Costs of living

• monthly rent of university accommodation depends on the dormitory and the type of room: it’s between PLN 450 – 650 (EUR 100 – 140). Be informed that upon your arrival to the dormitory you will be asked to pay a refundable deposit in cash (it usually equals one montly rent). It will be returned to you during the check-out, provided that no damage has been done.
• cost of private accommodation varies very much and depends on many factors: the district, the number of flatmates, the sandard of the flat. A single room in a flat is around PLN1000-1500, a single flat can cost up to PLN2500-3000.
• Please check out our Accommodation section for more tips.

As a short-term international student, you are exempt from tuition fees and you don’t have to pay any additional university costs (for ex. mandatory books). Higher education in Poland is public and free by definition.The lecturers might recommend you some books, scripts or other resources, but they are usually only additional materials; also, they are often available for free in our libraries.

If you are Erasmus student, your home univeristy pays your scholarship.

If you come to Warsaw within other bilateral agreements, it depends: please check with your home university. If there is a scholarship, usually they pay it. If the agreement says that UW pays for your stay in Warsaw, we will contact you with all the details.

If you plan to study at UW within the framework of governmental agreements or state programmes (like CEEPUS, DAAD, Fulbright, Visegrad Fund) – check with the scholarship provider, how you will get the money.

• ELS proves that you are a student of polish university.
• it can be a carrier of a long-term public transportation ticket, just like the Warsaw City Card. It’s possible to encode a personal 30- or 90-day ticket on it. ELS gives you a 50% discount on public transport in Warsaw.
• ELS allows you to enter labs, computer rooms, dormitories, etc. 
• It works as your university library card. 
• It entitles you to many student discounts – in theatres, museums, cinemas, restaurants, bars, but also in national trains (up until you are 26 years old) etc.  

You can apply for your student card shortly before your arrival to Warsaw. You will pick it up in our office during your first visit. Please note that the card is valid only from the first day of the semester – as only then you officially become a student of the University of Warsaw.

How to apply for ELS?

You can use Numbeo to get the information about approximate costs of living in Warsaw. Also, we encourage you to networking with other students – local and incoming ones!