University of Physical Education in Wrocław

Voivodeship: dolnośląskie

City: Wrocław

The Wrocław Academy of Physical Education was founded in 1946 as the Physical Education Studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Wrocław. Its co-founder and first rector was prof. dr hab. Andrzej Klisiecki. In 1950, the school was transformed into an independent Higher School of Physical Education, which in 1956 obtained the right to award master's degrees. In 1972, it was renamed the Academy of Physical Education. Since 1966, it has had the right to award doctoral degrees, and since 1990 - the right to conduct habilitation procedures. The Academy of Physical Education named after Polish Olympians in Wrocław is a two-faculty school, comprising the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport and the Faculty of Physiotherapy. It offers education in six fields of study in the system of full-time and part-time studies - full-time, part-time and postgraduate, as well as doctoral studies. The faculties have full academic rights to award bachelor's and master's degrees and doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in physical culture sciences. Currently, the university has over 3.1 thousand students, of whom 54 percent are women and 2.6 percent are foreigners. Last year, 637 graduates left the university. In the academic year 2024/2025, 1,450 male and female students began their studies, including 52 foreigners. The university employs 233 academic teachers, of whom 55.4 percent are women. Famous Polish coaches and athletes, medalists of the Olympic Games, world championships and European championships are associated with the Academy. Its graduates include, among others: Kazimierz Górski, Bogdan Cybulski, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, Józef Zapędzki, Ryszard Szurkowski, Ryszard Witke, Urszula Włodarczyk, Leszek Antonowicz, Mieczysław Łopatka, Jerzy Światek, Czesław Ptak, Wacław Skarul, Wiesław Błach, Rafał Kubacki, Renata Mauer, Tomasz Motyka, Andrzej Piątek and Andrzej Kijowski.