Poland NAWA Banach Scholarships 2026 to Study Master Degree for Free
Poland has quietly become one of the most generous scholarship destinations for international students from the Global South — and its flagship postgraduate programme has just reopened. The Prof. Stefan Banach Programme, administered by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) in partnership with Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is offering fully-funded master’s scholarships to citizens of 37 eligible countries starting from the 2026/27 winter semester. Applications close on 8 May 2026.
The financial package is real and comprehensive. This is not a fee waiver with strings attached — it is a structured, government-funded scholarship covering monthly living costs, tuition exemption at public universities, and international travel costs to reach Poland.
What the Scholarship Covers?
Selected scholars receive a monthly stipend of PLN 2,500 — paid for up to 12 months per academic year — beginning from the first month of studies or from September 2026 for those starting with the preparatory course. Tuition at public Polish universities is fully waived under the programme. A one-time lump sum is also provided to cover international travel costs to Poland at the start of the scholarship.
Students who do not yet meet the language threshold for direct master’s entry can opt for the Polish-language preparatory path: a fully-funded one-year course that builds language proficiency and subject knowledge before second-cycle studies begin. This path is a genuine on-ramp, not a consolation option.
Polish or English — Two Ways In
The programme offers two scholarship paths. The Polish-language path suits applicants who already hold B2 Polish proficiency or are willing to complete the one-year NAWA preparatory course at B1 level first. The English-language path allows applicants with B2 English to study entirely in English at a partner university, alongside a short Polish language and culture course scheduled for September/October 2026. The path chosen at application is binding for the full duration of the programme.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to citizens of 37 countries across Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America — including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Brazil, Peru, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine, among others. Applicants must hold a first-cycle (bachelor’s) degree obtained no earlier than 2024, or be completing their final semester with graduation expected by 15 July 2026. No prior NAWA scholarship may have been received, and applicants must not hold or be seeking Polish citizenship.
How Selection Works — and What to Prioritise?
Scoring is weighted heavily toward academic performance: up to 70 of 110 possible points come directly from the grade average on the undergraduate transcript. A further 30 points are awarded for a video self-presentation (1–3 minutes) in which applicants articulate their academic goals, rationale for choosing Poland, and the expected impact of the degree on their career. An optional letter of recommendation from a Polish diplomatic mission carries up to 10 additional points. The minimum threshold for a positive assessment is 70 total points, with at least 50 in the academic grades criterion.
One practical point worth noting: applicants must also independently apply for admission to their chosen Polish university. NAWA does not mediate this process. The application to NAWA and the university application run in parallel — both must be pursued simultaneously.
Application Submission Dates
- Application deadline: 8 May 2026, 3:00 p.m. Warsaw time (or when country quotas fill — whichever comes first)
- Studies begin: Winter semester 2026/27 (from October 2026)
- Results announced: By 31 July 2026
- Total programme funding: PLN 6.48 million
- Apply: https://nawa.gov.pl/images/Banach/2026/Banach-2026—Call-for-applications-EN.pdf
The quota system means applications close per country as soon as 200–300 submissions are received — well ahead of the 8 May, 2026 deadline in some cases. Citizens of the eligible countries should treat that date as a ceiling, not a target. Start the university admission process in parallel with the NAWA application now.