• The President of UOKiK questioned the rules for calculating tuition fees at the SWPS University in Warsaw and the Lublin University of Technology.
• The allegations concern tuition fee increases during the course of study.
• Prior to the amendment of the law on higher education in 2023, such activities were prohibited.

Agreements with students are concluded before the start of studies and remain in force until the end of the educational cycle, which usually consists of several semesters of study. According to information received by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, the Warsaw SWPS University (formerly SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw) and the Lublin University of Technology increased their fees in subsequent years of study. This applied to part-time first- and second-cycle programmes, and in the case of the Warsaw university, also to full-time programmes and uniform master’s programmes. The agreements concluded with students remain in force, which is why the President of UOKiK has brought charges against the universities.

– Consumers entering higher education aim to obtain a specific professional qualification. In order to make an informed decision about paying for education, they should know what fees are involved and what costs to expect. Otherwise, they may not be sure whether they will be able to afford to continue and complete their studies – says Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

The Office’s analysis shows that students at both universities could have been surprised by tuition fee increases since at least 2021. Under the legal framework in force at the time, such actions by the university should not have taken place. Prior to the amendment of the law on higher education and science, there was a provision stating that until the completion of studies by persons admitted for a given academic year, the university could not increase the fees set for them or introduce new ones.

The situation changed only on 6 September 2023, when new legislation came into force allowing universities to change tuition fees once a year, but not by more than the inflation rate announced by the Central Statistical Office (GUS).

If the allegations are confirmed, the companies face financial penalties of up to 10% of their turnover.