Universities in Poland

Located in central Europe, and sharing borders with several countries such as Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania, Poland is an EU national with affordable costs of living, with a rich cultural history, beautiful landscape and interesting cities to explore, along with a wide choice of universities for international students.

The types of University

There are several types of university in Poland, both publicly funded and privately run, and number over 450. Many of its universities are highly specialized. The various types of universities in Poland include:

• Classical universities – providing higher education in a variety of different subjects and often with a large focus on the quality of research produced, classical universities also have the power to award doctorate degrees. Examples of these in Poland include the University of Warsaw, the University of Wrocław and the University of Łódź.
  
• Technical universities – these universities specialise in subjects related to engineering and sciences and include institutions such as Białystok Technical University, Opole University of Technology and Poznań University of Technology.
  
• Academies – these institutes specialise in subjects related to the arts, such as music, dance, drama, fine arts and film. Examples of these academies include the Academy of Music in Kraków, National Film School in Łódź and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
  
• Business schools – specializing in the study of business subjects, including examples such as the University of Economics in Katowice, the Wrocław University of Economics and Poznań University of Economics and Business.
  
• Teacher universities – which focus on the education of future teachers, examples of which include the Jan Długosz University and the Pedagogical University of Cracow.
  
• Medical universities – focusing on the teaching of subjects related to medicine and health. These universities include examples such as Wrocław Medical University, Medical University of Łódź and Jagiellonian University Medical College.

Language of tuition

The official language of Poland is Polish, which is spoken by the majority of the population in the country. The default language of tuition in most Polish universities is Polish, however universities in Poland are increasingly offering courses taught in English, which makes it easier for students who can already speak English. This includes the University of Wroclaw, who offer degrees at bachelors and masters level taught in English, as well as PhD courses.

Popular Polish cities for International students

• Lodz – Located centrally in Poland, Lodz is a city that became central to Poland’s industrial revolution in the 1800’s, becoming a major industry center of the world’s textile industry. These days, Lodz is a creative hotspot and a major destination for those seeking out cultural experiences in Poland. Lodz is home to several universities, including the publicly funded University of Łódź, Lodz University of Technology and The Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School.
  
• Kraków – Situated in the south of Poland, Krakow is a beautiful city known for its historical architecture and Jewish quarter, which is an attractive destination for tourists. It has a bustling nightlife, with many bars and restaurants, which can be attractive for students. There are several universities based in Kraków, including the public Jagiellonian University, Cracow University of Technology and the Academy of Music in Kraków.
  
• Wroclaw – In the southwest of Poland lies Wroclaw, complete with its beautiful architecture and interesting history. It is one of Poland’s largest cities and has a large student population, owing to its large selection of universities. This includes public universities such as the University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, and private universities such as the Metropolitan Higher Seminary and the International University of Logistics and Transport.
  
• Warsaw – both the capital and the largest city in Poland, with over 1.7 million inhabitants, Warsaw is situated centrally and to the east of the country. An important city historically for Poland, it is the base of Poland’s Presidential Palace, and has had to rebuild itself several times as a result of wars. It is a bustling city full of developments and opportunities, and currently hosts over 60,000 international students amongst its universities. These include the University of Warsaw, Medical University of Warsaw and Warsaw School of Economics.
  
• Poznan – located on the Warta river in the west of Poland, Poznan is well known for its universities, historical old town and pretty architecture. A more intimate city than Warsaw or Krakow, Poznan is nonetheless an ideal location for international students to enjoy. There are several universities to choose from, including public universities such as Poznań University of Technology, University of Fine Arts in Poznań and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

The top universities in Poland

Poland has invested heavily in its education system, and can boast of many top class universities, many of which now feature strongly in world university rankings, such as the Times Higher World University Rankings 2024, Best Global Universities and QS World University Rankings.

Table of the top ranked universities in Poland

See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in Poland. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.