International position

Taking into account the total number of research universities that reaches 20 thousand, the University of Warsaw is among the top 3% of the world’s best universities. According to international rankings, it also is the best university in Poland and one of the leading ones in this region of Europe. In addition, the University of Warsaw holds very good positions in comparative evaluations of the quality of education, in particular study programmes, such as the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking and Eduniversal Best Masters and MBA Worldwide. 17 programmes provided by UW have been listed in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. 9 subjects run by UW were ranked in the Shanghai Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021 (Physics and Mathematics were ranked 76-100 worldwide).

The quality of education

The quality of education at the University of Warsaw is confirmed by the annual appraisals conducted by the university itself which show that the majority of students are satisfied with their selection of the university and the education programme. The University’s strongest points are: its prestige, development opportunities, the study environment. The quality of education is also confirmed by research conducted with the University’s graduates. The University of Warsaw conducts the largest research enterprise of its kind in Europe by monitoring the careers of former students. Results demonstrate that having a diploma from the University of Warsaw is a definite asset in the job market; 94% of respondents have found employment after graduation.

The broad offer

Approximately 45,000 people study at the University of Warsaw (1^st, 2^nd and long cycle studies, doctoral programmes and post-diploma courses). The candidates are offered a very broad range of courses in the fields of humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as many interdisciplinary courses combining knowledge and skills of many disciplines:

• a wide choice of programmes of 1^st, 2^nd cycle studies, and long cycle (uniform) Master’s studies,
• 24 English-language programmes,
• programmes of doctoral studies in 4 Doctoral Schools (each doctoral student has an opportunity to follow a complete learning pathway in English)
• over 100 post-diploma programmes,
• courses in 36 languages.

University of research

The leading concepts of the University’s activity are the unity of teaching and research, and the harmonious development of all branches of knowledge represented in its curriculum. The University employs 3,800 scholars. Their scientific enquiry extends over 1,400 research topics; students who they concurrently teach have the opportunity of joining in their research projects. The University’s research teams have won worldwide recognition in many areas of knowledge and  have joined international research programmes.

In the heart of Europe

The University of Warsaw community includes 4,800 foreigners: students, doctoral students, employees and grantees of, among others, the Erasmus+ programme. With respect to academic exchanges, the University of Warsaw stands out not only in Poland, but also internationally, being one of the leaders of the European Commission ranking issued as part its assessment of student exchange at over 3,000 institutions of higher education in the entire Europe. The University of Warsaw is most popular among students from Belarus, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine.

The academic city

The University is located in the capital of Poland, one of the most dynamically developing European cities. Warsaw is the centre of political and economic life and has a lively social and cultural scene. It is steadily climbing the international rankings of the world’s most attractive urban areas: Top 50 of the City Brand Index, United Nations State of the World’s Cities report, best cities ranking and report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. In 2017 Warsaw took 15th place among most sociable and friendly cities in the world (Businnes Insider, The 19 most sociable and friendly cities in the world, 2017). Warsaw has also – for the second time running – been named fDi’sPolish City of the Future (fDi Intelligence, Financial Times, Polish Cities of the Future 2017/18, 2017). According to QS Best Student Cities 2017 Warsaw took 52nd place among the best cities in the world. It receives a very high score in the affordability category – within the top five of the entire index – thanks to its combination of low living costs and reasonable tuition fees.

Two faces

The University’s historical Main Campus, located in the very heart of Warsaw, is renowned for its splendid architecture. Its imposing buildings, some going back to the 17^th century, are one of the city’s main tourist attractions. The opening of the nearby University Library building, which took place at the very end of the millennium, marked a new chapter in the history of the University’s architecture. New buildings, completed in the following years, are modern, functional and moreover architecturally interesting. The Natural Sciences campus consists of imposing structures with state-of-the-art laboratories.

University of Warsaw

Additional information

• founded in 1816
• the largest university in Poland and the best research centre in the country
• occupies 1st/2nd place in the national rankings of universities
• belongs to the top 3% of universities in the world according to global rankings such as Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE), Quaquarelli Symmonds World University Ranking (QS), Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
• holds very good positions in international comparative evaluations of the quality of education: 19 programmes provided by UW have been listed in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021; 9 subjects run by UW were ranked in the Shanghai Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021 (Physics and Mathematics were ranked 76-100 worldwide)
• belongs to the 4EU+ European University Alliance selected by the European Commission for funding in the ‘European Universities’ call for proposals, launched as part of the 2019 Erasmus+ programme
• awarded the “HR Excellence in Research” title by the European Commission for adopting the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, which means that UW offers a friendly working environment and transparent recruitment procedure
• distinguished by the European Commission for its participation in the Erasmus+ programme

Must-see at the University

The university life concentrates in three campuses: Central, Ochota and Służew, located in different districts of Warsaw. The University’s historic seat, located in the heart of Warsaw, is widely appreciated for its elegant architecture. Impressive edifices, dating back to 17th century, rank high among Warsaw’s sightseeing musts. The University Library, built in the vicinity of the main campus at the turn of this century, has opened a new chapter in the University’s architectural design. The new facilities built since then are not only modern and functional but also architecturally intriguing. The natural science departments’ campus has recently gained imposing new buildings, housing state-of-the-art laboratories. These facilities provide their users with comfortable work and study areas, and interestingly arranged recreational spaces.

The Main Campus

26/28 Krakowskie Przedmieście St. – this address is familiar to everyone connected with the University of Warsaw: it is the Main Campus. This historic enclosure is one of the most enchanting areas of Warsaw. Beautiful sculptures decorating the buildings and the greenery the surrounds them make the Campus one of the most pleasant and often visited locations, and a favourite among both tourists and the residents of Warsaw. The Main Campus and its vicinity are home mainly to the Humanities and Social Sciences faculties.

The Main Gate

Leading to the campus from Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the University’s chief symbols. The University coat of arms was placed on it in October 1916, that is five years after it was constructed; it is a crowned eagle surrounded with five stars, which symbolise the first five faculties of the University: those of the Law and Administration, Medicine, Philosophy, Theology, and Fine Arts and Sciences. The gate’s niches hold statues of Athena and Urania, the first holding a helmet, the other a globe. Thus, entering the Warsaw University campus enclosure, we find ourselves under the protection of goddesses of wisdom and knowledge about the universe.

The Old Library

Was built in 1894. It was extremely modern for its time: the library was able to hold 750,000 volumes, and the large storage space resembled a huge steel grille. The venerable building was emptied in 1999, when the new Main Library opened at Powiśle. Subsequently it was thoroughly rebuilt; in effect, the building now merges architectural modernity with tradition. Currently it contains lecture rooms. Fragments of the impressive steel construction are still visible in the former storage space of the Library. An interesting fact is that during the 2nd World War Czesław Miłosz, the future Nobel Prize laureate, worked in the Old Library as a janitor.

The Kazimierzowski Palace

The University’s oldest building, was constructed before 1643. Standing at the edge of the slope running down towards the Vistula, it was initially the summer residence of the kings of Poland: Władysław IV, Jan Kazimierz, who gave the palace its name, and Jan III Sobieski. In the 18th century, King Stanisław Augustus Poniatowski put the entire property to a completely different use: instead of being a residence, the palace became headquarters of the Noble’s School, an academy for young gentlemen. The building was handed over the education authority board only in 1808. The palace was bombed and burnt out in the Second World War. Rebuilding works were concluded in 1954; the architect modelled the restoration on design drawings dating from ca. 1820. Today, it is the headquarters of University authorities.

Auditorium Maximum

Dates from the inter-war period. The Second World War left it in ruins, and its main lecture hall was used as stables. It was rebuilt in the 1950s. Four beautiful Ionic columns at the main entrance porch give it a neoclassical feel. The building contains offices and the University’s largest lecture hall, which has the seating capacity of nearly 1200.

The University of Warsaw Library

The building is located close to the Vistula bank. Since its opening in 1999 it has been one of the greatest architectural and tourist attractions of Warsaw. The combined collections of the University Library and the forty-seven other faculty libraries hold over 5.8 million volumes. The Library has 3,500 visitors per day, which amounts to over a million per year. It is also a venue for exhibitions and other cultural events. The Library has also one of the largest roof gardens in Europe.

The Ochota Campus

It is home to research units conducting interdisciplinary research of special importance to medicine, environmental protection, industry etc. They also developing new materials: ligands, chemical compounds which find application in pharmaceutics, material science and nanotechnology.

The Służewiec Campus

The University’s Służewiec campus, located farthest to the south, is the home to the Faculty of Management and a part of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics buildings. It is scheduled to include the University Halls of Residence complex.