By students, for students.

Learn from those who know best: older students! Navigating UMB can be challenging without their practical guidance and anecdotes.

That’s why we’re working on this comprehensive library! We want to make this kind of help accessible to everyone, all year round and entirely free, with the help of our university.

Use our guides to plan for upcoming courses, explore life around campus, and to better grasp your goals overall. If you like what you see and want to chip in, consider joining! There's benefits to that, too! Read more, below.

A few points you should know:

Our website is curated by students from the English Division at the Medical University of Białystok.
We are not a replacement for official university resources; always verify using them!
Our viewpoints and opinions may not always align with those held by the university.
We are a small project supported by our Deans and not affiliated with any student organization.
We aim to provide practical information from a student's perspective.
We publish for educational purposes only.
Some information may be outdated because it's coming from years ago. Please always verify independently.
Please do neither share our links nor content with outsiders who are unaffiliated with the UMB English Division.

Thank you!

You can become a Student Guide!

Joining our team can become more than updating this library. It's because we are united in having stopped complaining about unfortunate processes, and, instead, started to work towards the solutions we wanted to see.

You can, too! Leave with a positive impact, create new opportunities – in whatever way you feel necessary, and own the future here at your chosen faculty!

If you match with us (long-term involvement required), we want to present you with:

A certificate upon graduation with distinction.
A personal letter of reference for your CV from our Dean.
A network of contacts you wouldn’t make otherwise.

Ready to make a difference? Talk to us in person about your ideas. We’re excited to welcome your passion aboard.

guide@student.umb.edu.pl

Meet our Team!

Matthias Koch Class of 2025

Hi! I'm Matthias, originally from Switzerland, and I’ve been studying in Bialystok since 2019. I came up with the idea for a website like the Student Guide during the pandemic when traditional channels—like pinboards, websites, student-to-student interactions and chaotic group chats—completely stopped being effective. Now, after years of dedication to this project, I have the pleasure of leading it together with an incredible team from all around the world.

In my free time, I love traveling, exploring nature, doing photography and graphic design, and, when I need a break, playing games like Minecraft, Satisfactory, and Cities: Skylines.

You can reach me via WhatsApp or student email 🤙

Please do not use my Facebook or Instagram, I am not active there.

Julius Clauberg Class of 2026

I'm Julius, and I come from Germany to study in Bialystok, where I've been since 2020. I helped create this guide and am still working to keep it up to date! I am convinced that this project will make university life easier for us and future students.

Are you struggling with difficult subjects? Since I started studying, I've helped other students pass challenging exams. Throughout my student life, I've revisited many of the most important topics multiple times, so I'm familiar with much of the material in anatomy, histology, physiology, and pathophysiology. Contact me if you need study tips or tutoring sessions!

Of course, it's not all about university. I really enjoy coffee and bars. Want to grab a beer together or join us Germans for a weekend party? Let me know!

You can reach me on WhatsApp or through my student email. 🤙

Julia Dawidowicz Class of 2027

Yello!

My name is Julia and I am from Kalmar, Sweden's best city. I started studying in Bialystok back in 2021 and joined Matthias' team during my 3rd year at UMB.

I hope that this guide will be helpful and save you loads of time. Hopefully it will also readuce the amount of retakes that you'll have to sit!

When I am not at the Politechnika library, you'll catch me sending dog reels to my friends or somewhere on a run in the woods. Probably ending the run with a tea at Kafejeto! Apart from that, I yap for a living.

Always up for a chat, especially when bonus points are included.

Daniel Erdmann Class of 2028

I'm Daniel, originally from Düsseldorf, Germany, and I’m now starting my third year of medical studies.

I enjoy being a guide because it’s a great way to meet other interesting students, share knowledge, and help each other.

Before beginning my medical career, I studied history and musicology. I'm passionate about cultures, history, and the arts, and I'm always up for a chat! So feel free to reach out with any questions—whether they're university-related or beyond university topics.

You can reach me via WhatsApp.

David Scheimann Class of 2028

I'm David from Freiburg, Germany, and I'm starting my third year here at UMB.

When the student guide project came up, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share my knowledge and help new students navigate their way into med school.

Before I started med school, I worked as a paramedic in Germany for three years, which further convinced me that medicine was the right field for me. I'm always happy to help as much as I can, so feel free to reach out to me anytime, for whatever you need.

You can contact me via WhatsApp or my student email.

Esther Towolawi Class of 2028

Hey! I'm Esther and I'm from Ireland. I'm currently in third year at UMB.

Being well aware of how challenging medical school can be, I jumped at the opportunity to help alleviate stress in students' lives by offering support and recources. I deeply enjoy helping students navigate through their academic journey and sharing tips for success.

When I'm not glued to an anki deck , I love to embark on spontaneous travel trips, learning about different country's culture and food whilst ticking each one off my bucket list!

I'm always here to offer guidance and make learning fun and approachable so don't hesisitate to ever reach out to me if you any concerns or worries!

You can contact me via WhatsApp :)

Racheal Diyaolu Class of 2028

Hey :) I’m Racheal I live in Ireland and I’m currently a 3rd year student in UMB. Navigating medical school can be a difficult process especially when studying abroad, so when I heard about the Student Guide I was more than happy to volunteer, to help make the transition as smooth as possible. I’ve always had a passion for helping people in any way that I can, so this was the perfect opportunity for me offer guidance based on my experiences so far.

I always aim to live life to the fullest. In my free time I’m a leader in the UMB Christian community, I love travelling with my friends and recently I’ve been obsessed with crocheting my own clothes.

I’m friendly and approachable (when I’m not stressed about a credit 😅) so if you have any questions or concerns don’t be afraid to reach out. I’m always more than happy to help!

You can contact me via WhatsApp or Instagram :)

Ngoc Hoang Anh Than Class of 2028

Xin chào,

My name is Anh, and I'm from Vietnam.

Coming from a non-EU country, I initially faced many challenges when I first arrived in Poland, especially with the amount of paperwork that was required in order to settle down and pursue my studies smoothly. However, thanks to the initial help from the Welcome center, friends, and self research, I gradually adapted and began to enjoy life in Białystok.

When I knew about the Student Guide project, I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to share my experiences with students who, like me, may need to navigate these challenges. I hope that the tips in this section will provide you a better preparation before arriving to Poland and give you a smooth start to your studies.

I am always happy to help if you have any further questions. Feel free to contact me via WhatsApp:

Abisha Senthilkumar Class of 2028

Heyy! I’m Abisha from India, and I'm currently a third-year student at UMB. I'm thrilled to be part of this amazing community.

When I'm not immersed in my studies, I love spending my time enjoying sunsets, sketching, reading, and indulging in photography. These hobbies are my way of unwinding, and I’m always looking for new creative outlets to explore.

I joined this community because I understand how challenging it can be to adapt to a new environment, especially when coming to a different country for studies. I believe this platform provides a wonderful opportunity to support each other and make the transition smoother for everyone. Whether you're struggling with classes, finding your way around campus, or just need someone to talk to, I'm here to help.

Feel free to reach out to me via WhatsApp if you have any questions or need any assistance.

Furkan Ates Class of 2025

Hi everyone 👋
My name is Furkan Ates, I come from Germany, and I'm a final-year medical student here at UMB.

I’m excited and truly honored to assist future students in surviving med school and contributing to the Student Guide; a framework that I would have wished to have back in the days, when I newly started out as a freshman! I hope that my experiences in thoroughly preparing for every subject over the past years will be a valuable resource and support for students.

Aside from studying for exams, I am deeply passionate about clinical research to make meaningful contributions to academic medicine, specifically in the fields of infectious diseases, gastroenterology, and public health.

If you have any questions or issues I might help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out:

Prof. Tomasz Hryszko Dean of the Faculty

Hello. My name is Tomasz Hryszko, and I am the Dean at the Medical University of Białystok.

When Matthias came forward with the idea of creating a guide to our university made by students for students, I thought it was a wonderful idea.

From the very beginning, I have supported this project and am still in awe of the incredible work the MUB students have created.

Great work! Keep it up!

Urszula Roszkowska Welcome Centre

Hello! My name is Urszula and I work at the MUB's Welcome Centre. I care about helping international students navigate their time here, as I was once an exchange student myself. I had the chance to study abroad through the Erasmus program, spending a full academic year in Italy and one semester in Turkey. These experiences made me realize how valuable it is to have someone supportive by your side in a new environment.

At the Welcome Centre, I’m here to help you connect with the right institution, department, or person at the University, making your experience as smooth as possible. My job is also to help you integrate with our academic community by organising international events.

I’m always ready to listen to your concerns, ideas or initiatives; however, if you have a more complex issue, I suggest sending an email first, so I can consult it with the appropriate people and offer you the best help.

You can reach me via email or WhatsApp

⋯

Former Members:

Paulina Sophia E. Koladzyn Class of 2023, Involved between 2022 and 2023

Paulina Janiak Class of 2023, Involved between 2022 and 2023

Ama Gerikhanova Class of 2026, Involved between 2022 and 2023

Hassan Baig Class of 2024, Involved between 2022 and 2024

Veronica Orvholt Class of 2027, Involved between 2022 and 2024

Current Projects

These are our current projects. Involvement in any of these will earn students our rewards.

Because our website functions a lot like OneNote or Notion, we believe that students who know how to create nice notes there will also be good candidates on our team. If this sounds like you, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Subject guides (Years 1 to 6). As each year goes by, we review our subjects and think of practical things to include. We also go talk with staff, pass down information to the years below, etc.
"In & Around" guides. We update these pages with handy information specifically for students who are completely new to UMB or only here for a little while (e.g., Erasmus). But hopefully all students can profit.
"Post-Graduation" guides. Here, we are trying to aid students with first steps for applying abroad, incl. practical information on the local Lek & Staz procedures.
"UMB English Division" WhatsApp channel (Open here). Some of us are good with staying in the loop. In this channel, you can hear from them about university and extracurricular activity, student events, parties, sports, discounts, etc.
Sundays Sports. Some of us organize (in cooperation with the PE department) casual sport sessions on Sundays for English and Polish Division students alike.

more to come & open to your ideas

Page updated

Report abuse