How to Start Learning Robotics in Poland: A Step-by-Step Guide

Robotics in Poland does not begin only at university, and it does not end there. Depending on age and goal (play, a professional career, an adult's hobby), the path looks different. Below we break it down into stages: children, teenagers, university and self-study for adults.

Children: robotics clubs and after-school activities

The earliest and most accessible way to meet robotics is through robotics clubs run by private education companies, community centers and, increasingly, schools themselves. Offerings of this kind, such as classes with LEGO EV3 and Boost bricks, an introduction to Scratch or simple age-appropriate Arduino kits, are usually aimed at children from age 5; for example, the school TwójRobot offers courses for groups aged 5-7 (RoboKids/LEGO Boost), 8-12 (LEGO EV3) and 12 and up (TwójRobot).

At this stage the key is not a particular programming language but getting used to algorithmic thinking: breaking a problem into steps, testing and fixing errors. Arduino classes for older children and teenagers already introduce the basics of electronics and programming in C++, a natural bridge to more advanced learning in high school.

Parents looking for classes should check whether the offering gives the child real work with physical hardware (not just simulation on a screen). Experience shows that the moment a robot actually moves for the first time is what sustains interest most strongly.

Teenagers: olympiads, competitions and first projects

In secondary school, the natural step is taking part in robotics competitions: FIRST LEGO League tournaments or contests organized locally by technical universities (for example sumo-robot contests at Warsaw University of Technology, according to TwójRobot). Such events teach teamwork under time pressure and confront students with real engineering problems (for example, a robot that worked in the workshop fails at the competition because of different lighting or a different surface).

In parallel, it is worth starting independent projects with inexpensive kits (Arduino, micro:bit, Raspberry Pi). Courses and materials available in Polish make it possible to build a first simple robot (say, a wheeled one with a distance sensor) without prior experience. It is the best test before choosing a degree: are you more interested in mechanics and construction, or in programming and control?

University: automation and robotics and related fields

Automation and robotics is offered by many Polish technical universities, in full-time and part-time modes; the current list of programs and universities is published by the ministry in the RAD-on register. First-cycle (engineering) studies usually last 3.5 to 4 years and second-cycle studies 1.5 to 2 years.

The curriculum covers higher mathematics, physics, electronics, electrical engineering, control theory and, increasingly in newer programs, the basics of machine learning and computer vision, essential for working with modern robots that use VLA models (described in our article on VLA models and AI for robots). The subjects most often required in admissions are the matura exam in physics, computer science, mathematics and a modern foreign language.

Keep in mind that the job market around humanoid robots is not limited to graduates of automation and robotics alone. Companies building such machines also hire mechatronics engineers (integrating mechanics with electronics), computer scientists specializing in AI (motion planning, perception) and electronics engineers (power systems and sensors).

Adults: self-study and professional courses

For people who want to enter robotics after studying something else, or to change career, two parallel routes are available. The first is self-study: the free documentation of ROS (Robot Operating System, the standard underlying most professional robot software), inexpensive starter kits with Raspberry Pi or Arduino, and simulators (such as Gazebo) that let you test code without a physical robot.

The second route is paid in-person and online courses from training companies, ranging from introductions to robotics for beginners to advanced training in ROS 2 and containerization (Docker), aimed at people who want to speed up work on real robotics projects. Courses of this kind make sense for people already working in a related profession (electronics, programming, industrial automation) who want to fill a specific skills gap rather than start from zero.

What to look for in a good course or degree program

At any stage, check a few things before signing up for a course, club or degree program. First, the share of hands-on classes: robotics cannot be learned from lectures or a textbook alone, and work with physical hardware, or at least a realistic simulation, is essential. Second, how current the curriculum is: the field changes quickly, and a program from a few years ago that ignores artificial intelligence and modern control methods (such as reinforcement learning) loses value. Third, access to equipment outside class, for example through a student club or a lab where you can continue your own projects.

For adults changing careers, the question of a portfolio matters too: employers in robotics prefer to see concrete finished projects (a working robot, code published on GitHub, participation in a hackathon) over course completions with no tangible result. Building even one complete project of your own, however simple, is often a more effective investment of time than another theoretical course.

Jobs and career paths after learning robotics

The knowledge gained at successive stages, from a robotics club to university or independent projects, opens the way to several different professions, not only to working on humanoid robots. An automation engineer designs and maintains production lines in factories, a robotics programmer handles control and systems integration (often using ROS), and an AI and computer vision specialist works on perception and motion planning. Increasingly it is this last specialization that grows fastest as VLA models spread. A separate path is industrial integration: deploying ready-made robots (including humanoids) at end customers, which requires less deep theoretical knowledge and more practical skills and customer-facing work.

Where to start in practice

If you could take only one step this week: for a child, sign them up for a trial class at a local robotics club before investing in an expensive kit. For a teenager interested in technology, look for the nearest edition of a robotics competition or an open day at a technical university. For an adult starting from zero, buy the cheapest Arduino kit from an educational shop and work through the first free online course before signing up for paid training; it is the fastest way to find out whether working with physical hardware really suits you. For an overview of Polish robotics companies where you can look for internships and a first job, see our article on Polish robotics companies.