Analysis:
Poland: an Emerging Hub for International Education and Investment
Poland’s student housing market continues to expand beyond Warsaw and Kraków, with new openings also reaching secondary university cities. Student Depot, SHED Co-living, StudentSpace and BaseCamp by Xior are growing their presence, while StudentSpace entered the market in 2025 and Tribera is set to follow in 2026. This activity reflects Poland’s position as one of Europe’s largest higher education markets, with 1.28 million students, 8% of whom are international. Its 39 globally ranked universities, relative affordability and safe study environment further support its appeal.
The continued decline in birth rates, regulatory changes affecting international students introduced in 2025, and new government initiatives supporting internationalisation announced in 2026 will shape the future development of Poland’s student population.
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Poland is one of Europe’s largest student markets, with 1.28 million students. Over the past five academic years, total enrolment grew most strongly in Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk, while international enrolment increased at a 5.7% CAGR, led by Poznań, Gdańsk and Warsaw.
International students remain vital to Poland’s economy and help offset the demographic decline affecting domestic enrolment.
New academic agreements with Türkiye, Vietnam, South Korea and Uzbekistan, announced in 2026, aim to support international recruitment following stricter visa rules, higher application fees and tougher language requirements introduced in 2025.
Historical Trends and Current Student Demand in Poland
Poland’s student population has grown steadily over the past five academic years, with international enrolment increasing at a CAGR of 5.7%. Most international students come from Europe, which accounts for 72% of the total. Ukraine, Belarus and Türkiye remain the largest individual countries of origin.
Notably, domestic mobile students account for an average of 56% of enrolment across the ten major Polish cities monitored by BONARD, adding a substantial layer of demand alongside international students.
Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk recorded the strongest overall growth, while international enrolment rose fastest in Poznań, Gdańsk and Warsaw. The country’s largest academic hubs remain Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Poznań, each with more than 100,000 students.
Demand is supported by internationally recognised universities, qualifications aligned with European standards and tuition fees that remain competitive compared with Western Europe. Eligible students can also access free Polish-taught programmes, while scholarships from government bodies, universities and foundations are available to both domestic and international students. Poland’s safe and attractive living environment further strengthens its appeal.
Future Outlook
Poland’s large and diversified higher education market is expected to remain resilient, with total enrolment broadly stable over the coming years. However, declining birth rates continue to weigh on domestic enrolment, making international students increasingly important to both the higher education sector and the wider economy. According to the University of Economics in Katowice, they contribute around €1.6 billion a year to the Polish economy.
In response, the government is strengthening the internationalisation of higher education through new academic cooperation agreements with Türkiye, Vietnam, South Korea and Uzbekistan. These initiatives may also help offset the impact of stricter requirements introduced in 2025, including tighter visa rules, higher application fees and more demanding language standards. The overall impact of these measures will become clearer over the coming years.
In 2026, the number of secondary school graduates rose sharply, from around 256,000 in 2025 to over 320,000, with further growth expected next year. This increase reflects an earlier education reform that lowered the school starting age to six, creating a larger cohort now completing secondary education. A larger applicant pool will intensify competition for university places and may increase enrolment at less selective public and private institutions with available capacity, while also supporting greater domestic student mobility.
What does this mean for stakeholders?
Poland’s student market is entering a period in which demographic trends, regulatory changes and new government initiatives will play a greater role in shaping enrolment. Their full impact will take time to emerge, and the outlook is likely to vary by city, with the strongest opportunities concentrated in major education hubs. Nevertheless, strong underlying demand is expected to persist.
International recruitment will remain important to Poland’s higher education sector and wider economy. At the same time, PBSA operators can also benefit from the country’s strong domestic student mobility, making it important to create an accommodation offer that appeals to both groups.
The continued expansion of established PBSA brands and the arrival of new operators also signal confidence in the market’s long-term potential.
"Poland’s higher education market is increasingly defined by a strategic shift toward internationalisation and high domestic mobility. While stricter 2025 regulatory frameworks pose challenges, new 2026 academic agreements and a sharp rise in secondary graduates are sustaining robust demand across both primary and secondary university cities."
Barbora Kurjatko
Real Estate Consultant, BONARD
For a deeper understanding of student housing demand, supply gaps, development pipelines and market-level provision rates, explore the BONARD Platform or learn more about how BONARD supports market selection and investment strategy.
For tailored advice on evaluating student housing opportunities in Germany and Europe, contact Filip to explore how he can support your next acquisition or development strategy.
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