Institute of History

The Institute of History has been a centre of historical scholarship in Rzeszów for more than fifty years. Its origins date back to 1973, when the Teachers College in Rzeszów introduced a part-time degree programme in History. An independent Department of History was established the following year and, in 1981 reorganised into the Institute of History. By the end of the 1990s, the Institute comprised twelve autonomous research units.

In 1993, the Institute was granted the authority to award doctoral degrees in History. In 1999, the Faculty of Sociology and History obtained the right to confer postdoctoral (habilitation) degrees in the discipline of History. Since the 2019/2020 academic year, the Institute has been part of the University of Rzeszów’s College of Humanities, and following the University’s reorganization in 2025, it became a unit within the Faculty of Humanities.

The Institute offers undergraduate (BA) and postgraduate (MA) degree programmes in History, Cultural Studies, and Culture and Heritage Tourism. It also maintains close cooperation with numerous external partners, including the local branch of the Polish Historical Society and the Historiographical Association.

Polish Historical Society – Rzeszów Branch      

The Polish Historical Society is an organisation that brings together both history enthusiasts and professional historians. Its principal aim is to promote and disseminate historical knowledge, while also supporting historical research and scholarly activity.In addition to the branch in Rzeszów, the Society has more than 40 regional branches across Poland. The headquarters of the Main Board of the Polish Historical Society is located in Warsaw. Further information is available on the Society’s official website (in Polish).