Development opportunities and working conditions at the University of Warsaw

The University has 25 faculties and nearly 30 other units engaged in teaching and research activities. Candidates for doctoral schools can choose from four doctoral schools.

List of faculties, doctoral schools and other units

The University’s researchers are engaged in 26 disciplines, ranging from social sciences and humanities to natural and medical sciences.

The extensive variety and scale of activities present significant opportunities for scientific development across various specialisations and interdisciplinary research. The development of the various scientific disciplines is overseen by the academic councils of academic disciplines formed by academics from the University.

The University of Warsaw leads Polish universities in the highest absorption of funds from the National Science Centre.

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National projects

International projects

ERC grants awarded

The University of Warsaw obtained the status of Research University in 2020. Thanks to additional funding in the Initiative for Excellence – Research University (IDUB) programme, a number of research initiatives and projects have been launched.

About the IDUB Programme

Calls financed from IDUB

According to the Rector’s Annual Report for 2023, the University provides education in over 250 fields of studies as part of first-cycle, second-cycle and long-cycle studies, as well as in nearly 100 postgraduate courses. Many are among the best in the country and some have international accreditations.

The University has The System for the Quality of Teaching and Learning Assurance and Enhancement supervised by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning, The University Council for Teaching and Learning and the Rector’s Proxy for Quality of Teaching and Learning.

In addition, the faculties and other units have teaching councils responsible for the quality of teaching and learning in the individual faculties, which cooperate on a daily basis with the heads of the teaching units (e.g. vice-deans for student affairs).

The teaching process is supported administratively in faculties and units, and at the level of university-wide administration by the Education Support Centre, including the Office for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, which undertakes a number of innovative activities for the teaching and learning process at the University.

The remote teaching and learning process is supported by the university unit Digital Competence Centre.

For many years, the University of Warsaw has ranked among the largest and best universities in Poland, excelling in both scientific research and teaching on a national and international level. The rankings confirm the university’s high position.

The Erasmus+ programme and other initiatives are carried out by the university’s International Relations Office facilitate international trips for research and teaching purposes.

Numerous international partnerships and collaborations provide the University’s academics with opportunities to conduct research alongside colleagues from various European and global institutions and to engage in international events.

One of the most important partnerships ensuring the university’s status as a European University is the 4EU+ Alliance, which, in addition to the University of Warsaw, includes the Heidelberg University, the Charles University, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Milan, the Sorbonne University, the Paris-Panthéon-Assas University and the University of Geneva. Membership in the alliance offers many opportunities for collaborative activities in education and scientific cooperation, including applying together for research funding. In 2024, the University of Warsaw assumed the presidency of the alliance.

More about cooperation in the 4EU+ Alliance

The University has been awarded the prestigious HR Excellence in Research award by the European Commission. This recognition affirms the University’s commitment to high standards in employment and working conditions for researchers, in accordance with the principles outlined in the European Charter for Researchers.

To maintain the award, the University must conduct regular evaluations and continuously improve its operations. Additionally, new initiatives aimed at fostering a friendly and creative workplace are included in the Action Plan for the HR Strategy for Researchers at the University of Warsaw.

Moore about the award, the European Charter for Researchers and the Action Plan for the years 2022 – 2027.

The university maintains a policy for the protection of intellectual property. In 2017, the Senate introduced the Rules and Regulations of intellectual property management in their current form.

Academics and other employees who are interested in the commercialisation of research results are supported by the Centre for Technology and Knowledge Transfer (CTTiW) which carries out extensive promotional, educational and advisory activities. More about the CTTiW activities

Newly hired employees of the University of Warsaw are invited to a training course, Welcome to the UW, organised by the Human Resources Office in cooperation with the Bursar’s Office and the UW Museum.

During the training, they have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the university’s authorities, its structure and general rules, as well as the support provided by the university’s units, including the training offer and social benefits. Most importantly, they have a chance to make their first contacts within the university.

Employees are also provided with the Employment Handbook containing detailed information about the employment.

In 2011, the University of Warsaw introduced an academic ombudsman position, whose tasks include assisting in conflict resolution and promoting ethical behaviour at the university.

In addition to the academic ombudsman, the University of Warsaw has established the equality team that has been active for several years. Through their initiatives, the University has become the first institution of higher education in Poland to adopt the Gender Equality Plan. The development of the Plan was preceded by a survey and consultations with the university community. A number of training and guidance materials have also been produced, including a dictionary of inclusive language.

As part of its activities, the equality team collects data on gender equality at the university as part of the Equality Observatory, recommends changes to intra-university regulations and carries out activities to promote equality behaviour through the UW Equality website We Are All Equal, the organisation of information campaigns, meetings and training courses with the support of the Human Resources Office.

The university also has the Office for Persons with Disabilities to support the university community to access learning and work equally, while the Psychological Support Centre provides individual and team psychological support as well as undertakes wider mental health activities.

In 2023, the University of Warsaw signed the Plain Language Declaration. Moreover, the Team for Plain Language was established to develop plain language standards for academic communication.

Both research and teaching employees have access to numerous training courses and comprehensive development programmes run by, among others, the Human Resources Office, the Digital Competence Centre, the Office for International Research and Liaison as well as the Research Services Office.

Registration for training courses is done via the Kampus platform.

Training and support for employees from abroad is provided by the university’s Welcome Point team, a unit established to support employees, students and doctoral students from abroad.

In 2024, academics used nearly 4,200 places on group and individual development activities offered by the University of Warsaw.

Among the most interesting activities are programmes such as the Deans’ Academy, the Scientific Communication Academy, the Programme for Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors at UW doctoral schools, the Young Didactics Programme or the Programme for Young Female Researchers and Didactics.

In addition to workshops, some of them also offer individual support, e.g.: coaching, mentoring or didactic tutoring.

Moreover, each month academics can choose from dozens of trainings and courses in the following areas: language courses, scientific and didactic training, training in social and personal skills, managerial training, specialised training and IT tools training.

The range of development activities on offer is constantly being expanded and adapted to the needs reported by academics.

The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland, with broad development prospects. Despite numerous externally funded research projects, the vast majority of academics are employed for an indefinite period of time. Thanks to, among other things, the good employment conditions and the stable financial situation many employees tie their professional lives to the University.

Employees at the university receive additional annual remuneration and an allowance for the years of service, which also takes into account the length of service in previous jobs. For each year of employment, there is a 1% increase in basic remuneration (starting from the fourth year of employment, up to a maximum of 20%).

In addition, employees can benefit from a wide range of social offers, including, for example, holiday subsidies, sports activities, equipping your children for school or financial support in difficult situations.

Employees may also purchase life and travel insurance, as well as private medical care and a sports card.

More about the employment conditions at the University of Warsaw

More about a social package

The University’s buildings are mostly located in central, well-connected and very charming parts of the city, surrounded by greenery.

The university has consistently implemented a multiannual plan in recent years allowing for the construction of new facilities and larger-scale modernisation of existing facilities. This has significantly raised the standard of work in these facilities and its accessibility.

Apart from facilities in Warsaw, the University has a research facility in Chęciny as well as holiday facilities in Urwitałt, Kościelisko and Łukęcin.