Prestige Comes at a Price
In the latest Perspektywy University Ranking, the University of Warsaw (UW) and the Jagiellonian University shared first place. Both institutions also lead the rankings in terms of internationalisation indicators. Their strong position is further confirmed by the international university ranking published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The QS ranking evaluates universities according to several criteria, including research quality, graduate employability, internationalisation and the student-to-faculty ratio. It helps international applicants compare universities across countries and academic disciplines, while also assessing the attractiveness of their educational choices.
„I chose the University of Warsaw because it is the best university”, says Khumoyun Odiljonov from Uzbekistan. „The rankings confirm it, but so do the wide range of study programmes, student exchange opportunities and career prospects, including international ones”, adds the graduate of International Relations at the University of Warsaw.
His path to the university, however, was not an easy one. He had previously studied at a private university, but, as he admits, the quality of education is not equally high everywhere.
„You have to search carefully, verify everything and ask questions. Not knowing Polish is often a barrier. For me, choosing the right university was crucial in building my future”, he notes.
Khumoyun Odiljonov also points out that one of the University’s greatest strengths is the support it provides to international students, making everyday life much easier. Students arriving from distant parts of the world, just like him, can count on accommodation in university dormitories, solving one of the most difficult logistical challenges.
A key role is played by the Welcome Point UW (https://welcome.uw.edu.pl/) – an information centre for international students at the University of Warsaw that assists with administrative formalities, organises integration events and offers support through fellow students and university staff.
„Thanks to this kind of support, students feel well looked after”, he concludes.
In 2025, the University of Warsaw had 4,078 international students. The largest groups of long-term international students came from Ukraine, Belarus, China, Türkiye, India, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The most popular fields of study among international students included Finance, International Investment and Accounting, the Undergraduate Programme in International Relations, Management, Data Science and Business Analytics, Psychology, the Graduate Programme in International Relations, the International Business Programme, Quantitative Finance, and International Relations.
