As the capital of the country, Warsaw is the center of public and cultural life; there are hundreds of galleries, theaters, cinemas, music concerts; several prestigious international cultural festivals and competitions take place here every year. Mild weather makes outdoor activities pleasant from mid-Spring to late Fall. In the winter you can enjoy snow covered streets and trees.

Warsaw is also one of the largest academic centres of Europe. Approximately 200 000 young people are currently studying at more than 50 universities and colleges here. We are particularly proud to be one of these – the Warsaw University of Technology Business School.

Useful links

• Polish for Foreigners – course at Warsaw University of Technology
• Study in Poland – useful article (PDF 2,33 MB)
• http://www.poland.gov.pl
• http://www.warsaw-travel.com/warszawa.html
• http://www.erasmus.org.pl/index.php/ida/56/

Visa:

Non-EU citizens have to obtain visa for their long-term stay in Poland. The visa requirements are changing quickly as Poland signs agreements with other countries to remove travel restrictions. Customs regulations are also frequently revised. To avoid problems, international students are advised to contact the nearest Polish embassy or consulate for the latest update.

Business and commerce:

Warsaw, especially its city centre, is home not only to many national institutions and government agencies, but also to many domestic and international companies. In 2006, 304,016 companies were registered in the city. Warsaw’s ever-growing business community has been noticed globally, regionally, and nationally. MasterCard Emerging Market Index has noted Warsaw’s economic strength and commercial center. Warsaw was ranked as the seventh-greatest emerging market. Foreign investors’ financial participation in the city’s development was estimated in 2002 at over 650 million Euro.

Warsaw produces 12% of Poland’s national income, which in 2008 was 305.1% of the Polish average per capita (or 160% of the European Union average). The Nominal GDP per capita in Warsaw amounted to 140,000 PLN in 2017 (c. €32,500 or around $80,000 in PPP^). Warsaw leads East-Central Europe in foreign investment and in 2006, GDP growth met expectations with a level of 6.1%. It also has one of the fastest growing economies, with GDP growth at 6.5 percent in 2007 and 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

At the same time the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in Poland, at around 4% in February 2015. The city itself receives around 8,740,882,000 złotys in taxes and direct government grants.

Warsaw Stock Exchange:

The Warsaw Stock Exchange is the largest in Central Europe. Warsaw’s first stock exchange was established in 1817 and continued trading until World War II. It was re-established in April 1991, following the end of the post-war communist control of the country and the reintroduction of a free-market economy. Today, the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) is, according to many indicators, the largest market in the region, with 374 companies listed and total capitalisation of 162,584 mln EUR as of 31 August 2009. From 1991 until 2000, the stock exchange was, ironically, located in the building previously used as the headquarters of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR).

Industry:

During Warsaw’s reconstruction after World War II, the communist authorities decided that the city would become a major industrial centre. As a result, numerous large factories were built in and around the city. The largest were the Huta Warszawa Steel Works, the FSO car factory and the “Ursus” tractor factory.

The FSO Car Factory was established in 1951. A number of vehicles have been assembled there over the decades, including the Warszawa, Syrena, Fiat 125p (under license from Fiat, later renamed FSO 125p when the license expired) and the Polonez. The last two models listed were also sent abroad and assembled in a number of other countries, including Egypt and Colombia. In 1995 the factory was purchased by the South Korean car manufacturer Daewoo, which assembled the Tico, Espero, Nubia, Tacuma, Leganza, Lanos and Matiz there for the European market. In 2005 the factory was sold to AvtoZAZ, a Ukrainian car manufacturer which assembled the Chevrolet Aveo there. The license for the production of the Aveo expired in February 2011 and has not been renewed since. Currently the company is defunct.

The “Ursus” factory opened in 1893 and is still in operation. Throughout its history various machinery was assembled there, including motorcycles, military vehicles, trucks and buses; but since World War II it has produced only tractors.

The number of state-owned enterprises continues to decrease while the number of companies operating with foreign capital is on the rise, reflecting the continued shift towards a modern market-based economy. The largest foreign investors are Coca-Cola Amatil and Metro AG. Warsaw has the biggest concentration of electronics and high-tech industry in Poland, while the growing consumer market perfectly fosters the development of the food-processing industry.

Accommodation:

Students can be accommodated in student dormitories and rent rooms or apartments in the city. Accommodation cost varies between 100 and 300 Euros per month, depending on the location and the living conditions. The approximate living costs in Poland are between 400 and 600 Euros per month.

To live in a student dormitory can be a very stimulating experience. Polish students and students from all over the world meet here and have the opportunity to get to know each other and to become lifelong friends. But living in a dormitory is also demanding in a way. Students living in the same corridor come from many cultures and have different habits and ideas on how to do different things.

Almost 5000 students live in purpose-built student houses at the University Campus. The accommodation consists of fully furnished bedrooms. The price of a shared room is about 500 PLN per month per person.

Information about private accommodation for student can be gathered from local newspapers. Private accommodation needs more careful planning and the price depends on various factors, in particular on the distance from the University, the quality of the flat and the facilities made available by the householder.

Daily Expenses:

Daily necessities like food and clothing are still relatively inexpensive in comparison to western standards, however prices depend on the country of origin of the goods. Generally products made in Poland are less expensive than goods imported from the West. Foreign students should remember that if they want to travel, buy fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter, make phone calls abroad and lead an active social life they will spend a few hundred PLN per month (excluding cost of accommodation).

Transport:

Warsaw has an extensive tram and bus network and also the Warsaw Metro, all available for the same price and with the same tickets. City transport begins operations at 5 a.m. and continues until 11 p.m. There are a few night bus lines as well (marked with a letter “N” before the number). You can purchase tickets from a newspaper stand – kiosk (Kolporter) or Post office (Poczta) in advance and have to validate it on the tram, bus or metro entrance, using one of the “electronic punch machines”. You can purchase a daily, weekly or monthly pass.

Use only taxis with a checkered TAXI sign on the roof and a meter. Insist on the meter being turned on. If not, you can be sure you’ll be overcharged. Do not take a taxi from the queue at the airport, Central Rail Station (Warszawa Centralna), Old Town (Stare Miasto) and some other places with many tourists, and do not accept offers from unlicensed taxi drivers.

There are three mainline Polish Railway (PKP) stations in Warsaw (Warszawa Centralna, Warszawa Zachodnia and Warszawa Wschodnia).