Ministry Evaluates Polish Universities: Who Earned A+ and Who Received C?

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has released its scientific evaluation results for Polish universities, detailing which institutions achieved top marks and which received the lowest ratings.

Evaluation Results and Top Performers

The University of Warsaw dominated this year’s scientific evaluation by securing nine top A+ categories. The AGH University of Science and Technology ranked second, followed by the Jagiellonian University in third place. Meanwhile, certain institutions received category C ratings in specific disciplines.

The published list features thousands of ratings assigned to specific scientific disciplines. A single university can simultaneously achieve the highest category in one field and a significantly lower one in another.

Understanding the Evaluation System

Although the evaluation results generate significant interest, they do not constitute a ranking of the best universities in Poland as a whole. The Ministry evaluates scientific activity conducted within individual disciplines rather than the entire institution as a single entity.

The evaluation considers staff research achievements, financial efficiency of research, and the impact of scientific activity on economic and societal development. Based on these factors, each discipline receives one of five categories: A+, A, B+, B, or C.

Consequences of Scientific Categories

The letters assigned by the minister serve as more than just symbols of prestige, as each category carries specific consequences for conducting scientific activities. Category A+ is awarded to a select few scientific units recognized as the best in the country.

Conversely, receiving a category C rating requires institutions to address serious organizational and scientific consequences. These include the potential loss of certain authority to conduct scientific activities and impacts on funding.

Universities with the Most A+ Categories

The University of Warsaw secured first place with nine A+ categories, followed by the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków with seven, and the Jagiellonian University with six. Major universities and polytechnics dominate the top tier, alongside the Fire University, which achieved a 100 percent success rate across all three of its evaluated disciplines.

Institutions Receiving Category C Ratings

At the opposite end of the spectrum, units receiving category C face the lowest evaluation score, which may involve the loss of certain scientific powers in a given discipline. However, these ratings apply strictly to specific disciplines rather than entire universities.

Affected institutions range from smaller higher education schools to well-known universities. For the latter, the lowest rating applies exclusively to individual disciplines rather than their overall scientific output.

Implications for Students and Degrees

Category C ratings generate concern among students regarding the value of their diplomas or the continuation of classes. However, graduation diplomas remain valid, and the evaluation results do not automatically lead to the closure of programs or universities.

For graduating students, the quality of education and study programs carry far more weight than the letter assigned to a specific discipline. Individuals planning academic careers typically analyze evaluation results much closer than candidates focused primarily on entering the job market.

Next Steps and Ministerial Decisions

The published list represents planned scientific categories prepared based on the Scientific Evaluation Committee’s draft. The final administrative decisions will be issued by the minister by July 31, 2026.

Units that disagree with the final determination may submit a request for reconsideration within 30 days of receiving the decision.