Zielona Góra is a city in western Poland, on the slope of the Oder River valley, with a population of nearly 140 000. Its advantages include its location near the Polish-German border, the proximity to the main communication routes and the surrounding nature. It is one of the most forested cities in Poland. The surrounding area abounds in parks and recreational areas, offering excellent conditions for hiking, cycling or observing nature.
Zielona Góra is lively thanks to the fans of local sports teams (speedway, basketball, football, volleyball) and entertaining thanks to its wide cultural offer (including drama theater, philharmonic, cinemas, museums, art galleries, amateur theaters, music festivals).
It is a city with a good climate, open to visitors and new residents. He is watched over by Bacchus – the god of wine. Zielona Góra is the only city in Poland where the wine-making tradition has survived. It is known as the capital of Polish wine. Every year in September, the Wine Festival takes place here – a large outdoor event during which the city center is filled with residents and tourists. Local winemakers from over 40 nearby vineyards serve their products, while artisans offer regional goods. In spring, you can go to the Open Wine Cellars Days – a three-day festival and an opportunity to discover the secrets of winemaking and learn about the stories intertwined with the city’s culture.
Zielona Góra is a university city. It educates several thousand students in over 70 degree programmes, offering modern education, scientific research and a rich student life.
The University of Zielona Góra is the largest public academic institution in the Lubusz Region and a major hub of knowledge, innovation, and regional development. In 2026, it will celebrate the 25th anniversary; however, the academic tradition of Zielona Góra dates back to 1965, when higher education first began to develop in the city. Over the following decades, this academic environment steadily expanded and diversified, leading in 2001 to the establishment of the University of Zielona Góra as a comprehensive public university.
Today, the University of Zielona Góra is a dynamic academic community comprising more than 9,000 students enrolled in first- and second-cycle programmes as well as doctoral schools. Education is provided in both full-time and part-time formats, and the offer also includes a wide range of postgraduate programmes. It consists of seven faculties and twenty-nine institutes, offering over 70 degree programmes in Polish and several programmes in English, across more than one hundred specialisations. These cover disciplines ranging from the humanities and social sciences to medical and health sciences, exact and natural sciences, engineering and technology, and the arts. The University of Zielona Góra belongs to the elite group of classical, comprehensive universities.
The University holds the right to award doctoral and habilitated doctoral degrees in 23 disciplines, while its Doctoral Schools educate doctoral candidates in 18 scientific disciplines. A key component of the University’s structure is its Research and Development Centres, operating in the areas of Green Technologies, Health and Quality of Life, and Start-Up Tech, where innovative ideas are transformed into practical, market-ready solutions.
The University is the majority shareholder of the modern University Hospital in Zielona Góra, operates the largest regional University Library, manages the only botanical garden in the region, and runs an active University Press. Students develop their interests and talents through dozens of scientific clubs, academic media outlets, artistic ensembles, and social initiatives. Openness, internationalisation, and close cooperation with the socio-economic environment make the University of Zielona Góra a modern gateway connecting the region with Poland and the world.
The cooperation between the City of Zielona Góra and the University of Zielona Góra is a strategic partnership that has a tangible impact on the region’s development and modern image. Its most visible manifestations include joint infrastructure investments—from the development of university campuses to modern urban spaces used by students and researchers. The City and the University jointly implement research and expert projects, particularly in the fields of green technologies, healthcare, and smart city management, drawing on the potential of the University’s Research and Development Centres. The University provides the City with expertise and analytical support, while its academic staff participate in shaping Zielona Góra’s development strategies and advising on key social and economic projects.
A unique example of this synergy is the operation of the University Hospital, which combines state-of-the-art healthcare services for residents with top-level education and research. Joint cultural and social initiatives—such as scientific events, festivals, open lectures, and artistic projects—ensure that the campus naturally integrates into the urban fabric, and that Zielona Góra lives to the rhythm of the university. Students of the University of Zielona Góra actively co-create the local identity, initiating widely recognised cultural brands, including the Zielona Góra Cabaret Basin, while academic media and artistic groups promote the city throughout Poland.
Thanks to joint efforts aimed at internationalisation, Zielona Góra is becoming increasingly open to the world. International students and researchers, supported by the University’s Welcome Center, contribute to the local economy and the city’s multicultural character. This partnership ensures that Zielona Góra not only benefits from the University’s potential, but also consistently builds the brand of a strong, innovative academic city—one in which science, local government, and residents work together towards shared goals.
| City of Zielona Góra | University of Zielona Góra |
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| Urząd Miasta Zielona Góra ul. Podgórna 22 65-213 Zielona Góra Poland |
Uniwersytet Zielonogórski ul. Licealna 9 65-417 Zielona Góra Poland |
| Contact person: Jarosław Flakowski Deputy Mayor |
Contact person: Dr Anna Mielczarek-Żejmo Institute of Sociology |
| Phone: +48 693 890 579 |
Phone: +48 510 252 463 |
| E-mail: J.Flakowski@um.zielona-gora.pl |
E-mail: a.mielczarek-zejmo@wns.uz.zgora.pl |
| Website (City): www.zielona-gora.pl |
Website (University): www.uz.zgora.pl |