The Stefan Banach NAWA Programme is a scholarship run jointly by Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the Polish Aid development-cooperation umbrella. It funds full-time second-cycle (Master’s) studies at public universities supervised by Poland’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, taught in Polish or English.
The aim is to raise education levels in developing partner countries by bringing their citizens to Poland for a Master’s degree. Applicants choose their own field and university, and an optional one-year Polish-language preparatory course can precede the degree.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500, for up to 12 months per academic year, covering the standard period of study (and the preparatory course, where taken).
- Full exemption from tuition fees at public universities.
- One-time travel allowance to Poland of PLN 2,500.
- Optional NAWA-funded one-year Polish-language preparatory course before the Master’s.
Eligibility
- Citizens of one of the 36 Polish Aid partner countries (see the structured country list) — a hard nationality requirement.
- Hold a first-cycle (Bachelor’s) degree, completed recently; each annual call sets the exact cut-off year.
- Language: minimum B2 in the language of study (Polish or English), or a lower level (around A2/B1) if starting with the preparatory course.
- Applicants apply directly to a Polish university for admission alongside the NAWA application.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Albania · Angola · Argentina · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Montenegro · Philippines · Georgia · India
+ 24 more
Indonesia · Iraq · Iran · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kosovo · Lebanon · North Macedonia · Mexico · Moldova · Mongolia · Nigeria · Palestine · Papua New Guinea · Peru · Rwanda · Senegal · Serbia · Tanzania · Tunisia · Ukraine · Uzbekistan · Vietnam
Education required
Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Choose a second-cycle (Master’s) programme at a public university in Poland.
- 2Create an account and complete the application in the NAWA IT system (programs.nawa.gov.pl) in Polish or English.
- 3Submit before the annual deadline; NAWA may close a country group early once its application limit is reached.
- 4Shortlisted candidates are assessed by NAWA, and scholarship offers follow the published results.
Program timeline
Application deadline for the 2026 call (3:00 PM CET; may close earlier once a country group’s limit is reached)
May 8, 2026
Studies begin for admitted applicants (the preparatory course, where taken, starts first)
Academic year 2026/2027