Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych

What Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych does

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych (SANS, formerly Sopocka Szkoła Wyższa) is a private Polish university of applied sciences founded in 1999 and headquartered at ul. Rzemieślnicza 5 in Sopot, with a branch campus in Chojnice. The institution operates across three academic pillars — finance and business, architecture and design, and engineering — through faculties of Economics and Finance; Architecture, Engineering and Art; and an Intercollegiate Faculty of Business and Languages. Its product portfolio includes undergraduate (bachelor's and engineering) and graduate (master's) degree programs across eight fields of study, more than thirty postgraduate specializations (including an Executive MBA with ACCA qualification), EQF level 5 short-cycle vocational programs, professional courses and training, and English-language programs for international students.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition across these streams — Polish degree programs, postgraduate fees (e.g., Compliance Academy at PLN 5,500/year, Critical Infrastructure Security Coordinator at PLN 5,000/year), international student fees at EUR 2,000/year, short-cycle vocational fees, and one-time course fees — distributed via an in-house Internetowa Rejestracja Kandydata (IRK) online registration system, physical recruitment offices in Sopot and Chojnice, open days, school partnerships, Erasmus+ exchange (21 European partner universities), and an active social media presence. SANS differentiates on practitioner-led instruction, ACCA and PIKW professional accreditation pathways, a 140+ partner network including PWC, Arla, Bayer, ThyssenKrupp and Mercor, and a comprehensive accessibility infrastructure for students with disabilities.

The underlying technology is a hybrid learning and administration stack — an EduPortal LMS, the IRK registration platform, and a virtual campus — rather than a proprietary AI or data product. SANS has produced more than 10,000 graduates over 25 years, employs 97 administrative staff, and draws on approximately 200 lecturers from academic and practitioner ranks across Poland and abroad.

Name

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych

Legal name

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych

Website

https://sopocka.edu.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych (SANS) is a private Polish university of applied sciences in Sopot, founded in 1999, offering undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and short-cycle vocational programs in finance, business, architecture, design, and engineering to Polish and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sopot

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Tuition fees from undergraduate (I stopnia) and graduate (II stopnia) programs. Payment available in semesters, 10 installments, or 12 installments. Dual studies and online formats available with varying fees.
2. Postgraduate Studies: Fees from postgraduate programs (studia podyplomowe) including Compliance Academy, Internal Audit, Critical Infrastructure Security Coordinator, and 30+ other practical postgraduate programs.
3. Short Cycle Studies: Short cycle programs (studia krótkiego cyklu) at EQF level 5 for specialized vocational qualifications lasting 1.5 years.
4. Courses and Training: Professional courses and training including ArchiCAD levels, SketchUp, AutoCAD, language courses (IELTS, Polish), and specialized professional development programs.
5. International Student Fees: Tuition fees for international students studying in English, with higher rates in EUR compared to PLN for Polish citizens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych (SANS) is a private university of applied sciences selling tuition-based academic programs in business, economics, finance, architecture, engineering, and design. Core offerings include undergraduate bachelor's and engineering degrees, graduate master's degrees, an Executive MBA with ACCA qualification, more than 30 postgraduate specializations, short-cycle vocational programs at EQF level 5, and professional courses and trainings, delivered in day, weekend, online, hybrid, dual, and English-medium formats across its Sopot and Chojnice campuses.

Product overview

Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych (SANS) operates as a multi-faculty university of applied sciences offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products structured across three academic pillars: finance/business, architecture/design, and engineering. The core offerings include undergraduate (bachelor's and engineering) and graduate (master's) degree programs across eight fields of study, supplemented by over 30 postgraduate specializations, Executive MBA with ACCA qualification, short-cycle vocational programs at EQF level 5, and professional courses/trainings. Study formats include full-time, weekend, online, and dual models. The institution's flagship postgraduate programs—Akademia Compliance, Koordynator Bezpieczeństwa Infrastruktury Krytycznej, and Audyt i kontrola wewnętrzna—are notable for their practitioner-led delivery and professional certification pathways through ACCA and PIKW partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studia I stopnia (Licencjackie i Inżynierskie) Undergraduate bachelor's and engineering degree programs across eight fields including Finance and Accounting, Economics, Business and Languages, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, and Production Management and Engineering, offered in daytime, weekend, online, and dual study formats for high-school graduates.
• Studia II stopnia (Magisterskie) Graduate master's degree programs in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Economics, and Finance and Accounting, available in Polish and English with online and hybrid study modes for candidates holding a first-cycle qualification.
• Studia podyplomowe (Postgraduate Studies) Postgraduate professional development programs including Akademia Compliance, Audyt i kontrola wewnętrzna, Koordynator Bezpieczeństwa Infrastruktury Krytycznej, and over 30 additional practical specializations, offered to graduates and working professionals seeking professional certification.
• Executive MBA z kwalifikacją ACCA Executive MBA program combined with the internationally recognized ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification, targeting senior professionals and managers who want business management education paired with finance and accounting certification.
• Studia krótkiego cyklu Short-cycle vocational programs at EQF level 5 lasting 1.5 years, including AI and Digital Transformation in Business, Media Arts: Photography and Film, and Interior Arrangement, enabling direct entry to the job market or continuation to bachelor's studies.
• Kursy i szkolenia Professional courses and training programs including ArchiCAD (levels 1–3), SketchUp, AutoCAD, CorelDraw, IELTS preparation, Polish language courses, carbon footprint estimation, and energy efficiency, offered as continuing education for professionals and learners.
• Studia w języku angielskim English-language degree programs in Finance and Accounting (ACCA), Economics, and International Business, designed for international students and Polish candidates seeking English-medium applied higher education, with EUR-denominated tuition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ graduates successfully completed studies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation partnership providing students with internationally recognized Finance and Accounting professional qualifications. SANS offers ACCA-accredited programs including Executive MBA with ACCA qualification and Finance and Accounting ACCA courses.
• Polska Izba Biegłych Rewidentów (PIBR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional partnership with Polish Chamber of Registered Auditors for compliance and audit programs. PIBR serves as program partner for Compliance Academy and supports professional development in accounting and audit.
• Polski Instytut Kontroli Wewnętrznej (PIKW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organization of Critical Infrastructure Security Coordinator and Internal Audit programs. Awards Level II Internal Auditor certification and Critical Infrastructure Security Coordinator certificates. Provides lifelong professional support for graduates.
• Erasmus+ Partner UniversitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner21 international exchange agreements with universities across Europe for student and faculty mobility, research collaboration, and joint projects. Number of partner institutions continuously growing.
• Employer and Industry Partners (140+)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 140 partners including employers, institutions, and NGOs collaborating on curriculum development, practical training, joint projects, research, and international exchange. Includes major companies such as PWC, Arla, Bayer, ThyssenKrupp, Mercor.
• Izba Architektów RPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Polish Chamber of Architects supporting Architecture and Interior Architecture programs with professional accreditation and career pathways for graduates.
• Stowarzyszenie Architektów Polskich (SARP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Association of Polish Architects supporting architectural education and professional development.
• Pracodawcy PomorzamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployers Association of Pomerania providing industry connections, internship opportunities, and career support for students and graduates.
• Gdański Klaster BudowlanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGdańsk Construction Cluster supporting Architecture and Design programs with industry connections and practical training opportunities.
• Pomorska Specjalna Strefa EkonomicznaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPomeranian Special Economic Zone providing internship and employment connections for economics and business students.
• Akademia Ateneum w GdańskuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with university in Gdańsk for potential credit transfers and collaborative programs.
• PWCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional services firm partnership providing industry connections and career opportunities for finance students.
• ArlaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational dairy company partnership providing industry connections for business and economics students.
• BayerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmaceutical company partnership providing internship and career opportunities for students.
• ThyssenKruppminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial engineering company partnership providing industry connections for production engineering students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SWPS University: Major private Polish university with multi-city campuses offering social sciences, business, and design programs. Comparable scale, multi-campus model, and private-sector tuition structure.
• Akademia Leona Kozminskiego (Kozminski University): Poland's leading private business university offering undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in finance, management, and accounting. Directly comparable as a private Polish institution competing for the same fee-paying business and finance student segment.
• Akademia Finansw i Biznesu Vistula (Vistula University): Private Warsaw-based university offering economics, finance, and business programs in Polish and English. Comparable as a private Polish higher education institution with similar applied/practitioner orientation and international recruitment focus.
• Collegium Civitas: Private Warsaw university specializing in social sciences, management, and international relations. Comparable private Polish higher education institution with similar postgraduate and professional development offerings.
• Wyzsza Szkola Bankowa (WSB Merito): Large private Polish university network with multiple campuses across Poland, focused on business, finance, and applied sciences. Closest competitor in scale and multi-city private university model, especially within Pomerania/Tri-City footprint.
• Uczelnia Lazarskiego w Warszawie (Lazarski University): Private Warsaw university with strong economics, law, and business programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Comparable private-sector peer targeting similar fee-paying Polish students and working professionals.

Regional players

• Uniwersytet Gdanski (University of Gdansk): Major public university in the Tri-City area offering economics, business, and social science programs. Regional competitor drawing from the same Tri-City student pool but operating under public university economics.
• Akademia Ateneum w Gdansku: Private Gdansk-based academic institution that is itself an SANS partnership partner. Comparable regional private higher education peer serving the same Tri-City and Pomerania student market.
• Politechnika Gdanska (Gdansk University of Technology): Leading Polish technical university in Tri-City offering architecture, engineering, and applied science programs. Direct regional overlap with SANS's architecture and production engineering offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Szkola Glowna Handlowa w Warszawie (SGH Warsaw School of Economics): Poland's leading public business and economics university. Competes for the same Polish finance and economics student segment at near-zero tuition, representing a different business model but identical target customer.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAiqMI4W1eOMqdC6qpQmyOg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sopocka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sopocka
• Instagraminstagram.com/sopocka_uczelnia
• TikToktiktok.com/@sopocka_uczelnia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych