Applications are open for the Poland NAWA Scholarship (POLONISTA NAWA Scholarship and Fellowship Programme), an initiative of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) designed to support foreigners who want to study or research the Polish language and culture. The idea is fairly straightforward: bring scholars and students to Poland so they can work directly with the language, literature, and archives rather than studying them from afar. The program forms part of Poland’s broader academic cooperation efforts and quietly encourages a wider international interest in Polish studies.
Participants may pursue scholarship opportunities at Polish universities through partial studies lasting one or two semesters or through research projects carried out at academic institutions across the country. Students and doctoral candidates often spend their time attending lectures, collecting materials for theses, or simply improving their command of Polish while using university libraries and archives. Researchers, meanwhile, can carry out projects lasting from 3 to 12 months in areas such as literary studies, glottodidactics, history, art history, and comparative cultural studies. It is the sort of academic stay where a language becomes less theoretical and far more lived.
The program provides monthly financial support of PLN 2,000 for students and PLN 3,300 for doctoral candidates during their academic stay. To date, the initiative has supported 281 participants from 26 countries, including 225 students and doctoral candidates and 56 researchers. Beneficiaries have carried out projects or studies at Polish institutions such as the University of Warsaw, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the University of Silesia in Katowice, and Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Applications for the current call are accepted until 3 April 2026.
Program Details
- Host Institutions: Selected public universities and research institutions in Poland that offer Polish studies or related academic programs.
- Eligible Fields: Polish language, Polish studies, literary studies, Polish language teaching (glottodidactics), history, art history, and comparative cultural studies.
- Number of Awards: Not specified.
- Duration: One or two semesters for students; 3 to 12 months for research fellowships.
- Eligible countries: Open to foreign students, doctoral candidates, and researchers affiliated with universities or research institutions outside Poland.
Poland NAWA Scholarship Benefits
Selected candidates for this government scholarship receive financial support during their stay in Poland:
- Monthly scholarship support:
- PLN 2,000 per month for students participating in partial studies;
- PLN 3,300 per month for doctoral candidates.
- Researchers participating in the fellowship programme receive funding for research stays lasting from 3 to 12 months.
- The programme also provides access to university libraries, archives, and academic resources, allowing participants to conduct research or gather materials for theses and scholarly publications.
The scholarship is granted for the duration of the approved study period or research project at the host institution.
Poland NAWA Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
- be a foreign student, doctoral candidate, or researcher affiliated with a university or research institution outside Poland;
- demonstrate academic interest in Polish language, culture, literature, or related fields;
- apply for studies or research consistent with their academic background or ongoing programme at the home institution;
- obtain consent from the selected host university in Poland before undertaking the study or research stay;
- submit an application related to the Polish language, Polish studies, comparative cultural studies, history, art, or related research themes.
Other Opportunities
How to Apply for the Poland NAWA Scholarship
Applicants interested in studying or conducting research in Europe through this program must submit their applications through the official NAWA online system. Click on the apply button below to start. Candidates choose their preferred Polish university or research institution and follow the application instructions provided by the programme. Applications may be submitted in Polish or English.
The application deadline for the current POLONISTA NAWA call is . For full program details and application instructions, applicants should consult the official NAWA website.