The University of Warsaw has taken the top spot in the 2025 edition of the Perspektywy University Ranking, surpassing the Jagiellonian University and the Warsaw University of Technology.

The ranking, published last month by the Perspektywy Education Foundation, also highlighted the Koźmiński University in Warsaw as the leading non-public academic institution, and the Powiślański University in Kwidzyn as the best higher vocational school.

This marks the 26th edition of the ranking, compiled under the supervision of the Ranking Board chaired by Professor Michał Kleiber, former president of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The results span three key categories: the Academic University Ranking, the Higher Vocational Schools Ranking, and the Ranking by Subject.

The Academic University Ranking, which includes all public and private institutions with doctoral-awarding rights (excluding art schools), placed the University of Warsaw in first position. The Jagiellonian University in Kraków ranked second, while Warsaw University of Technology secured third place.

Among non-public institutions, Koźmiński University ranked highest at 17th overall. Other strong performers in the non-public sector included WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza (23rd) and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (29th).

This year introduced a combined ranking of public and private higher vocational schools, marking a shift from previous years when these institutions were ranked separately.

The change reflects the evolving landscape of Poland’s higher education system, with the Ranking Board emphasising that quality, not ownership, should be the basis for evaluation.

The Powiślański University in Kwidzyn earned the top spot in this new category, followed by WSG University in Bydgoszcz, and a tie for third place between the State University of Applied Sciences in Koszalin and the Jan Grodek State University in Sanok.

The Ranking by Subject evaluated 75 academic disciplines, including, for the first time, Artificial Intelligence & Data Science.

„The Jagiellonian University led the field with 18 best-rated subjects, followed by the University of Warsaw with 16 and the Warsaw University of Technology with 11.

The Perspektywy ranking uses 31 indicators grouped into seven key criteria: prestige, graduate employability, scientific potential, scientific output, innovation, education quality, and internationalization.

'Our ranking is addressed mainly to high school graduates. It is a kind of +compass+ that is to help them choose the best direction for their further education,’ says Waldemar Siwiński, Ranking Manager, creator of Polish educational rankings.

‘But the academic community is also waiting for the results of the ranking. Thanks to its cyclical nature, methodological consistency and ability to evolve, the Perspektywy University Ranking has become a +mirror+ in which Polish academic universities and higher vocational schools +look at themselves+ every year,’ he adds. It is a hint of what is going well and is a reason to be proud, and what should perhaps be changed or improved.’

Full results of the Perspektywy University Ranking and the Ranking by Subject 2025 are available at: ranking.perspestywy.pl. (PAP)

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