As every year, onboarding information sessions in both Polish and English introduced newly arrived students to the basics of university life and the opportunities offered by the University of Warsaw.
On September 29 and 30, Welcome Point organised two editions of Welcome Days 2026 for new long-term international students beginning their studies at the University of Warsaw.
The English-language edition welcomed 157 participants, while 43 students joined the Polish-language meeting. In total, 200 new students took part in this year’s Welcome Days.
The registrations reflected the international character of UW, with students representing more than 50 countries. The largest groups came from Ukraine, China, India, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Belarus.
The new students were officially welcomed by Prof. Maciej Raś, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning and Katarzyna Basisty – Coordinator of Welcome Point.
Preparing for life at UW
The programme began with practical information and useful tips from the Welcome Point team. Participants learned how the University works, where to find support and how to navigate the first weeks of studying and living in Warsaw.
Representatives of several UW units presented the services and opportunities available to students:
- Volunteer Centre of the University of Warsaw – volunteering opportunities and ways to become involved in the University community;
- POLONICUM – Centre of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners – Polish language courses and activities introducing students to Polish culture;
- Physical Education and Sports Centre – physical education classes and sports opportunities at UW;
- Student Welfare and Support Office, Office for Persons with Disabilities, Careers Office and Psychological Support Centre – financial, accessibility, career and psychological support available to members of the UW community.
Advice from current students
- Current UW students shared practical tips based on their own experiences of studying at the University and living in Warsaw.
- Representatives of the Students’ Union of the University of Warsaw also conducted training on students’ rights and responsibilities, helping participants better understand the rules of studying at UW.
Both editions concluded with guided tours of the historic UW Main Campus. The walks gave the new students an opportunity to discover important places, learn about the University’s history and become more familiar with their new academic surroundings.
We are delighted that so many new students joined us this year. We hope Welcome Days helped them feel more confident, informed and at home at the University of Warsaw.
Welcome to UW! We wish all our new students a successful and unforgettable academic journey!
The event is financed by the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 (FERS) programme under the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) programme: Welcome to Poland 2024, project: ‘Welcome Point – Expanding Horizons!’ (WP-EHo), contract no. BPI/WTP/2024/1/00.
Photos by: Mirek Kaźmierczak
