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University of Warsaw

Ranked
Poland
601–800th in World University Rankings 2025
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About

Basic information and contact details for the University of Warsaw

institution

The University of Warsaw is Poland’s largest university, and one of its most prestigious.

It offers courses in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as a range of interdisciplinary programmes.

While most teaching is in Polish, the university offers more than 20 programmes which are taught in English, including economics, business, and political science.

Students at the institution also have the opportunity to take courses in one of 36 languages which are on offer.

Warsaw is an international university, with thousands of foreign students, researchers and academics, including those participating in the European Union’s Erasmus programmes.

The heart of the university remains its historical main campus, in the centre of Warsaw, which includes buildings dating back to the 17th century. The natural sciences campus is more modern.

The history of the university itself stretches back to 1816, when it was founded by a decree issued by the Russian tsar, Alexander I.

This first iteration of the institution lasted only 15 years before it was closed, amid growing clamour for Polish independence from Russia. Amid temporary liberalisation, the university was reopened in 1862, but was then closed in 1869 and was replaced with the Imperial University of Warsaw, a Russian-language institution.

It was not until 1915 that the Polish university was reopened, this time under German rule and subsequent independence. The university was again closed under Nazi rule in the Second World War, but many academics risked their lives to continue their teaching in secret.

Five Warsaw graduates have won Nobel prizes, including the physicist Joseph Rotblat, and the former Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin.

Other notable alumni include the composer Frédéric Chopin and David Ben-Gurion, the founding Prime Minister of Israel.

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Rankings

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Impact Rankings

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of Warsaw

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
61 F : 39 M (1)
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International student percentage
10% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
10.7 (1)
student
Student total
33322 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at the University of Warsaw

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of Warsaw

Life Sciences501–600th

  • Biological Sciences

Law201–250th

  • Law

Education401–500th

  • Education

Arts and Humanities301–400th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design

Business and Economics601–800th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Computer Science151–175th

  • Computer Science

Social Sciences501–600th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Psychology301–400th

  • Psychology

Physical Sciences501–600th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics