A grand renovation plan for dormitories. All will be renovated in 5 years

If we continue the subsidy program, within five years all dormitories in Poland will be renovated or new ones built, said Deputy Minister of Science Marek Gzik in the Sejm. He added that approximately PLN 1.5 billion is needed for all renovations and construction of student houses in Poland.

The deputy head of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW), Marek Gzik, answered questions from Left MPs in the Sejm on Thursday. MP Dorota Olko asked when we can expect contracts to be signed with universities that have submitted applications for co-financing to expand the base of places in dormitories.

Deputy Minister Gzik reminded that from January 2026, public universities from all over Poland can apply for funding for these purposes from the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) Subsidies Fund.

The Subsidy Fund managed by BGK is intended to support the construction industry by financing projects that increase the stock of residential premises. The amendment to the Act on financial support for certain housing projects introduced the possibility of allocating up to 10%. funds from the fund for investments in student dormitories. Support is non-refundable.

BGK decides on financial support for the investment based on the application submitted by the university. The bank releases the funds within 60 days of signing the agreement. Universities have 36 months to implement the investment.

– These funds will be used for the construction, renovation, reconstruction and purchase of facilities intended for dormitories for students and doctoral students. The scale of interest in the program exceeded our wildest expectations. We know that we will use all the planned funds, said Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, on March 19 during a press conference.

On Thursday, in the Sejm, Deputy Minister Gzik announced that universities had submitted a total of 15 applications for funding, and contracts had already been signed with seven of them. The full list of awarded funding is to be announced on Friday at the latest.

As a result of the investments for which contracts have already been signed, the pool of places in dormitories will increase by over 2,200. Thanks to the funding, universities that are still waiting to sign contracts will provide another 3,300 places.

– It is worth emphasizing that we have PLN 400 million in funding this year, and in the following years we will have 10 percent again. from the Fund for student subsidies. This exhausts almost 100 percent. submitted applications, because their entire pool is worth PLN 460 million, Gzik said.

As he noted, the ministry's estimates show that a total of approximately PLN 1.5 billion is needed for all renovations and construction of dormitories in Poland. – If we continue this program in the coming years, and this is our assumption, all dormitories in Poland will be renovated or new ones built within five years. We are convinced that all expectations of the academic community will be met, said the deputy head of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

He admitted that some universities have problems with receiving funding. – Securing the university's own contribution is a certain difficulty, because in the case of buildings that are not historic, this contribution must be secured at 20%. the entire investment, in the case of historic buildings 10 percent (…) Universities must allocate this amount in their budget, noted Marek Gzik.

He asked the rectors to take into account the subsequent costs of living in dormitories at the investment planning stage. – We encourage them to build and renovate these dormitories using this technology so that the costs of subsequent rental, operation and maintenance are as low as possible, but also the costs of renting for students are relatively affordable – he emphasized.

MP Tadeusz Tomaszewski (Left Wing) suggested that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education support universities from its own funds so that the prices for places in dormitories are truly affordable.

– We do not rule out that soon in the next amendment to the Act (…) we will correct some issues in order to positively respond to these expectations of the academic community – replied Deputy Minister Gzik. (PAP)

abu/agt/