The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) has opened its Ulam Programme call for 2026. The Ulam Nawa Scholarship Programme is not for students. It is for researchers who already have a PhD and want to spend 6 to 24 months in Poland, employed full time by a Polish university or research institution. Think of it as a paid sabbatical with a scientific purpose.
The host institution does the applying, not the researcher. So if you are a foreign scientist eyeing Polish labs, you first need a Polish institution willing to invite you and handle the paperwork. The program covers your salary (up to PLN 17,000 per month gross) and a small monthly allowance for the inviting person (PLN 1,200). Total budget for this round: PLN 22 million. That’s real money.
There is also a simplified track for those who already hold a Seal of Excellence under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA PF-EF) or an Accolade of Excellence under MSCA4Ukraine. If you have one of those certificates, NAWA trusts the quality check and skips some requirements. Nice little shortcut.
Programme Details
- Host Institutions: Polish universities, scientific institutes, and other eligible entities under Polish higher education law.
- Eligible Fields: All scientific disciplines, including arts (as long as the planned activities are scientific in nature).
- Number of awards: Not fixed; depends on applications and budget.
- Duration: 6 to 24 months (full-time employment).
- Eligible countries: Open to researchers from any country except Russia (due to suspension of cooperation).
Ulam Nawa Scholarship Programme Benefits
The host institution receives funding to cover:
- Remuneration for the principal investigator (the incoming researcher): up to PLN 17,000 per month (full time, includes employer costs).
- A task allowance for the Inviting Person (the host researcher): up to PLN 1,200 per month.
- Maximum total funding per project: PLN 436,800.
Projects are settled based on actual expenses. No funny business with ineligible costs – the regulations list those clearly.
Eligibility Criteria for the Principal Investigator
To be invited under this research fellowship, the candidate must:
- Hold at least a doctoral degree (or equivalent obtained abroad) by the application deadline. Even if you haven’t received the physical diploma yet, you can apply.
- Be employed at a foreign university or research centre, or have had such employment end after 31 August 2025. New PhDs (degree obtained after 31 August 2025) do not need current employment.
- Have not worked, studied, or stayed continuously in Poland for more than 3 months in the three years before the deadline.
- Have at least three achievements from the last five years: these can be publications as the main author in Scopus/SCI/etc., peer-reviewed English monographs, or conference proceedings indexed in CORE or Web of Science, or for arts representatives—proof of presenting work abroad or winning an international competition. Mix and match as you like.
Polish citizens can make up at most 10% of all principal investigators under the program..
Other Opportunities
How to Apply for the Ulam Nawa Scholarship Programme
Important: the inviting institution submits the application, not the researcher. The host institution logs into NAWA’s IT system (https://programs.nawa.gov.pl) and selects either Ulam 2026 or Ulam 2026 special track (for those with MSCA or MSCA4Ukraine certificates).
Required attachments include: power of attorney (in Polish), scan of PhD diploma (with an English translation if needed), an invitation letter signed by the inviting person, proof of employment abroad, and copies of the three required achievements. For the special track, you also submit your original MSCA application, reviews, and the award certificate.
Note : The principal investigator cannot take any other employment in Poland between submitting the application and receiving the decision. Full relocation to Poland is expected. And no, Russian citizens or institutions cannot participate – that part is non negotiable.
For more details, contact NAWA at [email protected] (working days, 10:00 to 15:00). Or read the full call documentation on their website. The application form templates and all appendices are available online.
The application deadline is . Results should be announced by 30 November 2026. Projects can start between 1 February 2027 and 1 December 2027 and must end by 31 December 2030. For more details about the Ulam Nawa Scholarship Programme, please visit the official website.