English-Taught Studies in Poland and PBSA Demand — A Key Investment Driver
108,600 international students (GUS 2024). Medical University Lublin English Division, Warsaw, IBA. How international students drive the PBSA market and premium locations.
108,600 international students study in Poland (GUS 2024/25) — 8.6% of all students. This is the fastest-growing segment of demand for student accommodation. We examine how English-taught studies drive the PBSA market and which cities gain the most.
The scale of the international-student segment
Poland 2024/2025 (GUS):
- 108,600 international students
- 8.6% of all students (1.28 million total)
- Growth of +6.2% YoY
- In 2018 it was ~6%, in 2024 — 8.6% = a 50% increase over 7 years
Main source markets:
- Ukraine — the majority share (the 2022 war increased it further)
- Belarus, India, Norway, Germany
- Rising: USA, United Kingdom, Spain (mainly medicine, IT)
Main fields of study:
- Medicine (English Division) — Medical University Lublin, Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of Gdańsk
- IT / Computer Science — Warsaw University of Technology, AGH, Wrocław University of Science and Technology
- Business, economics, MBA — SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Kozminski University, IBA Warsaw
Why international students are key to PBSA
1. No alternative of living with parents. Polish students often live with their parents (40% per Savills 2025). International students do not have this option — they always need accommodation.
2. The language barrier of private rentals. Most rental listings in Poland are in Polish only. International students struggle to navigate the private market.
3. No Polish bank account / PESEL number. Private landlords require Polish documents. PBSA accepts a passport.
4. A higher propensity for PBSA. International students vote with their wallet for standard and English-language service — PBSA is the natural choice.
5. Constant turnover. Erasmus 6 months + full-degree students 5 years = a steady inflow of new residents. A PBSA operator has a predictable pipeline.
Per city — share of international students
| City | Total students | International students | % international |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | 262,700 | 33,900 | 12.9% |
| Lublin | 60,000 | 9,000 | 15.0% (highest %) |
| Kraków | 137,784 | ~12,000 | 8.7% |
| Wrocław | 110,000 | 10,000 | 9.1% |
| Poznań | 114,000 | ~6,000 | 5.3% |
| Gdańsk | 67,000 | ~4,500 | 6.7% |
| Łódź | 72,000 | ~3,000 | 4.2% |
Lublin has the highest percentage of international students (15%) — owing to the Medical University's English Division (English-taught medicine).
Warsaw has the largest absolute number (33,900) — a concentration in the capital.
Medical English Division — the premium segment
Medical universities with English-taught programmes:
- Medical University of Warsaw (WUM) — Medical English Division, ~1,200 students
- Jagiellonian University Medical College (CMUJ, Kraków) — Collegium Medicum English Programs
- Medical University of Gdańsk (GUMed) — English Division Medicine
- Wrocław Medical University (UMW) — English Programs
- Medical University of Lublin — the best-known English Division, ~3,000 students
- Pomeranian Medical University Szczecin (PUM) — English Programs
Students on these programmes pay tuition of EUR 8,000–15,000/year. They have the budget for premium PBSA (PLN 2,500–4,000/month).
This is the highest-profitability segment for PBSA operators — high rates + a long-term hold (5–6 years of medical studies).
IBA and business programmes
SGH Warsaw School of Economics — English-taught MBA, bachelor's programmes Kozminski University (ALK, Warsaw) — English-taught programmes WSB Wrocław — international business programmes
Students on these programmes (typically 24–30 years old, young professionals) have the highest PBSA rates (PLN 3,000–4,500/month) and prefer a premium studio or couples' apartments.
Optimal locations: Mokotów Warsaw (SGH, Kozminski), Kraków city centre (UEK Kraków University of Economics).
IT and Computer Science
AGH (Kraków), Warsaw University of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, PJATK — English-taught IT programmes.
IT students are:
- Financially stable (often working alongside their studies, PLN 5,000–10,000/month)
- In need of reliable internet (critical for programming work)
- Appreciative of coworking (remote-work hours)
Optimal locations: Krowodrza Kraków (AGH), Ochota Warsaw (Warsaw University of Technology).
Operators serving international students
Full English-language service:
- Student Depot (Kajima) — all 8 properties, online booking in English
- Basecamp by Xior — 7 properties, a premium offering for international students
- LivinnX — 2 large properties with a global clientele
- SHED Living — a co-living model attractive to international students
- Zeitraum (Zeitgeist) — 3 properties, an international clientele
Limited English-language service:
- Akademik Praski Warsaw — mainly Polish-language
- Some smaller local operators
Implications for the investor
1. Choose properties with a strong international marketing strategy.
2. Locations close to universities with an English Division:
- Lublin, Doktora Witolda Chodźki (Medical University English Division)
- Warsaw Mokotów (WUM + SGH + Kozminski)
- Gdańsk Przymorze (GUMed)
- Szczecin Gumieńce (PUM)
3. An operator with a bilingual site + processes:
Always check: does the website support English? Is the contract in EN? Is 24/7 support available in EN?
4. The premium segment pays off.
Medical English Division students pay tuition of EUR 50,000 over 5 years — they have the budget for premium PBSA. Higher yields per room.
5. Marketing via university agencies.
Some operators partner with universities' International Offices — pre-leasing beds for newly admitted international students. A stable tenant pipeline.
Trends 2026–2030
1. Growth in the number of international students to 150,000 (Savills forecast).
2. The Polish government is promoting "Study in Poland" — an international campaign run by MEiN (the Ministry of Education and Science).
3. Medical English Divisions are expanding — new programmes at the Jagiellonian University, Wrocław Medical University, GUMed.
4. Ukraine as a stable market (the 2022 war will stabilise the inflow of Ukrainian students).
5. India and SE Asia as new markets — aggressive marketing campaigns by Polish universities.
Conclusion
International students are a structural driver of PBSA demand in Poland — impossible to satisfy through the Polish private rental market (language barriers, the lack of Polish documents).
The premium segment (medical English Division, IBA, MBA) pays the highest PBSA rates and provides a long-term hold (3–6 years).
Operators with strong English-language onboarding (Student Depot, Basecamp, LivinnX, SHED, Zeitraum) will gain the most from the growing segment.
An investor choosing an operator should prioritise international service and international marketing strategies.
Sources
- GUS — Szkolnictwo wyższe w roku akademickim 2024/2025 (Higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year)
- Savills Polska — Rynek PBSA w Polsce 2025 (Poland PBSA market 2025)
- MEiN — Study in Poland (government programme)
- University websites: WUM, Medical University of Lublin, GUMed, AGH (English Programs)
