AGH University of Krakow, (abbreviated as AGH University; formerly: AGH University of Science and Technology or AGH UST; in full the Stanisław Staszic Mining and Metallurgical Academy in Kraków ()) is a public university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1913, its inauguration took place in 1919. The AGH University focuses on innovative technologies, its research profile also includes engineering disciplines, exact sciences, Earth sciences, and social sciences.
The AGH University is one of 10 Polish higher education institutions that has been granted the status of a research university. It has 18 faculties, the AGH University Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology, and numerous didactic centres. It offers three levels of education: first-cycle, second-cycle, and third-cycle (doctoral schools). The AGH University educates more than 21,000 students and employs more than 2,300 academic staff (including more than 260 professors and more than 500 associate professors).
The AGH University regularly ranks first among Polish technical universities in the Center for World University Rankings or the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Governance The Rector is a one-person university body; the AGH University collegial bodies include: University Council, Senate, and Scientific Discipline Councils.
The Rector serves as the executive head of the AGH University, plays a prominent representative role, and acts as the governing body over staff, students, and doctoral students. The Rector has five Vice-Rectors who aid in governing the AGH University.
The AGH University Council comprises six people appointed by the Senate (including three people from outside the academic community) and the chairperson of the student government.
The Senate comprises:
Rector as the Chairperson Professors and Associate Professors Academic teachers Non-academic staff Students and doctoral students who constitute, one student for each faculty, and at least one doctoral student's representative.
For a scientific discipline that is classified at least into category B+ (by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education), a Scientific Discipline Council is established. Currently, there are 17 scientific discipline councils at the AGH University.
Rankings
The Center for World University Rankings, CWUR (2026 edition) – 1st place among Polish technical universities; world rank: 627th place. ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities 2026 World Top 1000, Shanghai Ranking (2026 edition) – world rank range: 701–800. 1st place among Polish technical universities. CWTS Leiden Ranking (2025 edition) – global ranking: 500th place.CWTS Leiden Ranking Open Edition (2025 edition) – 1st place in Poland according to the scientific impact indicator – the top 1% most frequently cited in Mathematics and computer science, 3rd place in Poland according to the scientific impact indicator – the top 1% most frequently cited in Physical sciences and engineering. University Ranking by Academic Performance, URAP (2025–2026 edition) – world rank: 703. URAP by field rankings (2024–2025 edition): Metallurgy Engineering – rank: 59, Energy & Fuels – rank: 195, Mechanical Engineering – rank: 210, Chemical Engineering – rank: 248, Materials Engineering – rank: 278, Physical Sciences – rank: 295 GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, developed by the team preparing the so-called "Shanghai Ranking" (2025 edition):Mining & Mineral Engineering – rank 37Metallurgical Engineering – rank range 51–75,Mathematics – rank range 101–150Physics – rank range 151–200,Instruments Science & Technology – rank range 151–200,Artificial Intelligence – rank range 201–300. THE Times Higher Education World University Ranking by subject (2026 edition): Computer Science – rank range: 601–800, Business and Economics – rank range: 601–800, Engineering – rank range: 801–1000, Physical Sciences – rank range: 801–1000, Social Sciences – rank range: 801–1000.
Research University In 2019, the AGH University received the title of a research university. The laureates of the project titled Initiative for Excellence – Research University, launched by the Polish Ministry of Science and Education, are the 10 best Polish higher education institutions.
Accreditations
ABET accreditation In 2017, the first- and second-cycle Mechatronic Engineering programmes of study at the AGH University Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, with English as the language of instruction, received ABET accreditation. The AGH University was able to obtain accreditation as the first university in Poland and one of a few in Europe.
ENAEE accreditation Four first- and second-cycle programmes of study at the AGH University received accreditation from the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education, namely, Mining Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, Technical Computer Science, Materials Engineering, and Metallurgy at the Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science.
International cooperation The AGH University has concluded more than 280 general agreements on cooperation with higher education institutions around the world. The AGH University has partners in more than 60 countries.
The AGH University participates in international programmes, such as Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate (EMJD), SMILE, CEEPUS, T.I.M.E., VULCANUS in Japan, HUSTEP, SIT, NAWA, and Spinaker.
The AGH University is a member of the following international organisations: ACRU, EUA, IAU, SEFI, AEUA, KMM-VIN AISBL, C-MAC NSU NPO, T.I.M.E., Magalhaes Network, EIT InnoEnergy, CEEPUS, UNIVERSEH (the European Space University for Earth and Humanity), IROs Forum, SPIRE, and UN Global Compact.
Business cooperation Cooperation with the economic sector, higher education institutions, and research institutes, as well as participation in Polish and international scientific and industrial consortia allows the AGH University to carry out numerous projects and implement them to the market. Annually, the AGH University concludes about 100 contracts, letters of intent, and agreements on cooperation with industry, central administration, and business environment institutions. Additionally, the AGH University implements about 1,000 research and development contracts annually, among which more than 75% are commissioned by industry.
The innovative potential of the AGH University is based on its intellectual property, which is expressed in the number of obtained patents, trademarks, and utility models, as well as the know-how and experience of its scientists and students. Each year, the AGH University obtains nearly 100 patents and grants several dozens of licenses.
Campus
The AGH University Campus is located in the centre of Krakow. All teaching facilities, seats of faculties, administration, and student organisations, as well as the largest in Poland AGH University Student Campus, together with student clubs and sports and recreation facilities constitute a compact 40-hectare hub.
The Main Building (A-0) was erected between 1923 and 1935. The winning building design was presented at a competition organised in 1913 and won by an architect from Krakow – Sławomir Odrzywolski. After the First World War, the project served as a starting point, and Wacław Krzyżanowski was asked to cooperate thereon; he designed the façade and the interior of the building. The monumental edifice serves as a perfect example of academic classicism in Poland, in style during the 1920s. Currently, the building houses the AGH University's central authorities and administration, the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Environmental Protection, and the Geological Museum.
With the development of the AGH University after the war, the campus began to grow. A prospective construction plan of the AGH University, aimed at expanding its premises, was initiated by Professor Walery Goetel and continued throughout the following decades.
In 1964, construction of the student campus began. To date, it remains the largest academic settlement of this kind in Poland. Its designer was Professor Tomasz Mańkowski. Until the end of 1979, 21 student dormitories were erected.
The beginning of the 21st century marks an intense expansion of the entire campus. More than a dozen modern buildings were constructed, and the numerous existing ones have been extended or modernised.
AGH University Main Library
The Main Library of AGH University is the largest technical library in Krakow and one of the largest in Poland.
The library was established in the academic year 1921–22 and its initial loci were 18 Loretańska Street and subsequently 7 Smoleńsk Street. In 1929, the library collection was transferred to a room within the newly built main building of the Mining Academy at 30 Mickiewicza Avenue. In 1938, the book collection amounted to more than 17,000 volumes. During World War II, the collection was deposited at the Jagiellonian Library. Despite the prohibition introduced by the General Government administration, the books were secretly lent out to MA students and employees. After the war, the collection, reduced by 25%, returned to the main building of the academy.
In 1966, a new free-standing library building was opened, erected due to the efforts of Władysław Piasecki, the library head. Since then, the library has begun to develop dynamically. As a result of launching new programmes of study at the Mining Academy, the library's book collection grew and its thematic scope broadened.
In the 1990s, the library underwent digitalisation. Between 1996 and 1999, the interior was renovated and in 2010, the façade of the main library building was modernised, and the decision was taken to expand it and completely remodel it. The modernised building was made available in 2014.
Currently, the library collection has more than 900,000 volumes including books, journals, and special items. Furthermore, the library's collection, in addition to printed materials, also includes access to Polish and foreign databases, online journals and e-books.
Laboratories The AGH University has more than 800 laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus, including the transmission electron microscope Titan Cubed G-2 60-300, devices requiring the so-called clean room conditions, nanotechnology and material nanodiagnostics equipment, a computed tomography scanner to study construction materials, an electron microprobe Jeol SuperProbe JXA-8230 that facilitates the determination of elemental contents from boron to uranium in all kinds of solid substances, mass spectrometers, diffractometers, 3D printers for prototype creation, numerous appliances for environmental tests, microscopes for microstructure parameter analyses and measurements, as well as various types of laboratory installations (including a fully functional production line in the Industry 4.0 Laboratory or a singing Tesla coil in the High Voltage Laboratory). The AGH University has one of the quietest places in Poland – an anechoic chamber, as well as the Experimental Mine, which is unique in Poland and one of the few such research and educational laboratories in Europe, and also serves as a museum.
Green areas and an outdoor gallery The green spaces and garden squares of the campus constitute an outdoor gallery. It features, for example, sculptures of Bronisław Chromy, a Krakow artist, sculptures of students from the Faculty of Sculpture of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, as well as natural creations – glacial erratics. Moreover, campus premises abound in industrial machines related to the development of technological thought and research activity of respective faculties.
AGH University Student Campus