The University of Economics commenced its activities in 1947 as a private, one-faculty College of Commercial Education. Three years later it was nationalised and transformed into the College of Economics and a second faculty was added. The present Polish name, Akademia Ekonomiczna im.

Oskara Langego was introduced in October 1974, and its officially adopted English name is "Wroclaw University of Economics".

The Wroclaw University of Economics is a centre of education, science and research, and plays a role in the international scientific community. The University has four faculties: National Economy (GN), Management and Computer Science (ZI), Engineering and Economics (IE), and Regional Economy and Tourism, the latter located in Jelenia Gora.