Founded in 1816, University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland. It employs over 6,000 staff (including over 3,000 faculty members with over 800 professors) to facilitate a student population of over 65,000 students. Currently, the University has 19 faculties and 26 independent research and education units encompassing the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities and offers programmes of studies in 42 fields and over 100 specialisations in the arts and sciences. Additionally, there are 26 extra-departmental and inter-faculty units and programmes.

From its beginning, University of Warsaw has played a major role in the intellectual, political and cultural life of Warsaw, and is recognised throughout the world as a leading academic centre. Dynamic political, social, and economic changes accompanying Poland’s democratisation have brought the University new opportunities and challenges. In the beginning of the 21st century, University of Warsaw is moving forward with a plan to modernise its structure, organisation and curricula in an effort to prepare its faculty, students and graduates to function freely in the international community. In the years between 1989 and 2005 alone, the student enrolment at the University of Warsaw has more than quadrupled. The University is housed in over 100 buildings within three campuses in different parts of Warsaw: the main Campus (central Warsaw), Ochota Campus and Służew Campus.

The interest in studies at the University of Warsaw is determined not only by the University’s prestige resulting from high quality of education offered to young people but also modern programs of studies adapted to the needs of the changing world as well as scientific researches conducted at the University, the results of which are highly valued in the world. The infrastructure is constantly improved and developed. Renovated and expanding university buildings provide convenient environment to study. Furthermore, students have at their disposal computer rooms, libraries and sports complexes, including newly built UW Sports and Leisure Center. Scientific and vocational development of the University of Warsaw students is supported by appropriate offices and organizations, including University of Warsaw Office of Career Services, and cooperation with numerous institutions and companies increases opportunities of graduates on the labor market.

The University’s degree programme honours several levels of achievement. The range of degrees offered by the University includes the „licencjat” (comparable to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science granted after 3 years of study); the “magister” (comparable to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration granted after 5 or 2 years of study); “doktor” (Doctor’s degree, PhD, L.L.D.), as well as the post-doctoral degree – „doktor habilitowany” (Reader’s or Assistant Professor’s degree) and “profesor”.

The University has over 1600 exchange agreements with almost 700 international partners –  universities and other institutions - including over 400 partners and 1000 agreements within the LLP Erasmus programme. The University of Warsaw also participates in 15 Erasmus Mundus projects focused on the regions of South-East Asia, Middle East and Balkan countries. As a result of these efforts each year over 1200 UW’s students spend a part of their study period abroad and almost 800 international students come to study at UW within different exchange programmes. Also over 300 academic and administrative staff take part in mobility programs yearly giving lectures or increasing their competencies through participation in trainings and workshops.

In 2010 the European Commission chose UW as one of 20 European Success Stories in Fostering Internationalisation at European universities. In 2008 UW was awarded the title “Mobility friendly university” by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE). Furthermore, in 2007 the University was chosen by the European Commission from among 2,500 higher education institutions as one of the 20 best success stories for the Erasmus programme in 2000-2006.

Thank you for your interest in studying at the University of Warsaw - the largest public university in Poland, which is internationally renowned for its biggest, varied and the most attractive educational offer as well as for outstanding academic staff and the high quality of its teaching and research. Thus, a degree from University of Warsaw is internationally recognized. University of Warsaw preserves its traditions and values while planning for growth and working to stimulate future achievements. Our goal is to strengthen our position in the international environment of the 21st century.

We wish you many successes and hope that being a student of the University of Warsaw will be an unforgettable and invaluable experience.