The University of Warsaw, set in the centre of the Polish capital, is the largest university in Poland. With over 6,000 staff and over 3,000 educators, it offers students over 100 specialisations in 37 diverse fields of study. With faculties incorporating law, medicine, political science, philosophy, theology and humanities, it attracts students each year from all over the globe.
The main campus is nestled in Warsaw city centre. It’s adjacent to one of Poland’s most prestigious streets Krakowskie Przedmieście. The street is surrounded by churches, mansion houses and historic palaces. It links the Old Town and Royal Castle at Castle Square. Many campus buildings have historical significance. Uruski Palace houses the Department of Geography and Regional Studies. The Main School which is home to the Institute of Archaeology and Warsaw University Library lies in the characterful Powiśle neighbourhood. This area was once home to craftsmen, port and factory workers and fishermen of the city. It is close to the river and Warsaw’s Old Town. The Natural Sciences Campus can be explored near Pasteura and Banacha Streets. They contain the mathematics and science departments; their buildings also cover the Medical University of Warsaw. Outside the University, there is also much to see. The Academy of Fine Arts, the Presidential Palace of Warsaw, Holy Cross Church, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Chopin Museum and Copernicus Monument are all within a short stroll.
Warsaw City Centre is an easy area to navigate on foot. Many of the university campuses are within a short walking distance of one another. Local bus services transport visitors and students to the entrance of the main campus. Those travelling by metro can disembark at Nowy Swiat-Uniwersytet on the corner of Świętokrzyska. Taxi and Uber are available throughout the city of Warsaw.
Founded in 1816, as a Royal University it expanded rapidly, only closing during the Uprising. When the language campuses were closed in 1869, the university was reopened as the Imperial Russian University for military personnel. Following Polish independence in 1918, the focus of the government was to improve Poland’s university and teaching facilities. Today, University of Warsaw consists of 126 buildings teaching a variety of diverse subjects. Its proximity to main city attractions makes it a popular facility for study and an appealing area in which to stay.