Zawacka NAWA is the incoming strand of Poland’s bilateral academic exchange, run by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under agreements between Poland and partner countries.
Students, doctoral candidates and academics from those countries come to Polish universities and research institutes for a full degree, part of a degree, doctoral school or a research stay. The stay types, places and who pays differ by country.
Benefits & funding
- Where NAWA pays: PLN 2,000 a month for students; PLN 3,300 for doctoral students and master’s-level staff on research stays; PLN 4,500 for PhD holders; doctoral school at the statutory rate (PLN 3,467, then 5,341).
- Where the sending country pays (e.g. China), its own terms apply.
- Tuition waived at public universities and on the NAWA preparatory course.
- Insurance, visa and research costs are yours; cannot be combined with Erasmus+.
Eligibility
- From a 2026/27 partner country: Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Palestine, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen; Russian citizens are excluded.
- Secondary school graduates, students, university graduates, doctoral students, or academic teachers researching or teaching in a partner country and not employed by a Polish institution.
- Each country’s offer sets the stay types, places and lengths allowed.
- Nomination by your country’s partner institution (Germany: apply directly to NAWA).
- Full-degree students need B2 in the language of study at admission.
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.
“an academic teacher conducting research or teaching in a country participating in the Programme, who is not employed by a Polish higher education and science institution.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Bulgaria · China · Croatia · Czechia · Egypt · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Japan · Kazakhstan · Mexico
+ 13 more
Moldova · Mongolia · North Macedonia · Palestine · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Switzerland · Taiwan · Tunisia · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen
Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · Bachelor · PhD Enrolled
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Apply to your country’s partner institution (listed per country in the call’s Appendix 1) by its own deadline; applicants from Germany email NAWA by 30 May.
- 2Part-study and research applicants get an invitation or acceptance from a Polish host; full-degree applicants also apply to the university separately.
- 3Once nominated, register in NAWA’s system and submit in English or Polish by the date NAWA emails, no later than 30 September (15:00 Warsaw).
- 4One application per call.
Program timeline
10 March 2026
2026/27 call announced
applications from Germany due to NAWA
30 May 2026
final registration deadline
30 September 2026
results
By 31 December 2026
stays begin
2026/27 academic year