The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 in Poland is one of the strongest fully funded master’s opportunities in Europe for students from eligible developing countries who want to begin second-cycle studies in October 2026. The programme offers a monthly stipend of PLN 2,500, tuition-fee exemption at public universities, a travel allowance of PLN 2,500, and study options in English or Polish, with the official deadline set for 8 May 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Warsaw time, or earlier if the application cap for a country group is reached.

The strategic point most applicants miss is this: the Banach NAWA Scholarship is not just “study in Poland for free.” It is a country-targeted, master’s-only government scholarship with strict eligibility around nationality, where you earned your bachelor’s degree, start date, and degree level. If you already hold a master’s degree or your bachelor’s was not earned in an eligible country, this is usually a dead end.

Basic Information about the Scholarships

• Scholarship name: Banach NAWA Programme 2026.
• Host country: Poland.
• Administering body: Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
• Level of study: Master’s degree only; specifically full-time second-cycle studies.
• Language of study: English or Polish.
• Application deadline: 8 May 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CEST/Warsaw time, or earlier if the application limit is reached for a country group.
• Application method: Online through the NAWA application system.
• Application fee: No scholarship application fee is indicated in the official call.
• Type of funding: Government-funded scholarship for master’s study in Poland.
• Scholarship for Master’s (second-cycle) studies or preparatory course
• Starts from Winter Semester 2026/27 (October 2026)
• Offered by Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)

Programme Objective

• Support development of developing countries
• Improve education & professional skills
• Study opportunity in Poland

Study Options (Paths)

1. Polish Path
   • Preparatory course + Master’s
     OR
   • Direct Master’s in Polish
2. English Path
   • Master’s in English
     • short Polish language & culture course

University/Institution Details

The Banach NAWA Programme is administered by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) and is co-financed under the Polish development cooperation framework of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Rather than being tied to one university, it allows selected applicants to study at eligible Polish universities offering full-time second-cycle programmes in English or Polish, with tuition automatically waived at public universities.

This broad institutional model makes the scholarship especially attractive for students searching for Poland government scholarship 2026, NAWA scholarship for international students, fully funded master’s in Poland, and study in Europe scholarships 2026. The real advantage is flexibility: you can target a university and programme that match your goals instead of being locked into one campus.

Study Areas (available program names)

One of the biggest strengths of the Banach NAWA Scholarship is that it is not limited to one academic field. Applicants can pursue full-time second-cycle programmes in many disciplines, depending on the university they choose and the programme availability for the 2026/27 academic year.

Popular areas include:

• Engineering and technology.
• Computer science and information technology.
• International relations and political science.
• Economics, finance, and management.
• Environmental science and sustainability.
• Agriculture and food science.
• Public health and health management.
• Social sciences and development studies.
• Education and applied humanities.
• Natural sciences.

A sharper way to approach this: choose a programme with a clear labour-market or research pathway, not just the first English-language degree you find.

Banach NAWA Scholarship Benefits

• Monthly stipend: PLN 2,500
• Free tuition (public universities)
• Travel allowance (one-time)
• Preparatory course funded by NAWA for students taking the Polish-track route.
• Polish language and culture course for English-track students.
• Opportunity to study in English or Polish depending on the chosen path.

This package is strong because it tackles the three biggest barriers at once: tuition, monthly survival cost, and travel.

Benefits Not Included

The scholarship is generous, but it is not unlimited.

• Tuition waiver is guaranteed at public universities, but private universities may handle tuition separately.
• The travel allowance may cover only part of travel costs depending on country and route.
• Housing is not listed as a separate guaranteed accommodation award.
• Personal expenses beyond the monthly stipend remain the student’s responsibility.
• Visa fees and residence-related paperwork costs are not explicitly listed as covered in the official summary.
• NAWA does not handle your university admission for you.

The biggest blind spot: people think winning the scholarship means the university admission is solved. It is not.

Eligibility Criteria for the Banach NAWA Scholarship

You must:

• Be a citizen of an eligible country
• Not have Polish citizenship
• 🎓 Have:
  • Bachelor’s degree (completed in 2024 or later)
    OR
  • Final-year student (graduate by July 2026)
• ❌ Not already have a Master’s degree
• ❌ Not previously received NAWA scholarship

🌐 Language Requirements:

• English track → B2 level English
• Polish track →
  • B1 (for preparatory course)
  • B2 (for direct Master’s)

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be citizens of these countries (examples):

• Asia: India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
• Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Angola
• Europe: Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova
• Others: Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Philippines

❌ Bangladesh is NOT eligible for this programme

Selection Criteria (Total: 110 points)

• Academic grades → 70 points
• Motivation (video) → 30 points
• Recommendation → 10 points

✔ Must score:

• At least 70 total
• Minimum 50 (grades) + 20 (motivation)

Required Documents for the Application

• Passport copy
• Bachelor’s certificate/transcript (or final-year certificate)
• Proof of applying to a Polish university (for English/Direct path)
• Language certificate (B1/B2)
• 🎥 Self-introduction video (1–3 min)
• Optional: Recommendation letter

The video is the hidden differentiator. Many applicants treat it casually, but it is one of the few places where motivation becomes visible.

Banach NAWA Scholarship Application Process

• Step 1: Check whether your citizenship and bachelor’s degree country are both eligible under the Banach NAWA 2026 rules.
• Step 2: Choose whether you want to study in English or Polish, and identify a suitable full-time second-cycle programme starting in October 2026.
• Step 3: Contact or apply to a Polish university independently, because NAWA does not manage university admission for you.
• Step 4: Gather all required documents, including your diploma, transcript, passport, language proof, and motivation video.
• Step 5: Create an account and submit your application via the NAWA application system.
  • Only 1 application allowed
• Step 6: Submit everything before 8 May 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Warsaw time, knowing the call may close earlier if the application limit for your country group is reached.
• Step 7: If your application is formally incomplete, NAWA may return it once for supplementation within 14 days during formal assessment.
• Step 8: Wait for results, which NAWA says are expected by 31 July 2026.
• Step 9: If selected, complete university admission, upload your certificate of admission in the NAWA system, and sign the scholarship agreement within 45 days.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Apply well before 8 May, because the call can close early for your country group once the application cap is reached.
• Do not pick a programme only because it is in English; pick one with a real career or research payoff.
• Make your video short, direct, and human. Motivation beats polished but empty language.
• Prove academic readiness with strong transcripts and clear academic continuity.
• Handle university admission in parallel, not after the scholarship result, because admission is your responsibility.
• If you are using the English path, make sure your B2 evidence is solid and recent.
• Double-check whether your degree year and country of graduation fit the rules; this is where many applicants fail.
• Prefer public universities if you want the tuition-waiver part of the scholarship to work cleanly.
• Must apply to university separately
• Choose study path carefully (cannot change later)
• Limited seats per country

Monthly Living Expenses for International Students (USD)

Poland is more affordable than many Western European study destinations, but costs vary by city.

• Accommodation: USD 300 to USD 700.
• Food and groceries: USD 180 to USD 320.
• Local transportation: USD 20 to USD 60.
• Utilities and internet: USD 80 to USD 150.
• Books and study materials: USD 30 to USD 80.
• Personal expenses: USD 100 to USD 220.
• Estimated monthly total: around USD 710 to USD 1,530 depending on city, housing type, and lifestyle.

The useful takeaway: the PLN 2,500 stipend is meaningful in Poland, especially outside the most expensive cities.

Why Choose This Scholarship?

• It offers a government-funded master’s route in Europe with strong financial support.
• It includes both a monthly stipend and tuition-fee waiver at public universities.
• It is open to a broad range of academic fields, not just one discipline.
• It allows study in English or Polish, which expands access.
• It includes a travel allowance, which many scholarships skip.
• It offers a potential preparatory Polish-language course for the Polish-track path.
• Poland gives students a more affordable European study base than many Western European countries.

Frequently Asked Questions about the scholarship

Is the Banach NAWA Scholarship fully funded?
It is a very strong funding package that includes a PLN 2,500 monthly stipend, tuition-fee exemption at public universities, and a PLN 2,500 travel allowance.

Who can apply?
Citizens of listed eligible countries who do not hold Polish citizenship, do not already hold a master’s degree, and meet the degree and language requirements can apply.

What level of study is covered?
The programme covers full-time second-cycle (master’s) studies only.

What is the deadline for 2026?
The deadline is 8 May 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Warsaw time, but the call may close earlier if the application limit for your country group is reached.

Do I need IELTS?
Not necessarily by name, but you must prove B2 English for English-language studies, or the required Polish level for the Polish-track path.

Can I study at a private university?
Yes, but tuition waiver is not guaranteed there, so you may need to settle tuition issues directly with the university.

Does NAWA get me admitted to a university?
No. You must apply to the Polish university independently.

When are results announced?
NAWA expects to announce results by 31 July 2026.

Application Deadline

• May 8, 2026 (3:00 PM Warsaw time), or earlier if the application quota for your country group is reached.

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