The refurbished Student Hall of Residence no. 9 in Sopot will provide 131 rooms for a total of 230 students at the University of Gdańsk. Thanks to the efforts of the Rector, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education has approved the cost of the hall of residence’s refurbishment and renovation, amounting to almost 15.5 million zlotys, of which 6 million zlotys has been allocated for use in 2026.
Student Hall of Residence no. 9 in Sopot, located at 64 Bitwy pod Płowcami Street in Sopot, originally housed 181 small, low-standard rooms. At the turn of 2019/2020, it was taken out of use and remained unoccupied until 2024, when the University of Gdańsk lent the building to the city of Sopot for the accommodation of war refugees from Ukraine.
The tender for the design, renovation and extension of Student Hall No. 9 has already been awarded. The main contractor will be TEXOM from Kraków. The contractor has until September to prepare the design documentation.
‘The extension and modernisation of Student Hall of Residence no. 9 in Sopot is a response to the growing housing needs of our university’s academic community and an expression of the consistent policy to improve the quality of study at the University of Gdańsk, which I have been pursuing since taking up the post of rector,’ said prof. Piotr Stepnowski. ‘The support of the current Ministry of Science and Higher Education is particularly important here, thanks to which the project can be carried out according to plan. I am convinced that the refurbished Student Residence No. 9 will become a modern, functional and welcoming place to live, conducive to both learning and the integration of students at the University of Gdańsk.’
The scope of work for the planned investment includes the construction of two new four-storey wings (above ground) with basements, as well as the redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing DS9 building. All of this, together with the necessary technical infrastructure, is to be carried out under a ‘design-build’ contract. The refurbished building will have 4 places for people with disabilities and 1 place that can be adapted for a carer of a person with a disability.
Such a significant expansion of accommodation facilities, given the current rental prices in the Tricity, is a response to students’ needs: ‘As a student at one of the Sopot faculties, I am delighted that the university is consistently developing its student accommodation and ensuring that studying at the University of Gdańsk means not only a high standard of education, but also good living and learning conditions,’ says Julia Łaska, a student at the University of Gdańsk’s Faculty of Economics. ‘DS 9 is an important part of the Sopot campus and its expansion will be felt by many current and future students. The opportunity to live in high-standard accommodation in a friendly environment, amongst other students, will be beneficial not only financially, but also in terms of socialisation and improving the mental wellbeing of residents. We are pleased that the University of Gdańsk authorities also consider this issue to be important.’
In the 2025/2026 academic year, the University offered students 1,326 places in 7 halls of residence. Usually, around 4 people apply for each place in a hall of residence at the University of Gdańsk every year.
‘The extension of Student Hall of Residence no. 9 is very good and important news for us. It is also a clear sign that the University of Gdańsk is investing in the quality of life for students’ says Łukasz Bień, Director of the Centre for Student and Doctoral Activities at the University of Gdańsk. ‘The news of such significant funding being granted shows that these are not just plans on paper, but a concrete investment that will translate into better living conditions, modern infrastructure and greater availability of places in halls of residence. The opportunity to live in attractive locations in comfortable conditions at affordable prices often not only makes studying easier, but is the only way for those from less privileged backgrounds to undertake their studies. We believe this benefits not only individuals and the University of Gdańsk, but the country as a whole.’
In accordance with the provisions of the Contract with the Main Contractor, the completion date is set for September 2028.
