The University of Economics in Katowice has prepared a report entitled "International Students in Poland in the Context of New Regulations. Scale, Trends and Economic Significance." The report was prepared for the conference "International Students in Poland 2026," jointly organised by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, the Jagiellonian University, and the Educational Foundation "Perspektywy".
The analyses were conducted by a team composed of:
- prof. dr hab. inż. Celina Olszak
- prof. dr hab. Wojciech Dyduch
- dr hab. Jan Acedański, prof. UE
- dr hab. Anna Sączewska-Piotrowska, prof. UE
- dr Krzysztof Niestrój, prof. UE
- mgr Anna Maniura
"People from abroad studying in Poland are not only participants in the education system who contribute to the internationalisation of Polish universities, but also long-term investors in the Polish economy," we read in the prepared report “International Students in Poland in the Context of New Regulations. Scale, Trends and Economic Significance." The report was prepared for the conference “International Students in Poland 2026," jointly organised by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, the Jagiellonian University, and the Educational Foundation "Perspektywy".
When examining the impact that a more restrictive migration policy may have on the number of international students in Poland, researchers from Katowice began by calculating that with the current number of 108 thousand people, international students generate "on average over PLN 5.3 billion in annual revenues" (excluding tuition fees). "International students are not a cost to the system - they are an economic catalyst." At the same time, in Poland "the internationalisation of higher education has become one of the main stabilising mechanisms under unfavourable demographic trends." The presence of international students generates revenues of several hundred million PLN in the largest academic centres, as well as tax revenues amounting to several tens of millions of PLN, while in the case of Warsaw these revenues reach almost PLN 2 billion annually and nearly PLN 200 million in tax revenues.
Revenue from tuition fees paid by international students was also estimated. After a conservative analysis, it turns out that the annual income of all universities from tuition fees, including medical programmes, amounts to PLN 1.52 billion. Adding to this PLN 5.3 billion in expenditures on housing, food and other living needs, we obtain a total of over PLN 6.8 billion that international students "invest" annually in Poland.
Losses associated with the decreasing number of foreigners admitted to the first year of studies at Polish universities were also analysed. Based on student living costs and data from the rental market, it was assumed that an average international student spends approximately PLN 3,980-6,000 per month in Poland, which gives about PLN 35,800-75,000 per year per person. In these calculations, it was assumed that the student resides in Poland for at least 9-12 months per year; uses the rental market, services, transport, gastronomy and retail trade; in the vast majority of cases does not use the social benefits system; generates net demand, mainly in academic cities but also in smaller centres. A lost international student means a measurable cost for the local economy, especially for large academic cities.
In the academic year 2024/2025, more than 32.4 thousand international students began studies in Poland, which means a decrease of approximately 3.8 thousand people compared to the previous year (PLN 133 to 285 million less in annual revenues). The slowdown currently observed is not solely demographic or demand-related in nature, but is to some extent a derivative of regulatory and administrative factors.
Visa and residence regulations have direct economic consequences for future scenarios. Each one per cent decrease in the number of international students (1,086 people) means a loss of PLN 39 to 81 million annually, while a 5% decrease (5,430 people) already results in reduced expenditures of PLN 194 to over 407 million per year.
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