Quick Information
| University | Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) |
|---|---|
| Country | Poland |
| Programme | Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme |
| Degree Level | Master's |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded |
| Scholarship Type | Government |
| Scholarship Value | PLN 2,500 per month + PLN 2,500 travel allowance + tuition exemption (2026/27) |
| Stipend | PLN 2,500 per month (2026/27) |
| Study Duration | Standard length of second-cycle studies |
| Eligibility | Citizens of 36 Polish Aid countries |
| Application Deadline | May 8, 2026 |
| Last Verified Date | November 11, 2026 |
| Application Link | Apply via the official page |
| Official Source | http://nawa.gov.pl/en/students/foreign-students/the-banach-scholarship-programme/landing |
The Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme offers fully funded scholarships for full-time second-cycle (Master’s) studies in Poland to citizens of 36 countries covered by Polish Aid. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), implemented as part of Poland’s development cooperation, and named after the mathematician Stefan Banach. The 2026/2027 call has closed and the next call has not been published yet.
Overview
The programme aims to support the socio-economic development of developing countries by improving the knowledge and education of their citizens. It offers an opportunity to pursue second-cycle studies in the full-time mode in Polish or English at universities supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Studies in Polish may be preceded by a one-year NAWA preparatory course. In the 2026/2027 call, 887 applications were submitted and scholarships were awarded to 130 laureates from 25 countries.
Scholarship Benefits
Selected scholars receive: a monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500; an exemption from tuition fees at public universities; financing of the NAWA preparatory course for the Polish-language path; a travel allowance of PLN 2,500; the possibility to study in Polish or English; and a Polish language and culture course for the English-language path. All figures are for the 2026/2027 call.
What it does NOT cover: the official landing page does not list any separate accommodation, insurance or living-cost allowance beyond the PLN 2,500 monthly scholarship and the PLN 2,500 travel allowance.
Eligibility Criteria
The programme is addressed to citizens of 36 countries covered by Polish Aid, including countries from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The official landing page names Albania, Brazil, India, Mexico, Ukraine and Vietnam among the eligible countries; the full list is published in the call for proposals.
Applicants must: be a citizen of one of the eligible countries; not hold Polish citizenship; plan to start second-cycle studies in Poland in the academic year 2026/2027; have obtained a first-cycle diploma no earlier than in 2024, or obtain it by 15 July 2026; not already hold a second-cycle diploma; and meet the language requirements — at least B2 in English, or at least B2/B1 in Polish, depending on the study path.
Available Fields
Full-time second-cycle studies in the fields of engineering and technical, agricultural, applied and life sciences at universities supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan may also take second-cycle studies in the fields of humanities and social sciences, with the exception of philological studies in the field of the applicant’s native language.
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit a complete set of documents, including a short self-presentation video. The full document list is published in the call for applications (call no. 16/2026 for the 2026/2027 round). Check the call document for the current requirements.
Application Process
- Read the programme details and check all formal requirements.
- Prepare the required documents, including the short self-presentation video.
- Create an account in the NAWA system at programs.nawa.gov.pl.
- Log in, select the Banach NAWA Programme and submit the application electronically. The deadline for the 2026/2027 call was 8 May 2026, 3:00 p.m. CEST; the call could close earlier if the application limit for a given group of countries was reached.
- Evaluation: applications are evaluated based on formal and substantive criteria, including academic performance and the candidate’s self-presentation. Results were expected by 31 July 2026.
- University admission is separate: NAWA does not mediate university admission. Admission to universities is conducted independently of the programme’s selection process, and the laureates’ final places of study are confirmed after the university admission procedures have been completed.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline (2026/27 call) | 8 May 2026, 15:00 CEST |
| First-cycle diploma cut-off | Obtained no earlier than 2024, or by 15 July 2026 |
| Results expected (2026/27 call) | By 31 July 2026 |
| Studies start | Winter semester 2026/27 (from October 2026) |
Applications for the 2026/2027 round closed on 8 May 2026. The next cycle has not been published yet — check the official page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Banach Scholarship pay?
PLN 2,500 per month, plus a PLN 2,500 travel allowance and a tuition fee exemption at public universities (2026/2027 call). A funded preparatory course is included for the Polish-language path.
Which countries are eligible?
Citizens of 36 countries covered by Polish Aid. The official landing page names Albania, Brazil, India, Mexico, Ukraine and Vietnam among them; the full list is in the call for proposals.
Do I need to know Polish?
No. You can study in English with at least B2 English. The Polish-language path requires at least B2/B1 in Polish, depending on the path, and may be preceded by a one-year NAWA preparatory course.
Does NAWA arrange my university admission?
No. NAWA does not mediate university admission. You apply to the university separately, and your final place of study is confirmed after the university admission procedures.
When will the next call open?
The 2027/2028 call has not been published yet. Check the official NAWA programme page for the announcement.
Official source: NAWA — Study in Poland with Banach NAWA Programme