universities Group

Type:

Undergraduate (Bachelor)

Field of study:

Animal Behavior and Psychology

Duration of study:

3 years (6 semesters)

Mode:

full-time

Obtained title:

bachelor’s degree

Language:

English

Why choose this field of study?

Are you fascinated by animal psychology, enjoy observing their behavior and spending time with them? Learn to understand animal emotions and needs at a level that will allow you to turn your passion into a career! Animal behavior and psychology is a practical course of study designed for people who want to work every day with animals that accompany humans – dogs, cats, horses, rodents, rabbits or birds – as behaviorists, trainers, responsible breeders or professional caretakers. This is a study that will allow you to gain not only condensed theoretical knowledge, but, above all, practical professional skills, brought by numerous workshops, field exercises and internships that are an integral part of the training.

In the course of your studies, you will explore and learn to put into practice the knowledge of psychology – mainly cognitive and behavioral – as well as zoology and ethology (the science of animal behavior), which will allow you to accurately interpret the behavior and language of animals, solve their behavioral problems, support the processes of socialization, as well as raise and train them based on positive motivation and building bonds with humans.

What sets us apart?

You will learn to understand and interpret animal behavior and language based on in-depth psychological knowledge provided by prominent UAFM lecturers.
You will participate in numerous workshops, as well as observation practices and field exercises at renowned animal care and training centers.
You will learn about ethical, legal and business issues necessary to conduct business related to your field of study and chosen specialty.

What can you do after graduation?

After graduating with a specialty in Animal Therapy, you will be prepared for professional activity as a behaviorist and trainer specializing in conducting classes with animals of an educational, recreational, therapeutic or rehabilitative nature. Such classes are used by nurseries, kindergartens and schools, treatment, rehabilitation and care centers, as well as prisons, among others. As an animal therapy specialist, you can – in cooperation with doctors, psychologists or physiotherapists – conduct therapy for people with special needs, including motor and intellectual disabilities, as well as children and adults with psychological or social difficulties. You can also run your own animal therapy center based on the directional and business knowledge you have acquired from your studies.

This program
is for you if:

You are interested in animal behavior and have a developed sense of observation.

You see yourself in a profession that combines working with animals with helping other people.

You are an empathetic, patient and responsible person.

New requirements for visa applications

Note: important information for bachelor’s degree candidates (first-cycle studies)

In line with the new requirements for visa applications introduced by Polish consulates around the world, candidates applying for a student visa are now required to submit a document confirming their eligibility to apply for a bachelor’s degree (first-cycle studies), issued by the Polish Education Superintendent Office (in Polish – Kuratorium Oświaty). Previously, this document could be provided after arrival in Poland, but under the new regulations, it must be submitted along with the visa application. The procedure for master’s degree candidates remains unchanged.

While the new requirement may slightly extend the visa process, the UAFM is fully prepared to support bachelor’s degree candidates throughout this period. To ensure there are no disruptions to their education, candidates who cannot arrive in Poland before the start of classes will be able to participate in lectures online via MS Teams. For more information call us: (+48) 12 25 24 400

Tuition fees

Fixed tuition - flexible payments

By choosing to study at UAFM, you can be sure that the tuition fee will not change throughout the duration of your studies. You can pay the tuition fee once for the entire year of study or spread over a semester payment. This allows you to decide how you want to plan your expenses.

Fees (academic year 2025/2026)

EU&OTHER COUNTRIES GROUP

Year of study	Annually	Per semester*
I	2800 €	1550 €
II	2800 €	1550 €
III	2800 €	1550 €

*Semester payment is possible from the second year of studies.

OTHER COUNTRIES

Year of study	Annually	Per semester*
I	3800 €	2050 €
II	3800 €	2050 €
III	3800 €	2050 €

*Semester payment is possible from the second year of studies.

EU and other countries group
This group includes citizens of the countries member states of the European Union and the following countries citizens: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latin America, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Other countries
The citizens of all the remaining countries.

Scholarships - easier than you think

In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships.

Any student who has achieved a high grade point average may apply for a merit-based scholarship.

In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships in the amount of PLN 1,000 per month, depending on academic performance, or PLN 800 / PLN 1,200 per month, depending on scientific, artistic, or sports achievements.

The scholarship can also be awarded for scientific or artistic publications, participation in scientific research or development work, participation in internships, practical training or courses beyond the study program, participation in scientific conferences, and participation in scientific, artistic competitions, exhibitions, or festivals.

A sports scholarship may be granted to a student who stands out with sporting achievements at least at the national competition level or is a member of the national team. Scholarships may also be awarded to athletes representing the university in academic competitions. A first-year student may receive a scholarship based on sports achievements from the 12 months preceding the start of their studies.

Young athletes may receive financial support in the amount of PLN 800 or PLN 1,200 per month.

A scholarship for students with disabilities may be awarded to a student who holds a certificate of disability, a degree of disability, a ZUS medical certificate, a certificate of classification into an invalidity group, or a certificate of permanent or long-term inability to work on a farm.

In the academic year 2024/2025, depending on the degree of disability, approximately 100 scholarships were awarded for students with disabilities, in amounts ranging from PLN 850 to PLN 1,250 per month. In 2023/2024, about 80 scholarships were awarded in the same amounts.

Emergency financial aid is a form of one-time financial support. Any student who has temporarily found themselves in a difficult life situation due to unforeseen events beyond their control may apply for it. Emergency aid can be awarded twice during one academic year; however, it cannot be granted twice for the same event.

In the academic year 2023/2024, we granted 215 emergency financial aids for a total amount of PLN 389,900. Depending on the student’s situation, the amounts ranged from PLN 500 to PLN 3,500 as a one-time payment.

Academic Year 2023/2024:
· 500 Rector’s Scholarships
· 215 emergency financial aids
· 188 social scholarships
· 83 scholarships for students with disabilities

In 2024, we spent nearly PLN 8,800,000 on scholarships.