The Polish competition authority has accused the Polish-Japanese Academy of Computer Technology of violating consumer interests by increasing tuition fees for students who began their studies before the 2023 academic year. According to the law in effect at that time, such increases were not permissible.

In September 2023, new regulations were introduced allowing annual tuition increases up to the inflation rate announced by the Central Statistical Office, but this does not apply to students who started their studies in the 2022/2023 academic year or earlier.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny emphasized that consumers who entered into contracts before the new law should have guaranteed fixed tuition fees. The academy's actions may have breached existing laws, leading to potential penalties of up to 10% of its turnover.

This investigation is part of a broader effort by UOKiK to address unlawful tuition increases at institutions that enrolled students before the 2023/2024 academic year. Previous decisions against other universities have resulted in financial penalties and orders to refund improperly charged fees.

Students are advised to carefully review their contracts regarding tuition fees and related charges before signing, as universities are legally obligated to fulfill their commitments.