Since the outbreak of the war on 24 February, the University of Warsaw has allocated nearly PLN 700,000 support, and the University of Silesia in Katowice - over PLN 400,000.

Students from Ukraine are the dominant group among international students at Polish universities. In the academic year 2020/2021, about 38,500 Ukrainians studied in Poland according to the report 'International Students in Poland 2021', prepared as part of a programme of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Education Foundation 'Perspektywy'.

The data from the University of Warsaw show that before the outbreak of the war, 564 students from Ukraine studied at the university at first, second degree and at uniform master's studies (data from February 23 this year). In total, 640 people from Ukraine received various forms of education at the University of Warsaw.

Spokeswoman Anna Modzelewska said: “The number of Ukrainian students at the University of Warsaw has not yet changed significantly, because the recruitment intended for Polish and Ukrainian citizens who came from Ukraine after February 23, 2022, started on April 29, 2022.”

Referring to the University of Warsaw financial aid for students from Ukraine, she says that they can apply for exemption from fees for studies due to humanitarian reasons.

She said: “Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of applications submitted on this basis. Since the beginning of the war, 15 Ukrainian citizens have been granted an exemption (many Ukrainians received an exemption from all or part of the fees earlier).”

The University of Warsaw also prepared financial aid, granted to 153 Ukrainian students after February 24. The total granted aid amounted to nearly PLN 680,000. 142 people benefited from the exemption from fees related to living in a dorm.

The Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań spokesperson Małgorzata Rybczyńska told PAP that “so far aid had been given to every person who needed it.” She added that in most cases, the requests were related to a difficult financial situation.

She said: “The university offered students from Ukraine a possibility of partial or total exemption from fees for studies, as well as postponement of payment deadlines. Vice-rector for student affairs and education Professor Joanna Wójcik recommended that deputy deans should approve students' applications for individual organization of studies and gap periods. A special team was also created to solve the most important problems and coordinate activities.”

As of April 5, the Adam Mickiewicz University has 503 full-time students from Ukraine, while 64 people left for Ukraine and did not return.

Students from Ukraine report financial problems also at the University of Silesia in Katowice. In response to this, the university awarded over 300 aids in a total amount of over PLN 400,000. This money comes from subsidies and a collection run by the University of Silesia.

University of Silesia spokesperson Małgorzata Poszwa said: “We also offer material support by providing students with food and hygiene products, we do not charge fees for living in dorms and for studies.”

When asked if the outflow of Ukrainian students was visible, she admitted that some students had not returned from Ukraine after the inter-semester break but added: “The University of Silesia provided them with an indefinite extension of the examination session.”

Currently, there are approx. 400 students from Ukraine at the University of Silesia.

PAP - Science in Poland, Szymon Zdziebłowski

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