Wyższa Szkoła Europejska im. Ks. Józefa Tischnera

What Wyższa Szkoła Europejska im. Ks. Józefa Tischnera does

Uniwersytet SWPS is a private non-public university headquartered in Warsaw, Poland (ul. Chodakowska 19/31), operating six campuses across Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Sopot, and Kraków. Founded in 1996 as Wyższa Szkoła Psychologii Społecznej (Higher School of Social Psychology) — the first non-public university in Poland — it was renamed Uniwersytet SWPS in 2016 to reflect its evolution into a multidisciplinary institution. It serves over 17,000 students, including 1,100 international students from 83 countries, and has produced nearly 47,000 graduates across its history. The institution operates 12 faculties and 35 research centers/laboratories across 5 scientific institutes, with 579 academic staff and over 1,000 collaborators, holding doctoral and habilitation rights in 7 disciplines.

The core product is academic programming: 45 undergraduate/graduate study programs, 230 postgraduate programs enrolling over 5,400 students, and a doctoral school with research programs across psychology, law, design, management, humanities, and social sciences. Adjacent services include a language school, coach school (Szkoła Trenerów), certification center, OpenEdu online courses, cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychological counseling clinics, and free legal advisory services. Technology infrastructure comprises the Virtual University portal (portal.swps.edu.pl), the Mój USWPS mobile application, the first Adobe Creative Campus license in Poland, and library access to EBSCO, Legalis, and LEX databases. Sub-brands include School of Form (design), SWPS Innowacje (innovation/commercialization), and the Re_Mind Psychology Congress and Festival.

The business model is anchored in tuition fees from undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and postgraduate studies on an annual recurring billing basis, complemented by professional-services revenue from continuing education, applied and commercial research, public-institution contracts, facility rentals, and therapeutic/counseling services. Distribution operates through direct enrollment at six physical campuses with dedicated domestic and international recruitment offices, complemented by a network of 200+ international partner universities and the ERUA European Alliance for student mobility. Marketing is multi-channel (website swps.pl, social media, Open Days events, PR and expert communications, a mobile app). Strategic positioning is reinforced by external validation: the THE World University Rankings 2025 named SWPS the best non-public university in Poland, the European Commission granted HR Excellence in Research status, and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education has consistently recognized it as the most-chosen non-public university for full-time studies.

Name

Wyższa Szkoła Europejska im. Ks. Józefa Tischnera

Legal name

Uniwersytet SWPS

Website

https://wse.krakow.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Uniwersytet SWPS is a private Polish university operating six campuses with 17,000+ students, including 1,100 international students from 83 countries. It delivers 45 degree programs, 230+ postgraduate programs, and doctoral training across psychology, law, design, management, and social sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Private university programs
• Postgraduate professional education
• Psychology academic programs
• Doctoral research programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kraków

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees (czesne): Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and postgraduate studies tuition fees charged to students
2. Continuing education services: Language school, trainer school, certification programs, and OpenEdu courses
3. Research and consulting services: Applied research projects, commercial research, public services contracts
4. Facility rental: Conference center and room rentals for external events
5. Therapeutic and counseling services: Cognitive-behavioral therapy clinic, psychological counseling clinic, psychological-pedagogical counseling

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The institution operates as a private higher education provider delivering undergraduate studies (45 degree programs), postgraduate studies (over 230 programs), and doctoral programs across six Polish campuses (Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Sopot, Kraków). In addition to degree-bearing studies, it sells continuing-education services such as a Language School, Trainer/Coach School, professional certification programs, and OpenEdu online courses, plus research and consulting services, facility rentals, and clinical therapy services. Enrollment exceeds 17,000 students, including 1,100 international students from 83 countries.

Product overview

Uniwersytet SWPS is a private university in Poland operating as a comprehensive higher education institution with 6 campuses (Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Sopot, Kraków). The university offers a unified platform of educational services consisting of undergraduate studies (45 degree programs), postgraduate studies (over 230 programs), and doctoral programs. Supporting these core academic offerings are additional services including a Language School, Coach School, certification programs, and professional development courses through OpenEdu. The institution also provides digital infrastructure through the Virtual University portal and Mój USWPS mobile application, along with library services with access to academic databases (EBSCO, Legalis, LEX). Clinical services are offered through therapy clinics in Warsaw and Poznań. With over 17,000 students, including 1,100 international students from 83 countries, and 35 research centers, the university integrates teaching with research across disciplines including psychology, law, design, management, and social sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Form: Design school operating under SWPS offering programmes in design and digital arts.
• Klinika Terapii Poznawczo-Behawioralnej
• Klinika Uniwersytetu SWPS w Poznaniu
• Poradnia Psychologiczno-Pedagogiczna w Poznaniu
• Szkoła Językowa
• Szkoła Trenerów
• OpenEdu
• SWPS Innowacje
• Re_Mind Kongres i Festiwal Psychologiczny
• Sojusz europejski ERUA

Products and services

• Undergraduate and Graduate Studies (Studia wyższe) Bachelor's and master's degree programs (including long-cycle master's and English-language programs) in psychology, game design, advertising graphics and multimedia, digital art, management, and other disciplines, delivered across six Polish campuses for prospective and enrolled students.
• Postgraduate Studies (Studia podyplomowe) Over 230 postgraduate specialisation programs (e.g., coaching, clinical sexology, psychodietetics, transport psychology, investigative psychology, dance therapy, mindfulness) delivered on-campus, online, and hybrid to working professionals.
• Doctoral Programs (Doktoraty / Szkoła Doktorska) Doctoral and postdoctoral (habilitation) research training programs across seven disciplines with full doctoral and habilitation rights, for aspiring researchers.
• OpenEdu Online Courses and Training Online courses and professional development programs delivered through the OpenEdu platform for individuals and external learners.
• Professional Certifications (Certyfikacje) Professional competency certification programs validating skills and knowledge for individuals and practitioners, delivered through the Centrum Certyfikacji.
• Language School (Szkoła Językowa) Foreign-language courses (including intercultural communication) for students and external participants.
• Trainer / Coach School (Szkoła Trenerów) Professional coaching and trainer development programs integrating coaching with elements of psychology, for aspiring trainers and coaches.
• Therapeutic and Counselling Services (Kliniki i Poradnie) Clinical psychology outpatient services, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and psychological-pedagogical counselling provided to the community through university clinics in Warsaw and Poznań.
• Applied Research, Consulting and Commercial Research Services Applied research, commercial research projects, public-services contracts, and consulting delivered by university research centers and institutes to companies, public bodies, and employer organisations (e.g., Konfederacja Lewiatan, Fundacja Medicover).
• Conference Center and Facility Rental Services Rental of university conference facilities and rooms to external event organisers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top research quality among Polish universities per Times Higher Education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ERUA (European University Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university alliance that enables joint academic programs, student exchanges, and collaborative research across multiple European institutions. Uniwersytet SWPS is a member of this alliance consisting of 6 universities.
• 200+ international partner universitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange partnerships enabling student and faculty mobility across 200+ universities worldwide
• Nike (retail partnership)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded merchandise partnership - first such collaboration in the world, producing Nike & USWPS branded products
• Konfederacja LewiatanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Confederation of Polish Employers
• Fundacja Anny Dymnej 'Mimo Wszystko'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable collaboration preparing volunteers for the Enchanted Song Festival
• Fundacja MedicoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative supporting schools through health and education programs
• Millennium Docs Against GravityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with documentary film festival
• EARMA (European Association of Research Managers and Administrators)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in prestigious research management community
• EUA (European University Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in European University Association
• IAU (International Association of Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in International Association of Universities
• EASSH (European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in European alliance for social sciences and humanities
• Gutek FilmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm dialogue series - cinema and society collaboration
• Magazyn 'Pismo'minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with magazine on responsible journalism and practical education
• Żona KrawcaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign collaboration with School of Form students

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego (Kozminski University): Leading private Polish university in Warsaw, focused on business, management and law, ranked by FT and THE. Directly comparable to SWPS as a tuition-funded Polish private university competing for the same domestic and international student pool.
• Społeczna Akademia Nauk (SAN): Private Polish university operating across multiple campuses with a focus on social sciences and professional programs. Comparable to SWPS in private, multi-campus delivery model targeting Polish and international fee-paying students.
• Akademia Finansów i Biznesu Vistula: Private Warsaw university offering business, design and social science programs with significant international recruitment. Comparable to SWPS in private positioning, multilingual offering and emphasis on international students from Central/Eastern Europe.
• Collegium Civitas: Private university in Warsaw specializing in social sciences, journalism, and international relations. Comparable to SWPS as a non-public Polish institution with strong international student intake and English-language programs.
• Uczelnia Łazarskiego: Private Warsaw-based university offering law, economics and social sciences with international programs in English. Comparable to SWPS in scale, private model, Polish footprint and focus on fee-paying Polish and international students.
• WSB Merito University: Large Polish private university with multiple campuses across Polish cities. Closely comparable to SWPS's multi-city campus strategy, tuition-funded model and broad program portfolio spanning business, social sciences and applied professional programs.
• University of Social Sciences (SAN) – Łódź branch equivalents: Already covered above as SAN; included to highlight multi-campus parallel structure to SWPS across regional Polish cities.

Emerging players

• University of Buckingham: UK's oldest private university, tuition-funded with strong international recruitment. Comparable to SWPS as a benchmark for the private, fee-based university model in a mature European market and a reference point for internationalisation strategy.

Broad incumbents

• University of Warsaw: Largest public research university in Poland and a top-tier competitor for domestic students in social sciences, law and psychology. Relevant peer for SWPS given direct competition for the same talent pool despite different funding models.
• University of Economics in Katowice (UE Katowice): Large public Polish university focused on economics, management and social sciences with regional reach. Comparable to SWPS as a competitor for social-science and business students in Poland, though operating on a public, state-funded model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SWPSUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniwersytetSWPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wsekrakow
• Instagraminstagram.com/uniwersytet_swps
• TikToktiktok.com/@uniwersytetswps

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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