The Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program is designed to support the socio-economic development of developing countries by enhancing the education and professional skills of eligible citizens through scholarships for second-cycle studies in Poland.
| Host Country | Poland |
| Host Institute | universities supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education |
| Level | second-cycle studies (Masters) |
| Eligible Nationality | Developing Countries |
| Benefits | monthly Stipend+Tution Fee+Travel Cost |
| Closing Date | June 27, 2024, at 3:00:00 local time |
This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, as part of the Polish development cooperation program.
Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)
A federal body, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) promotes the growth of international collaboration in science and higher education by aiding Polish academic institutions in their internationalization. One of NAWA’s main initiatives is offering grants, scholarships, and other forms of assistance to improve the academic and professional credentials of Polish and foreign researchers and students. Through its programs, NAWA hopes to advance Poland’s reputation as a desirable location for research and academic endeavors while advancing its partner nations’ socioeconomic advancement.
Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program
The Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program, run by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), aims to improve the educational and professional credentials of people living in developing nations to promote their socioeconomic growth. Scholarships for second-cycle study in Poland are available through the initiative, which targets nationals of a variety of qualifying nations. It offers financial assistance, such as a lump sum for travel expenses, tuition price exemptions, and a monthly stipend, with the goal of promoting Poland as a center for higher education and encouraging international academic collaboration.
Eligibility for Applicants
Eligible Countries
The Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program is open to citizens of the following countries: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia.
Criteria for Eligible Applicants
Foreign nationals meeting the following criteria at the time of application are eligible to apply for a scholarship under this Program:
- Citizenship: Must be a citizen of one of the aforementioned eligible countries.
- Non-Polish Citizenship: Must not have Polish citizenship and must not have applied for Polish citizenship.
- Study Plans: Must plan to start second-cycle studies or a preparatory course in the winter semester of the academic year 2024/25 (starting October 2024).
- Educational Background: Must be in the final semester of first-cycle studies in an eligible country or have completed a first-cycle degree in an eligible country no earlier than 2022.
- Degree Status: Must not have previously completed a second-cycle or uniform master’s degree.
- NAWA Scholarship Status: Must not have previously received a NAWA scholarship under this Programme.
- Language Proficiency:
- Polish Language:
- Minimum A2 level if planning to take a one-year preparatory course before starting second-cycle studies in Polish.
- Minimum B2 level if planning to start second-cycle studies directly in Polish.
- English Language: Minimum B2 level if planning to start second-cycle studies in English.
- Polish Language:
What Fields of Study does the scholarship cover?
Regardless of the exact scientific topic, the scholarship is available for all full-time second-cycle study programs offered by Polish universities under the direction of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. You may find the complete list of covered universities here (in Polish).
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Benefits of the Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program
The Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program includes:
- Monthly Scholarship:
- PLN 1,800 per month for up to 12 months in an academic year, starting from the first month of classes or the NAWA preparatory course.
- Tuition Fee Exemption: For NAWA preparatory courses or public universities.
- Lump Sum for International Travel Costs:
- Provided once with the first monthly scholarship, based on the applicant’s country of citizenship.
- In cases of documented unforeseen events, the NAWA Director may increase the scholarship by PLN 500 upon the written request of the scholarship holder.
- Belarus 1,000
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine 1,500
- Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Tunisia 2,000
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Uzbekistan 3,000
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Yemen 4,500
- Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Tanzania, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia 6,500
The scholarship is disbursed by the institution conducting the preparatory course or the university where the scholarship holder is enrolled.
Timeline:
The Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program application period will run until June 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM local time (Warsaw), or until 400 applications from a specific group of nations are received. Results will be announced by September 30, 2024.
Required Documents
The following document should be uploaded along with the Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program application:
- A scan of the page in the passport with the applicant’s personal information,
- A scan of the first-cycle study diploma earned in the program nation, together with an addendum that includes details about the combined arithmetic mean of all grades earned during the educational program and grades earned in topics that were finished.
- An official confirmation of enrolment for full-time second-cycle studies at a Polish university of the applicant’s choice, overseen by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, beginning in the winter semester of 2024–2025
- A scan of a document verifying the applicant’s proficiency in the language they intend to study in Poland.
*In the case that the attachments are not in Polish or English, a translation into Polish or English that has been verified by a Polish diplomatic or consular mission or by a sworn translator with their signature and stamp must be attached.
Application Process
Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program applications can be sent sent only electronically through the Agency’s IT system. Either Polish or English must be used to construct the application.
Regardless of the exact scientific topic, the scholarship is available for all full-time second-cycle study programs offered by Polish universities under the direction of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. You may find the complete list of covered universities here (in Polish).
- Group No. 1: Albania, Argentina, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Kosovo, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Ukraine, Venezuela;
- Group No. 2: Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Vietnam;
- Group No. 3: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Yemen, Zambia;
- Group No. 4: Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Nigeria.
*NAWA does not act as a middleman in an applicant’s study admission. Applicants must participate in the university’s admissions process independently of the application they submitted through the program.
For more details about the Polish National Agency Scholarships for Academic Exchange Program, visit the official website.
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