Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector, and the University community express their solidarity with all the affected by the floods in southern Poland. The University authorities have launched a collection of donations for the flood victims. UW students whose families have been affected by the disaster can apply for material support and exemption from fees related to tuition and accommodation in halls of residence. Financial collection is ongoing. Support is also being provided by the Students’ Council of the UW.

Hundreds of people have lost their belongings as a result of the floods in southern Poland. In the past days, the flood wave has inundated more areas of the country. Many towns and villages have been flooded; there is no electricity, gas or drinking water, and landline telephony has been disrupted. The situation is most difficult in the Lower Silesian, Opole and Silesian Voivodeships.

In connection with the disaster, the authorities of the University of Warsaw have organised a collection for the flood victims and also prepared a support package for students from the affected areas. The humanitarian efforts on the part of the university are being coordinated by Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, and Prof. Maciej Raś, UW Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning.

Assistance for UW students and doctoral candidates

The university authorities have prepared a social support package for UW students and doctoral candidates whose families have been affected by the floods.

UW students and doctoral candidates can apply for an aid grant, exemption or reduction of fees related to education and accommodation in student halls of residence. In addition, students can apply for a social grant.

Assistance grant

An assistance grant is a one-off benefit paid out to a person who, for reasons beyond their control, has temporarily found themselves in a difficult life situation. This form of aid is available to students and doctoral candidates at the University of Warsaw.

A maximum of PLN5,500 may be obtained as a one-time aid. It is possible to receive two assistance grants during an academic year. The application should be submitted via USOSweb (after logging in to your individual account, choose the “Common section” tab, then “Applications” and from the list of applications – “Application for assistance grant”). The application for assistance grant must be completed in the 2023/2024 academic year.

You should attach e.g. a document confirming your address of residence (your own or that of your immediate family) to the application and describe your difficult life situation in the justification for the application.

Should you have any doubts about your application for an assistance grant, send a message to: zapomogi(at)uw.edu.pl. For more information on available benefits, visit the UW Student Welfare and Support Office website >>

Social scholarship for UW students

Should you lose your main source of income yourself or through a family member, we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain a social scholarship (as of 1st October, the income threshold has increased to PLN1,570.50, which will apply to scholarships awarded for the winter semester of the 2024/2025 academic year). In order to obtain the benefit, you need to fill in an income statement in USOSweb (available in the same tab as an assistance grant). Social scholarship is a fixed amount of support that is paid monthly.

Exemption or reduction of accommodation fees

Those affected by the floods can apply for a waiver of the fees associated with living in student halls of residence at the University of Warsaw. To submit such an application, send a message to bpm(at)uw.edu.pl.

Exemption or reduction of fees for educational services for students

The possibility of obtaining an exemption or reduction of fees for educational services (tuition fees, fees for repeating a year or a subject, etc.) is also available for the affected. For this purpose, an application should be submitted to the relevant head of the teaching unit.

Support for doctoral candidates studying as at UW doctoral schools

Doctoral candidates studying at doctoral schools can also count on material support from the University. The basic form of support in this case is an assistance grant, which can be applied for by doctoral candidates who are under 35 years old. For detailed information on the application process, please contact the Office for Personnel Social Benefits (komisja.zapomogi[at]uw.edu.pl). More information on the application procedure is available at: https://bssoc.uw.edu.pl/zapomogi/.

Psychological support for all members of the community

The University of Warsaw also offers psychological support to the affected by the flood crisis. In order to receive help, please visit the Enrolment Point at the Psychological and Counselling Services Centre (CPP UW). More information is available at: cpp.uw.edu.pl/en/home-page/.

CPP also provides a helpline, which you may access at: 22 552 44 24 (Monday to Friday 10 am to 10 pm). More information about this form of support is available at: cpp.uw.edu.pl/en/uw-help-line/.

Support from the Students’ Council of the UW

An in-kind collection is also organised by the UW Students’ Council. Collection point: room 100 in the UW Students’ Union Board building (Krakowskie Przedmieście 24).

The UW Students’ Union Board provides information on available forms of support, including the submission of applications for financial aid.