Jagiellonian University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jagiellonian University

Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Latin: Universitas Iagellonica Cracoviensis
Former names	Studium Generale (1364–1397) Collegium Regium (1397–1400) Collegium Maius (1400–c. late 1500s) Kraków Academy (c. late 1500s–1777) Principal School of the Realm (1777–1795) Principal School of Kraków (1795–1817)
Motto	Plus ratio quam vis
Motto in English	Let reason prevail over force
Type	Public
Established	12 May 1364; 661 years ago (12 May 1364)
Founder	King Casimir III the Great
Rector	Jacek Popiel [pl]
Academic staff	3,921 (2021)
Students	33,549 (12.2023)
Undergraduates	16,222 (2021)
Postgraduates	11,014 (2021)
Doctoral students	2,153 (2021)
Location	Kraków , Poland 50°03′43″N 19°56′00″E / 50.06203°N 19.93334°E / 50.06203; 19.93334
Campus	Urban
Colours	Blue and gold
Affiliations	Coimbra Group EAIE Europaeum EUA Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities IRUN Una Europa Utrecht Network

Jagiellonian University

Location in Poland

The Jagiellonian University (Polish: Uniwersytet Jagielloński, UJ) is a famous public university in Kraków, Poland. It was started in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great. This makes it the oldest university in Poland. It is also one of the oldest universities that has been open without stopping in the world.

Many people see the Jagiellonian University as Poland's best school. It has also helped shape the culture of Poland and Europe. The university campus is right in the middle of Kraków. It has 13 main departments, plus three more for medical studies. About 4,000 teachers work here. More than 35,000 students learn in 166 different subjects. Most classes are in Polish. However, about 30 degrees are taught in English, and some in German.

The university library has many old art pieces and books. These include a famous book by Nicolaus Copernicus. He was a student here. Many important people have studied at Jagiellonian University. These include Pope John Paul II and Andrzej Duda, who became presidents. Famous writers like Wisława Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk have also been part of the university.

History of the University

How the University Started

The university was founded in 1364. Painting by Jan Matejko.

In the mid-1300s, King Casimir III the Great saw that Poland needed more educated people. Especially, he needed lawyers to help with the country's laws. So, he asked the Pope for permission to open a university in Kraków. On May 12, 1364, the university officially began.

After King Casimir III died, the university's growth slowed down. Classes were held in different places around the city. These included professors' homes and churches.

The university got a new boost in the 1390s from Queen Jadwiga. She was the Queen of Poland. Queen Jadwiga and her husband, Władysław II Jagiełło, decided to buy a building for the university. In 1399, they bought a building on Żydowska Street. The Queen gave all her personal jewellery to the university. This allowed 203 students to enroll.

Important scholars taught here. They taught subjects like astronomy, law, and theology. From 1491 to 1495, Albert Brudzewski taught Nicolaus Copernicus. The university was the first in Europe to have separate departments for Mathematics and Astronomy. Because it grew so fast, the university bought a bigger building. This building is now known as the Collegium Maius. It has a beautiful courtyard. The Collegium Maius helped the university become famous in Central Europe.

The Golden Age of Learning

The main hall of the university's Collegium Maius.

For many centuries, most of Poland's smartest people studied at this university. They received special support from the kings. Most students were Polish. But over time, thousands of students came from other countries. These included Lithuania, Russia, and Germany. In the late 1400s, over 40% of students were from outside Poland.

The main entrance to the university's Collegium Iuridicum.

The first professors came from the Charles University in Prague. By 1520, they started teaching Greek and Hebrew. The Collegium Maius had seven reading rooms. Six of these were named after famous ancient scholars. These included Aristotle and Plato. During this time, departments for Law, Medicine, Theology, and Philosophy were set up. Two of these old buildings, Collegium Iuridicum and Collegium Minus, are still here today.

The best time for the University of Kraków was during the Polish Renaissance, from 1500 to 1535. In the early 1500s, 3,215 students attended. This was also when the Jagiellonian Library began. A library floor was added to the Collegium Maius. The original library rooms had books chained to their shelves to prevent theft. These rooms are not used for that anymore.

Later, the university's popularity went down. The number of students also dropped. This was part of a bigger decline in Poland. Many university buildings fell apart. Some were even used for other things, like a laundry. This was a very difficult time for the university.

Challenges and New Beginnings

The Collegium Novum in the Old Town District.

After Poland was divided by other countries in 1795, Kraków became a free city. But then it became part of the Austrian Empire. The Austrians were not always friendly to the university. They even turned a main hall into a grain storage. However, the university was saved from closing by a special order from Ferdinand I of Austria.

By the 1870s, the university was doing much better. Many scholars returned. In 1883, professors successfully turned nitrogen and oxygen into liquids. The Austrian government then helped build new buildings. One of these was the Collegium Novum, which opened in 1887.

Count Stanisław Tarnowski was the university's rector twice.

The university around 1930.

For the university's 500th birthday, a statue of Copernicus was placed in the Collegium Maius. It was later moved. The university also grew in other areas. The medical campus was moved and expanded with new hospitals. By the late 1930s, almost 6,000 students attended. The government helped the university buy land for new buildings. Student and professor homes were built. The most important project was the new Jagiellonian Library. Its large building was finished just before World War II began in 1939.

Modern Times and Growth

On November 6, 1939, after the Nazi invasion of Poland, 184 professors were arrested. They were sent to a concentration camp. The university was closed for the rest of World War II. It reopened in 1945. But the new government in Poland, which was Communist, did not like some of the university's teachings.

By 1957, the Polish government decided to build new facilities. But construction was slow. Many goals were not met. This led some scholars to criticize the government. New buildings, like the Collegium Paderevianum, were built with money from Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

In 1989, Poland changed its government. The Jagiellonian University bought land in Pychowice, Kraków. From 2000, they started building a new campus there. This new campus is called the '600th Anniversary Campus'. It was built with a new LifeScience Park. Poland joining the European Union in 2004 helped the university a lot. It received much more money. This allowed it to create new departments and research centers. It also helped support students and teachers better.

Working with Other Universities

The Jagiellonian University is known for its research. Scientists and doctors from the medical college do important studies. For example, they work on heart surgery and brain studies. Their findings are published in big international journals.

University archaeologists explore ancient sites around the world. These include places in Egypt and Cyprus. Astronomers are part of major international projects. Bio-technologists also publish their work in important journals.

The Jagiellonian University works with many universities around the world. In English-speaking countries, it partners with the University of Cambridge and the University of Chicago. It also works with the London School of Economics. In French-speaking countries, it partners with the Sorbonne. The university also has strong ties with Heidelberg University in Germany. They even offer special programs in German law together.

Other partner universities include Charles University Prague and the University of Tokyo.

University Libraries

The Jagiellonian Library's main building.

The Jagiellonian Library extension.

The main library of the university is the Jagiellonian Library (Biblioteka Jagiellońska). It is one of Poland's largest libraries. It has almost 6.5 million books. It is part of Poland's National Libraries system.

The library has a world-famous collection of medieval books. These include Copernicus' De Revolutionibus. The library also has many underground political books from when Poland was under Communist rule.

The Jagiellonian Library started in 1364, just like the university. At first, there were many small libraries in different departments. In 1775, these small libraries were combined into one main collection. The library continued to grow even when Poland was divided by other countries. Its collections were opened to the public in 1812.

Since 1932, the library has been a "legal deposit" library. This means it gets a copy of every book published in Poland. In 1940, the library got its own new building. This building has been expanded twice. During World War II, library workers helped underground universities. Since the 1990s, many of the library's books have been put online.

Besides the main Jagiellonian Library, the university has a large medical library. It also has many other specialized libraries for different subjects. The university's archives also hold old records. These records go back to the university's founding. They show its entire history.

University Rankings

Departments and Studies

The university is organized into different departments. These departments handle teaching and research. Here are some of the main ones:

• Law and Administration
• Medicine
• Pharmacy and Medical Analysis
• Health Care
• Philosophy
• History
• Polish Language and Literature
• Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science
• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Earth Sciences
• Management and Social Communication
• International and Political Studies
• Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology
• University Center of Veterinary Medicine (with Agricultural University of Kraków)
• National Center of Synchrotron Radiation SOLARIS (a special research facility)

The Jagiellonian University Medical College works with these hospitals:

• University Hospital in Krakow-Prokocim
• Children's University Hospital in Krakow
• University Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Zakopane
• Dental University Clinic in Krakow
• John Paul II's Specialist Hospital in Krakow

A new University Hospital opened in 2019. It is now the biggest public hospital in Poland. It has 37 clinical departments and many other units.

Famous People Who Studied Here

Student Life and Activities

In 1851, the first student science club was started at the university. By 2021, there were over 70 student science clubs. Many of them are connected to the medical college. These clubs help students share their scientific work. They organize talks, trips, and international student conferences. An example is the International Workshop for Young Mathematicians.

You can find more information about student activities here:

• University Study Oriented System (USOS)
• Scientific Circles
• Student Organizations
• Ensembles

Images for kids

• 

  Collegium Novum, a university building.

• 

  Collegium Maius, the oldest university building.

• 

  Collegium Broscianum on Grodzka Street.

• 

  Collegium Physicum.

• 

  Larysz Palace, home to the Faculty of Law and Administration.

• 

  Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science.

• 

  Theatrum Anatomicum of the Faculty of Medicine.

• 

  Przegorzały Castle, where the Institute of European Studies is located.

• 

  Campus of the 600th anniversary of University's Revival.

• 

  Auditorium Maximum with a large theatre stage.

See also

• List of medieval universities
• Nawojka, the university's legendary first female student from the 15th century
• Sonderaktion Krakau, a Nazi German operation against professors and academics from the University of Kraków
• Neuronus IBRO & IRUN Neuroscience Forum