SWPS University

About SWPS University

SWPS University began in 1996, founded by psychologists Andrzej Eliasz, Zbigniew Pietrasiński and Janusz Reykowski. Under Polish law it is a non-public higher-education institution; for international comparison, that places it in the private sector rather than among Poland’s state universities. Its official Public Information Bulletin identifies Uniwersytet SWPS as the current legal name and gives the headquarters at Chodakowska 19/31 in Warsaw. Current 2026 records and admissions materials show that the institution remains active and is recruiting students. The university is multicampus. Warsaw is the main campus, but faculties also operate in Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Kraków and Sopot. Applicants should therefore treat location as a program-level decision: a subject advertised by the university may not be available in every city. The Warsaw campus houses five faculties covering psychology, humanities, social sciences, law and design. SWPS combines degree education with research and professional learning. Its 2024/25 annual report recorded bachelor’s and master’s students, doctoral candidates and participants in separate postgraduate certificate education. The distinction matters because not every course advertised by SWPS is a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral program. Prospective students should confirm the award level, campus, teaching language and study mode on the individual program page before applying.

For 2026/27, SWPS publishes separate official rules for undergraduate and graduate study, programs conducted in English, recognition of language proficiency and doctoral admission. Applicants begin through the online application portal, upload scans for verification, pay the applicable application fee, conclude the study agreement and then provide the required documents. Exact selection criteria can vary by program, and some courses may use additional assessment. Design and graduate psychology also carry different application fees from the regular rate. Undergraduate applicants must present an eligible secondary-school qualification. Graduate applicants need a completed undergraduate degree that permits progression to master’s study. International candidates may also need formal recognition or verification of foreign educational documents and evidence of the required teaching-language proficiency. For specified candidates whose diplomas were issued outside the EU, United Kingdom, OECD, China or Ukraine and who do not hold an International or European Baccalaureate, the 2026/27 materials identify possible entrance-examination requirements. Document legalization, certified translation and immigration steps should be checked according to the applicant’s country and status. There is no safe university-wide deadline to quote because schedules and availability may differ by program and applicant group. Candidates should use the live program page and 2026/27 admissions resolution, and should not assume that an open application portal guarantees remaining places.

At the Warsaw campus, academic provision is organized through the faculties of Psychology, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law and Design. The official 2026/27 admissions documentation lists undergraduate and graduate offerings across areas including psychology, English studies and other language pathways, cultural studies, journalism and social communication, management and leadership, human resource management, law-related fields, computer science and design. Availability, study mode and teaching language differ by program, so the university-wide portfolio should not be read as a promise that every subject is offered in English or at every campus. The university awards bachelor’s and master’s degrees and also offers integrated master’s study in fields where that format applies. Its Doctoral School is based in Warsaw and describes education in psychology, sociology, political and administrative sciences, culture and religion studies, literary studies, and fine arts and art conservation. Doctoral recruitment is separate from admission to first- and second-cycle degrees and may be limited to specified disciplines or research places in a given year. Research is structured through institutes in psychology, humanities, social sciences, law and design. The Warsaw campus supports study with computer laboratories, interpretation booths and specialized research facilities. Its main and Oriental libraries provide print and electronic materials, including specialist East Asian collections. Students comparing programs should inspect the current curriculum, professional-practice requirements and language of each specific route rather than relying on the field name alone.

Key Highlights

• Private, non-public university founded in 1996
• Main campus and legal headquarters in Warsaw
• University faculties operate across six Polish cities
• Warsaw campus contains five faculties

Student Life & Environment

Student life at SWPS is spread across separate city campuses rather than a single residential university environment. In Warsaw, the official directory lists research clubs and organizations connected with psychology, neuroscience, journalism, languages, Asian studies, social innovation, photography, law and open science, as well as a university choir and a women’s volleyball team affiliated with Poland’s Academic Sports Association. The range allows students to connect extracurricular activity closely to their subject, although active membership and meeting language should be confirmed with each organization. The Warsaw campus provides study areas and two libraries. Student support includes an Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center, while the university’s 2024/25 annual report documents psychological assistance, crisis intervention and individualized arrangements for students with health or disability-related needs. Applicants requiring accommodations should contact the university before enrollment to confirm what can be provided for their particular program and campus. Housing is not presented as a guaranteed university residence allocation. SWPS instead directs students to nearby private student accommodation and external housing providers, as well as Warsaw’s private rental market. Students should compare contract terms, commuting time and current prices directly with each provider before committing.

Location & Surroundings

The main SWPS campus is at Chodakowska 19/31 in Warsaw’s Praga district, on the eastern side of the Vistula. It occupies renovated buildings from a former electrical-equipment factory dating from the 1920s. The industrial setting is integrated into an urban neighborhood rather than a self-contained residential campus, which can suit students who want direct access to the capital’s cultural and professional environment. Warsaw is the institution’s headquarters and the location of its International Admissions Office, five faculties and Doctoral School. Applicants should nevertheless check the location attached to every program: SWPS also teaches in Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Sopot and Kraków, and the academic offer differs between cities. Accommodation requires advance planning. The university identifies private student residences close to the Warsaw campus, including properties within walking distance or next door, and also links students to outside housing services. Private flats are another option, but the university’s accommodation guidance describes them as generally more expensive. Travel time, deposit requirements and tenancy conditions should be verified with the provider.

Costs & Career Outcomes

SWPS is tuition-charging, and costs vary by program, campus, degree level, teaching language and payment schedule. For 2026/27, the regular application fee is PLN 85, graduate psychology costs PLN 100 and design costs PLN 150. The fee is normally non-refundable unless the selected program is cancelled, subject to the university’s stated exception. Tuition is published on individual program pages and in the official study-agreement fee table; some English-taught Warsaw programs are priced in euros, so applicants should not assume that every charge will be in the database currency of PLN. The 2026/27 Warsaw fee table illustrates substantial variation rather than a single institutional price. Applicants should calculate the full program cost using their exact course and payment plan, then add accommodation, food, transport, insurance, residence formalities and personal expenses. Scholarships and tuition-reduction routes are advertised, but eligibility and renewal conditions must be checked in the current regulations. Housing contracts are generally made with private providers and are separate from tuition. Career support is available through the Office of Career Services. Its services include career counseling, CV and interview preparation, skills assessment, mentoring, access to job and internship listings, and guidance on mandatory or optional placements. English-program students can use career-readiness workshops focused on the Polish labor market. These services support preparation but do not constitute a job-placement or salary guarantee.