Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026: Amazing Fully Funded Award in Poland

The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 is a Polish Government-funded opportunity for international students from eligible developing countries. The program supports qualified graduates who want to pursue full-time second-cycle, or Master’s, studies at participating public universities in Poland.

Successful candidates receive a monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500, exemption from tuition fees, and a one-time travel allowance of PLN 2,500. Students may study in English or Polish, depending on the selected course and their language qualifications.

Application status: The 2026 application round is now closed. The official deadline was May 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time. Students interested in the next round should monitor the official Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange website.

Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 Overview

About the Banach NAWA Programme

The Banach NAWA Programme is a joint initiative of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange and Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It forms part of Poland’s international development assistance.

The program aims to support the social and economic development of eligible countries by helping their citizens improve their education and professional qualifications. Scholarship recipients can complete full-time Master’s studies at universities supervised by Poland’s Minister of Science and Higher Education.

Candidates can select programs taught in Polish or English. Those following the Polish-language route may qualify for a preparatory course before starting their degree. Students studying in English may also participate in Polish language and culture classes.

The scholarship award and university admission are separate processes. Receiving a positive scholarship decision does not remove the requirement to obtain admission from an eligible Polish university.

Financial Benefits of the Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026

According to the official NAWA program page, selected candidates receive:

• A monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500
• Exemption from tuition fees at participating public universities
• A one-time travel allowance of PLN 2,500
• Funding for an eligible Polish-language preparatory course
• The opportunity to study in English or Polish
• Polish language and culture classes for students following the English-language route
• Access to education at participating Polish universities

The monthly scholarship helps recipients cover living expenses, but actual costs vary according to the city, accommodation type, and individual lifestyle.

Students should carefully read their scholarship agreement because payment dates, attendance requirements, academic-progress conditions, and other responsibilities are governed by the official regulations.

Applicants looking for another European opportunity can explore the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship and the Politecnico di Milano Scholarships.

Available Degree Level

The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 supports full-time second-cycle studies, normally equivalent to a Master’s degree.

It does not fund bachelor’s or PhD studies under this specific program. Candidates need an appropriate first-cycle qualification before beginning their Master’s program.

The selected degree must be offered at an eligible Polish university supervised by the responsible ministry. Students can study in either Polish or English, depending on their language ability and the selected program.

Available Study Fields

NAWA does not present the scholarship as being limited to one academic discipline. Applicants should search for an eligible Master’s program that matches their previous bachelor’s education and career plans.

Potential fields may include:

• Engineering
• Computer science
• Information technology
• Natural sciences
• Agriculture
• Environmental studies
• Economics
• Management
• International relations
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Architecture
• Public health
• Education
• Other eligible Master’s disciplines

Program availability and entry requirements are determined by individual Polish universities. Applicants must confirm that their chosen course is eligible and begins during the academic year specified in the official call.

Eligible Countries

The program is open to citizens of 36 countries covered by Polish development assistance across Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The exact list of eligible nationalities is provided in the official call announcement. Candidates should not rely only on older country lists because eligibility may change between application rounds.

Citizenship is a central eligibility condition. Living or studying in an eligible country does not necessarily qualify an applicant if they do not hold citizenship from that country.

Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates for the 2026 application round generally had to meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of a country eligible for the Banach NAWA Programme
• Not hold Polish citizenship
• Plan to begin eligible Master’s studies or a preparatory course in the 2026/27 academic year
• Hold an eligible bachelor’s or equivalent first-cycle qualification
• Have obtained the first-cycle degree no earlier than 2024 or expect to graduate by July 15, 2026
• Not already hold a Master’s degree or another qualification recognised as an equivalent second-cycle degree
• Meet the language requirements for the chosen study pathway
• Submit a complete online application through the official NAWA system
• Meet the independent admission requirements of the selected Polish university
• Provide accurate academic and personal information
• Submit the application before the closing date

Meeting these conditions did not guarantee selection. Applications were subject to formal and substantive assessment.

Language Requirements for the Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026

Students applying for a Master’s program taught in English were generally required to demonstrate English proficiency at a minimum B2 level.

Applicants choosing a program taught in Polish generally needed Polish proficiency at B2 level. Candidates with a lower level of Polish could be eligible for the preparatory-course pathway if they met the conditions specified in the call.

Applicants had to use a language certificate or another form of evidence accepted by NAWA. Universities could also have additional language requirements for admission.

A candidate might satisfy the scholarship’s language condition but still need to meet a separate standard established by the university. Therefore, both sets of requirements had to be checked.

Required Documents for the Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026

Applicants generally needed to prepare:

• A completed online scholarship application
• A valid passport or national identity document
• Bachelor’s degree certificate
• Proof of expected graduation when the degree had not yet been issued
• Academic transcripts or supplement to the diploma
• Proof of English or Polish language proficiency
• A short self-presentation video
• Additional academic certificates where relevant
• Any declaration or document specified by NAWA

The document checklist could vary according to the applicant’s situation. Every file had to comply with the required format, language, size, and upload instructions.

Incorrect, incomplete, unreadable, or late documents could result in rejection during the formal evaluation.

Self-Presentation Video

The self-presentation video was an important part of the application. Candidates should follow the official instructions concerning length, content, language, and file submission.

A strong presentation should clearly explain:

• The applicant’s academic background
• Reasons for choosing Poland
• Motivation for pursuing the selected Master’s degree
• Professional and academic goals
• How the applicant intends to use the acquired knowledge
• Potential benefits for the applicant’s home country or community

Candidates should speak naturally, provide relevant information, and avoid memorising an overly general statement that does not relate to their selected field.

University Admission Requirement

The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 application did not replace the university admission process.

Applicants were responsible for:

1. Finding an eligible Master’s program.
2. Checking the university’s admission dates.
3. Preparing the required academic documents.
4. Applying directly to the university.
5. Meeting its language and academic conditions.
6. Obtaining confirmation of admission when required by NAWA.

A scholarship applicant could not begin studies without being admitted to an appropriate program, even after receiving a positive decision from NAWA.

Selection Process

Applications were evaluated through formal and substantive stages.

Formal Assessment

During the formal review, NAWA could check:

• Applicant citizenship
• Degree eligibility
• Application completeness
• Submission date and time
• Document format
• Language evidence
• Compliance with program regulations

Applications that failed essential formal conditions could be rejected without proceeding to the academic evaluation.

Substantive Assessment

Eligible applications could then be assessed according to:

• Academic performance
• Quality of previous education
• Motivation for studying in Poland
• Relevance of the selected degree
• Quality of the self-presentation
• Potential contribution to the applicant’s development
• Accuracy and strength of the submitted application

For the 2026 round, the official results were expected by July 31, 2026. Successful candidates then needed to complete university admission requirements and sign the relevant scholarship agreement.

Application Deadline for the Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026

The official deadline was:

May 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time

Applications are now closed.

The call could also close earlier for a particular group of countries if the maximum number of applications was reached. Candidates were therefore encouraged to submit before the final day.

A new application cannot be submitted for this closed intake. Students interested in future funding should wait for NAWA to publish another official call.

How to Apply for the Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026

The 2026 application process included the following steps:

1. Visit the official Banach NAWA webpage.
2. Download and read the complete call announcement.
3. Confirm that your citizenship was eligible.
4. Check your degree and graduation-date eligibility.
5. Search for a suitable Master’s program at a participating Polish university.
6. Review the university’s separate admission requirements.
7. Prepare your academic and language documents.
8. Record the required self-presentation video.
9. Create an account in the official NAWA application system.
10. Complete every section of the scholarship form.
11. Upload all required supporting files.
12. Review and submit the application before the deadline.
13. Apply separately for admission to the selected Polish university.
14. Monitor your email and NAWA account for updates.

Only one scholarship application was permitted per person during the 2026 call. Candidates should never pay an unknown agent who claims to guarantee selection.

Important Advice for Future Applicants

Students interested in the next Banach NAWA call can prepare early by:

• Checking whether their nationality was included in previous calls
• Researching eligible Polish universities
• Comparing English- and Polish-taught Master’s programs
• Preparing their bachelor’s certificate and transcripts
• Obtaining recognised language evidence
• Planning a focused self-presentation
• Monitoring both NAWA and university deadlines
• Checking whether academic documents require translation or legalisation

The requirements may change in a future round, so previous rules should be used only for preparation.

You can also review the Doha Institute Scholarships for another funded Master’s opportunity.

Final Thoughts

The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026 provided eligible international graduates with tuition-free Master’s education, a PLN 2,500 monthly scholarship, and a PLN 2,500 travel allowance.

The 2026 application round closed on May 8, 2026. Candidates can no longer apply for this intake, but they may use the confirmed requirements as a guide while waiting for NAWA to announce a future call.

Global Scholarship Point is an independent educational information website and is not affiliated with NAWA or the Polish Government. Always verify future deadlines, eligible countries, benefits, and requirements through the official program website.