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PRAGUE Plane: 1 h | Car: 4 h BRUSSELS Plane: 2 h
Plane: 2 h | Car: 4 h
KATOWICE KYIV Car: 11 h LVIV Car: 5 h
BRATISLAVA Car: 3 h
BUDAPEST Plane: 2 h | Car: 5 h
Katowice is served by two large airports located 32 km and 67 km from the city center.
Bratislava – 330 km | Vienna – 360 km | Lviv – 370 km | Prague – 400 km | Budapest – 450 km | Berlin – 500 km Vilnius – 770 km | Milan – 1,100 km | Paris – 1,400 km
11–13th century Kingdom of Poland
14–20 th century part of European empires (Habsburg, Prussia, Germany)
1922–1939
returned to Poland after 600 years as the only autonomous region of Poland 1945–part of the unitary Polish state
Multiple cultural influences
One of the key centers of the European industrial revolution
Economic heart of Poland (3% area /12% GDP)
Large-scale energy, environmental, and economic transformation
Katowice is a city with a rich history and industrial legacy, where the energy of hard work and progress never stops.
Today, Katowice is a symbol of transformation – a place where traces of the industrial past intertwine with modern technologies, culture, and care for the environment.
Once defined by mines and steelworks, Katowice has evolved into a city rich in green spaces, forward-thinking projects, and a deep care for the well-being of its people. The industrial heritage of Katowice remains the foundation of its identity, inspiring further development and creating a new future. Universities are now the driving force of change and transformation, making science the new industry of Silesia.
30 European projects and research grants
3,000+ employees
4 campuses
20,000+ students
250,000+ alumni
2 doctoral schools
8 faculties
25 disciplines of science
28 research centres
270 research teams
55 teaching projects
89 degree programmes
founded in 1968
185 majors
Katowice – closer than you think students from 50+ countries | 800+ international partnerships | 2,500+ mobilities per year
Below, you may find a snapshot of the research initiatives of USil researchers and scientists. It represents only a portion of the extensive work being carried out across various fields at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
USil polar explorers are carrying out a project under the Horizon Europe programme.
Searching for the medicines of the future
Intercultural Education: A Key to Embracing the ‘Stranger’
From genes to drugs. A new approach in treating glioma
Rethinking Green Cities: Beyond Green Roofs to Sustainable Urban Ecosystems
The World with an Admixture of Microplastics
Video games. Creative space and learning aid
Quantum attacks on classical cryptosystems
3D Printing revolution in orthopaedics
No Limits is a popular science journal of the University of Silesia in Katowice. Read more
80+ BA, BSc, MA, MSc, and PhD programmes
International double-degree programmes on all levels
200+ majors
Extensive Erasmus+ international exchange
College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies
Innovative teaching objectives
Established in 2020 | 11 universities from all over Europe
Close integration into multinational campus | Living Lab for the Future of Higher Education Mariupol State University as associate partner from Ukraine | 149 168 students | 23 678 staff 103 faculties | 23 seamless mobility offers | 12 joint programmes between T4EU universities
transform4europe.eu
Extensive network of partnerships with American, Asian and European universities (200+)
Katowice – European City of Science 2024
Katowice Green Science Zone project
Regional Hub of Science Applied to Transformation Problems
Ambassador to Expo 2020 Dubai and Expo 2025 Osaka
50 Outstanding Achievements of Silesian Science
As part of the celebrations for the European City of Science Katowice 2024, the University of Silesia is proud to present 50 Outstanding Achievements of Silesian Science – a compilation that highlights ground-breaking research and innovations by scientists from the Silesian region, showcasing their contributions to various fields of science and culture. The publication is available online on the ISSUU platform.
Researchers from the University of Silesia are pioneers in Arctic glacier studies, conducting long-term research on the Hans Glacier near the Polish Polar Station on the island of Spitsbergen. Their work provides key insights into glacier calving and the effects of climate change, forming one of the longest data series on glacier dynamics in the Arctic.
The University of Silesia’s research team led by Prof. Robert Musioł has developed a patented styrylquinoline compound that shows significantly higher effectiveness against colon cancer han existing drugs. It may be especially valuable for patients with damaged P53 protein, often linked to poor prognosis.
A team from the University of Silesia has developed an innovative method for detecting structural stress in aircraft turbine blades at an early stage of production. By using X-ray diffraction topography, they can identify potential defects before protective coatings are applied—enhancing both blade durability and overall production quality. The solution has been patented.
Silesian Science Festival Katowice – the largest popular science event in Poland and one of the largest in Europe
8 editions thus far | 70,000+ participants every year | 9+ universities involved:
Awards for science communication:
2019 – Golden Rose – 1st prize for the best marketing campaign (EUPRIO).
2020 – Popularizer of Science – 1st prize in the team category (Science in Poland and Ministry of Higher Education and Science).
2022 – SuperMarka – Śląskie – SuperBrand Award for promoting Silesia’s recognition (Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Gliwice).
2023 – PRom – Award for outstanding communication and promotion of the 6th Silesian Science Festival.
Katowice is the first city in Central and Eastern Europe to hold the title of the European City of Science.
In 2024, over a period of 50 weeks, scientists, local residents, and visitors from all over the world came to Katowice to celebrate knowledge – to enjoy and be inspired by it – through numerous events, conferences, workshops, and science communication initiatives.
Groundbreaking project of revamp relations between university and its stakeholders
Turning a district in the heart of the city into a Living Lab of science and education 10+ ha of downtown urban area including the Rawa River
An open campus ‘with no walls’ seamlessly interlaced with urban life
Launched as part of the European City of Science 2024, the Networked Science Center (Sieciowe Centrum Nauki) is a ground-breaking initiative by seven public universities in Katowice. It transforms the city into a vibrant network of interactive science spaces to host exhibitions, workshops, and science help desks. All has been designed to make research more accessible to the public and foster collaboration between scientists and society.
Designed and created using cutting-edge, multidisciplinary knowledge
Daring approach to engage general public in daily academic endeavors
Innovative and unique combination of research, ecology and urban renewal
Long-term project already awarded with the EU ‚Mobility Award’ (2023)
University of Silesia in Katowice ul. Bankowa 12
40-007 Katowice
e-mail: info@us.edu.pl