One of the most important things to do before studying in Poland is to find suitable student accommodation.
Having accommodation in Poland is also one of the main requirements to obtain a student visa.
The problem is that most students are still stuck in their home countries.
How can you find accommodation in Poland if you don’t live here?
In this post I’ll tell you everything you need to know to make your stay in Poland as comfortable as possible, and hopefully, to save you some money.
The Big Mistake!
The worst thing you can do is to find a place online and sign a contract before coming to Poland.
You may find out when you arrive in Poland, that the place looks nothing like in the photos, and then what?
Well, not only will you be stuck with terrible accommodation for a while, but you’ll also have to pay a fee to cancel the contract.
Not to mention that accommodation online is always more expensive.
That’s because you are usually dealing with an agency, not a private person, who charges a commission.
But what if I only book accommodation for a few months?
You could do that. There are many offers online for 1–3-month rentals.
However, you won’t get a student visa.
The Poland student visa requirements state that you need accommodation for the entire length of your stay in Poland.
Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you need to book accommodation for the entire length of your studies in Poland.
It only means that you need accommodation for the time your visa will be valid for, which is 1 year.
After you come to Poland, you will apply for a residence permit, which in a way replaces the visa.
Student Accommodation in Poland: The best solution
Ask your university for help
Polish universities have student dormitories.
These dormitories are ideal for students looking for cheap accommodation.
They are usually well located, close to the university campus.
But I don’t want to stay in a dormitory!
You don’t have to.
Just ask your university to give you a letter stating there is a place available for you in their dormitory.
This should be enough to apply for a student visa.
Even if you don’t plan on staying in the dormitory, the Polish Embassy or Consulate wants to know that you have accommodation arrangements. Basically, you will not be homeless in Poland.
How much does it cost to live in a student dormitory in Poland?
It depends on what type of room you want.
Let’s compare the cost of three universities in Poland.
The first will be Warsaw University, the top-ranked university in Poland.
Next will be Jagiellonian University in Kraków, which often swops places with Warsaw University as the best university in the land.
And finally, we’ll look at the cost of student accommodation at my very own Poznań University of Economics and Business.
Warsaw University
Warsaw University has plenty of dormitories and will assist students with the documents they need to obtain a visa.
Here is what it says on the Warsaw University’s website:
The University of Warsaw offers more than 2352 places in six residence halls situated in various parts of the city. Each hall has a quiet study lounge, a TV room, a computer room, and laundry facilities. Monthly rent ranges from EUR 117 to 210 (PLN 529-950) per person, depending on the type of room and dormitory.
A closer inspection of the different dormitories at the University of Warsaw shows us there are single and double rooms available.
The price for a single room starts at 600 PLN.
The University also advises on obtaining proof of accommodation certificates for visas:
If you wish to obtain a certificate for your visa, please contact us by email (bpm@uw.edu.pl).
Please write “Certificate for visa” in the title of the message. Please include your index (album) number in the body of the email or your admission decision at the University of Warsaw.
Jagiellonian University
Here is what is says on the Jagiellonian University website:
The amount of the monthly fee for a place in a dormitory and Doctoral House for students and doctoral students of Jagiellonian University in the academic year 2024/2025 is:
- for a place in a shared room – PLN 610;
- for the private use of a double room – PLN 1060;
- for a place in a single room – PLN 780
I like that they offer a private double room for students who need more space.
Also, for that price, you will not find anything similar in Kraków.
Poznań University of Economics and Business
The cost of accommodation at my very own Poznań University of Economics and Business ranges from 575 PLN – 938 PLN per month.
The lower end is for shared double rooms (2-people) and the higher end is for single rooms (1-person).
However, when I applied a bit more than 2 years ago, there were no single rooms available.
I know from personal experience that my university is very accommodating and eager to help students who need to apply for a visa.
What if my university doesn’t have any dormitories?
If your university doesn’t have any dormitories, I recommend contacting neighbouring universities in your city.
Often universities will accept people with student status, even if they study at other universities.
Wrap up!
There you have it. Finding student accommodation in Poland is not difficult, and it won’t cost an arm and a leg (only around 500-1000 PLN a month).
There are many other things you should be aware of before studying in Poland. For a more detailed guide, check out my full post on studying in Poland, which will tell you everything you need to know.
Happy studying! (And check also the best places to live in Poland)
Paul Smuts is a student living in Poznań, and the creator of Paul in Poland, a blog dedicated to life in Poland. Through his blog, Paul shares practical advice on living, studying, and traveling within Poland, offering insights and tips for those looking to explore or settle in the country.
