University of Physical Education in Krakow is a state institution providing at present education to about 3900 young people. In its activity in the field of physical culture the Academy aims at comprehensive and harmonious development of contemporary society. The UPE has the authority to confer the degree of doctor and habilitated doctor of the physical culture sciences. The UPE offers both first level - licentiate (bachelor’s), second level - master’s and since 1998, third level - doctor’s programmes in which at the moment about 90 people participe.
The higher education programmes are of four kinds: daily, evening and extramural. They are offered in the following fields:
Physical Education – graduation provides qualifications for being a teacher of physical education.. In addition a programme in sports journalism is also offered as well as optional programmes qualifications for Coach Class II and instructors in many sports disciplines.
Sport – The graduate will have general knowledge and abilities which can be useful in designing, implementing and controlling the training process of an athlete as well as managing a sports organization. Interdisciplinary knowledge and specialist competences, including those of a second-class coach of a chosen sports discipline and sports manager, will enable the graduate to take active part in the process of creating work places in sport and work in community and public sports institutions.
Physiotherapy – it prepares the graduates to practice physiotherapy and apply different therapeutic procedures in dysfunctions of motor and internal organs.
The occupational therapy - the bachelor’s degree studies prepare participants to increase treated persons’ life quality. The gradates can be employed in rehabilitation institutions and centers, hospital’s units, psychiatrist’s units, occupational therapy centers, withdrawal treatment centers, support centers for people with disabilities, homes for the elderly, as well as in companies producing equipment for the disabled. A planned inception of studies depends on the approval of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Tourism and recreation – it prepares the graduates to work as an opera- ting personnel in hotels and tourist companies, to organize the leisure time and to lead the process of physical and psychological recuperation.
Didactic and research duties of the UPE are performed by highly qualified teachers. The Academy employs above 300 academic teachers.
The Department of Improvement of Teaching Staff organizes postgraduate programmes, instructor and coach courses in various sports disciplines. Therefore it provides opportunities of enriching students’ education and qualifications.
Modern facilities enable carrying out of teaching process to the highest standard. Besides teaching pavilions housing the library, lecture halls, laboratories, the Academy has at its disposal sports facilities: a track and field athletics stadium with a modern synthetic surfaced track, soccer field, hall for team sports games, two gymnasiums for sports and artistic gymnastics, an artificial climbing wall, indoor swimming pool, hall for corrective and geriatric gymnastics, rifle-range, hall for track and field athletics, hall for combat sports, indoor tennis courts.
Summer camps designed to expand the academic curriculum are organized at the UPE’s Centre for Water Sports in Załęże at Rożnowskie Lake and winter camps are held in Zakopane.
The UPE runs its own publishing house which systematically publishes Zeszyty Naukowe (Scientific Journals), monographs, and textbooks. The UPE’s Authorities pay a great attention to the social conditions of the employees and students. The UPE owns three residence halls for students which can accommodate 660 people in two-bed rooms each with a private bath. The cafeteria is adjacent to these halls. Within the campus there is an outpatient clinic offering basic medical services.

Students can practice sports for leisure at the sports club run by AZS AWF, (University Sports Association at the University School of Physical Education ). The club is greatly sponsored by the UPE. Over 125 students participate in activities of such sections as: track and field athletics, fencing, rowing, mountain kayaking, women’s basketball, handball, volleyball. And there is handball and volleyball for men. The best of these students represent Poland in the most prestigious sporting events. Among them are Grzegorz Sudoł, Jakub Jelonek, Rafał Sikora, Wioletta Frankiewicz, Marcin Nowak, Karolina Błażej, Radosław Zawrotniak, Beata Tereba-Zawrotniak, Bartłomiej Leśniak. Worth noting is the close co-operation of two AZS clubs from our Academy and Zakopane, which resulted in formation of the mutual section of alpine and classical skiing. The representatives of these two clubs have won the highest laurels in this country and successfully represent Poland in international sporting events.
There is also a cultural offer for our students - „Krakowiak”, an ensemble performing folk dances since 1972. Mainly students of our UPE who are interested in the folklore belong to it. For the past 30 years „Krakowiak” has staged numerous concerts in Poland, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Sweden, and Latvia.
„Madness” is a club where students can meet at discotheques and it also organizes cultural events.

In the summer holiday the UPE premises can be used for organization of congresses and conferences. The main hall can seat 350 people and provides technical facilities for simultaneous translation and audio-visual presentations. There are six large lecture halls and a spacious lounge along which presentation boards can be lined up. The halls of residence are turned into a summer hotel which can accommodate 330 people.