Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Poland’s growing university population is increasing demand for rental accommodation in major academic cities, while dedicated student housing remains limited. Research published by Colliers in October 2026 estimates that approximately 490,000 students rent apartments or rooms privately. However, differences between market studies indicate that the precise size of this group remains uncertain. The shortage of student residences continues to influence residential investment and rental affordability.
According to Statistics Poland (GUS), approximately 1.323 million students attended Polish universities during the 2025/2026 academic year, an increase of 42,700, or 3.3%. International students accounted for approximately 102,000 enrolments. Warsaw remains the largest academic centre, with around 261,000 students, followed by Kraków with 136,000, Wrocław with 132,000 and Poznań with 127,000.
Estimates of private rental demand vary. Colliers calculates that 37% of students rent accommodation privately, equivalent to approximately 490,000 people. A separate September 2026 survey by AMRON and the Warsaw Banking Institute found that 33% of respondents used commercial rental accommodation, while 49% lived with family or acquaintances without paying rent. Despite methodological differences, both studies confirm the importance of conventional apartments and shared housing.
Poland has approximately 110,000–112,000 places in university accommodation and around 17,000–18,000 beds in privately operated student residences. This represents roughly one place for every ten students, although many do not require dedicated accommodation. Colliers estimates that the ratio exceeds 13 students per place when older university facilities considered unsuitable are excluded. Approximately 3,000 additional private beds are under construction nationally, according to the consultancy.
Affordability remains a significant concern. The 2026 AMRON survey found that more than half of students paying rent spent over PLN 1,250 monthly on accommodation. A privately rented room cost approximately PLN 1,400 per month on average, compared with PLN 674 for shared university accommodation and PLN 2,121 for a single room in a privately operated student residence. These differences help explain the continued reliance on shared apartments and family accommodation.
Demographic changes could increase demand further. Approximately 281,000 students passed Poland’s secondary school leaving examinations in 2026, more than 60,000 above the previous year’s figure. Although not all will enter higher education, Colliers expects university enrolment to continue growing into the early 2030s. The eventual impact on rents will depend on local housing supply and household purchasing power.
The limited availability of student residences is also encouraging interest in converting older commercial buildings into residential accommodation. Such projects may provide additional housing near universities and transport connections, although feasibility depends on planning requirements, construction costs and building design. Student demand also influences property purchases, with some families acquiring apartments for children attending university and subsequently retaining them as rental investments.
For Poland’s residential market, increasing student numbers present opportunities for developers and institutional investors, but accommodation costs remain a constraint. The balance between conventional rental apartments, university residences and privately developed student housing will determine how effectively major academic cities respond to changing demand.
