If you’ve ever thought of the state of the world and said, “We can do better than this,” you’re already thinking like a social scientist. Social sciences explain why our societies work and don’t work, from how our communities adapt to climate change to how we navigate algorithms that define our digital lives and everything in between. At their core, they’re about asking better questions so we can build better solutions.
Discovery, questioning, transforming – that’s the same mindset the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Wrocław takes. Programmes are practical and meant to be used. They start by helping you make sense of people and power, then turning those insights into preparation for careers that solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow.
Depending on your programme, you’ll learn how to create and lead strategies and projects in areas like security, media and PR, politics, branding, social policy and crisis. You’ll be analysing social trends and behaviours using tools like Python and SPSS, running focus groups, and turning data into smart, high-impact recommendations.
This is a journey that boosts skills that matter everywhere too – from personal branding to communication and cross-country teamwork — so when you graduate, you understand the world and you’re ready to help change it.
Where social sciences meet impact
The Faculty of Social Sciences, made up of five institutes, is one of the largest faculties at UWr. These include the Institute of Sociology, the oldest research and teaching institution in Wrocław, and the Institute of Political Science, where you can explore political science, social project management, and national security management. Whatever you choose, you’ll learn from scientists who are conducting research in philosophy, political science and administration, sociology, security sciences, international relations, and more with national and international scientific organisations.
The English-taught Data and Society (DaS) bachelor’s programme, for example, is led by Dr. Jacek Burski. His research spans biographical sociology, industrial relations and the green and digital transition.
“We saw a clear gap between two worlds: on one side, highly technical data education, and on the other, social sciences that often lacked data skills,” he says. “But today’s challenges — like automation, migration, or urban transformation — require both.”
The DaS programme was created to bridge that divide, giving you hands-on experience with real data and the chance to run your own research projects.
Meanwhile, Dr. Anna Cichecka, who looks at socio-political processes in East Africa, specifically women’s movements and climate-related challenges from a postcolonial perspective, coordinates the two-year Applied Social and Intercultural Studies (ASIS) master’s programme. Students graduate with the theoretical foundation and practical skills needed to communicate, collaborate, and respond to real social challenges.
“We wanted to offer a programme that not only explains processes such as migration or global inequalities from a sociological perspective, but also equips students to work within these realities,” she explains.
The Branding and Political Leadership master’s programme is where you’ll learn to lead, brand, and transform political impact. By the end of the programme, you’re set to develop the strategic, collaborative, and ethical competencies needed to navigate today’s political and social challenges.
“As Aristotle argued, ethos (who you are) and pathos (how you connect emotionally) are as important as logos (what you say),” shares Maciej Skrzypek, a political scientist working on a project about paramilitarism in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. “What we try to do in the programme is help students develop all three, so they can communicate in a way that really resonates.”
For instance, you can take part in discussions inspired by the 1989 Round Table Talks, which makes it easier to share ideas and hear different perspectives. “Leaders need these skills to avoid the trap of authoritarianism,” adds Skrzypek. “Moving beyond our own beliefs is our responsibility, and the memory of the 1989 Round Talks reminds us of this every day.”
The UWr experience
What these three programmes show is this: UWr’s strong academics equal a strong reputation. The university ranks #5 among higher education institutions in Poland and is #151 in Europe for faculty–student ratio and incoming exchange students. Plus, European employers recognise the university (#202 for Employer Reputation), which is always a good sign for your future career.
But university life here isn’t solely about lectures and preparing for the future. It’s just as much about the people you’ll meet along the way. The Faculty of Social Sciences runs a Welcome Centre that brings students together through workshops, sports, barbecue and outdoor parties, film screenings, holiday gatherings, and more. Add in a student-friendly campus with green spaces and many places to unwind, and you’ve got a well-rounded experience. UWr is where studying feels human and belonging comes naturally.
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