Independent Students’ Association (NZS) came into being in 1980 and was an expression of the Student environment's protest against the People’s Republic of Poland. It acted mainly politically and as a propaganda, it was organised demonstrations and strikes – it resisted the communist government, injustice, the lack of democracy and freedom of speech. It collaborated with Workers’ Defence Committee (KOR) until 1981, Confederation of Independent Poland (KPN) and Independent Self-governing Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ Solidarność). The Programme of NZS was a programme of changes in communist political, educational and economic systems.
Everything started during the strikes in August. Students of the University of Gdańsk announced a plea on 27th August claiming, among other demands, foundation of a students' organisation independent of the authorities.

On the 2nd September the name of the organisation appeared for the first time – the first in the country Interim Founding Committee of the Independent Polish Students' Union of the Gdańsk University came into being. Its “Project of action programme” referred to the changes at the universities – the beginning of works on the new shape of higher education and establishing of students’ government. The document also mentioned works on the form of censorship that were independent of the government. Shortly, similar structures were created at almost all other academic centres. One of demands of students of Łódź was to be able to: “manifest freely own views and opinions accordingly to the PRL constitution and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe”.

In the mid October the Delegates of the Foundation Committees of Independent Students’ Organisations came to Warsaw on a summit. The name, which is still in use – Independent Students’ Association (NZS) – was chosen there.  The statute together with an application of registering the organisation was submitted to the court. However, the applications was rejected. NZS was registered just after the students’ strikes but suspended after the introduction of martial law and outlawed on the 5th January ’82. The second half of the 80s witnessed mainly political actions.

On January ’87 a secret meeting of NZS members from a few academic centres was held in the students’ house of the Warsaw University of Technology , called the Second Summit of NZS. The National Committee with the representatives of each academic centre was chosen. The autumn of ’87 witnessed a conflict inside NZS caused by the election of the new President and Spokesman of NZS, protests of sequent university committees and the recall of the President in June ’88.

This was the period of acceleration of works of NZS due to the pilgrimage of the Pope to Poland. NZS was greeting the Pope thorughout the whole pilgrimage. At that moment the Foundation Committee of NZS of the University’s of Warsaw revealed itself. However, the majority of members remained in conspiracy for the safety reasons.
But NZS was interested not only in politics (however, everything was connected with politics then). Most of all, it was interested in students’ needs. During the summer in 1987 many summer camps for the newly accepted students were organised, initially under the name of academic clubs.

In 1988 there were already open and serial actions of NZS – occasional rallies, happenings and solidarity strikes with workers. These events made many new members join NZS. Political demands appeared again – pluralism of social and economic life, including abolition of the monopoly on the mass media and economic reforms. All that caused The Third National Delegates Summit in Gdańsk on 9-11 September 1988, during which new, completely public authorities of NZS were chosen.

In March 1989 the National Coordination Committee (KKK) of NZS decided to apply again for registration, however the country's government created problems.  The decision of the Round Table Agreement hardly involved the changes suggested by NZS. Therefore at the meeting of KKK in April 1989 NZS officially stood out from the agreement. In May 1989 Regional Court in Warsaw rejected the registration, which caused a rally and clashes with the police. Strike was proclaimed and subsequently next academic centres joined it. The organisation was registrated thanks to the support of the Mazowiecki’s government on the 22nd September 1989.

Independent Students’ Association (NZS) started a new chapter of its existence. After 1989 the profile of the organisation changed. Now the main goal is to protect students' interests and to organise cultural and entertainment events. It is estimated that during 30 years of existence even 190 thousands of people could have been a member of this organisation. Nowadays, the names of many of them can be easily found on the highest positions in all sectors of social and economic life.