The President of the Polish competition authority has questioned the tuition fee policies at SWPS University in Warsaw and Lublin University of Technology. The allegations center around the increase of tuition fees during the course of students' studies, which was prohibited under the previous higher education law prior to its amendment in 2023.

According to the authority, contracts with students are established before the start of their studies and remain in effect until the completion of their education, typically spanning several semesters. Reports received by the authority indicate that both universities have raised fees for part-time undergraduate and graduate programs, and in the case of SWPS University, also for full-time and integrated master's programs.

The President emphasized that students entering higher education aim to achieve specific professional qualifications and should be aware of the associated costs to make informed decisions about their education. Unexpected fee increases could jeopardize their ability to continue and complete their studies.

Analysis by the authority suggests that students at both institutions have been facing unexpected tuition hikes since at least 2021, which were not permissible under the previous legal framework. Prior to the law's amendment, it was stipulated that universities could not increase fees for students admitted in a given academic year until they completed their studies.

The legal landscape changed on September 6, 2023, when a new law came into effect, allowing universities to adjust tuition fees once a year, but only in accordance with the inflation rate published by the Central Statistical Office.

If the allegations are confirmed, the universities could face financial penalties of up to 10% of their revenue.