Apply Now: NAWA Banach Scholarship Program Poland
If you are a student from a developing country dreaming of a fully funded Master’s degree in Europe, the NAWA Banach Scholarship Program 2026 is one of the most accessible and generous opportunities available to you right now. Poland has opened applications for its flagship postgraduate scholarship programme for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, and the deadline is coming up fast. Whether you are based in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East, this scholarship could be your path to a high-quality European education at zero financial cost.
This article covers everything you need to know about the NAWA Banach Scholarship Program 2026 in detail, from what the scholarship covers and who can apply, to the two study tracks available, the full list of eligible countries, step-by-step application guidance, and critical tips to make sure you do not lose your place to the quota system. Read every section carefully before you apply.
What Is the NAWA Banach Scholarship Program?
The Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme is Poland’s flagship government-funded scholarship initiative for students from developing countries. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, known by its Polish acronym NAWA. The programme is implemented as part of Poland’s official development assistance programme and is co-financed within the framework of the Polish development cooperation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The programme is named after Stefan Banach, one of the most influential mathematicians of the twentieth century. Banach was a Polish genius, the co-founder of the Lviv School of Mathematics, and the founder of the branch of mathematics known as functional analysis. Naming Poland’s most prestigious development scholarship after him reflects the deep connection the Polish academic tradition has to excellence, rigor, and international intellectual exchange.
The primary goal of the Banach Scholarship Programme is to support the socio-economic development of developing countries by raising the level of education and professional qualifications of their citizens. By bringing talented young graduates from across the Global South to Poland for their Master’s education, the programme aims to build human capital that can drive progress back home. It is a development scholarship in the truest sense of that phrase.
For the 2026 edition, the official call for applications was announced on April 13, 2026, under Call Number 16/2026. Applications are open for studies beginning in the winter semester of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, with courses starting in October 2026.
What Does the NAWA Banach Scholarship 2026 Cover?
The NAWA Banach Scholarship is fully funded, meaning that selected scholars receive comprehensive financial support throughout their Master’s studies in Poland. Here is a detailed breakdown of what the scholarship package includes.
Monthly Stipend
Every Banach Scholar receives a monthly stipend of PLN 2,500, which is approximately 580 euros per month at current exchange rates. This stipend is paid for the standard duration of your studies, which is typically two academic years for a full-time Master’s programme, and also covers the duration of the preparatory course if you choose the Polish-language track. The stipend is designed to cover your daily living expenses in Poland, including food, local transport, and personal costs.
Tuition Fee Exemption
Scholarship recipients are fully exempt from tuition fees at public Polish universities that have signed a framework agreement with NAWA for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. This is one of the most valuable components of the award because Master’s tuition fees in Poland, while generally lower than in Western Europe, can still run to several thousand euros per year for international students. The complete waiver removes this cost entirely for Banach Scholars.
One-Time Travel Allowance
In addition to the monthly stipend, each scholarship recipient receives a one-time travel allowance of PLN 2,500 to help cover the cost of travelling to Poland at the start of their studies. For students coming from Africa, Asia, or Latin America, international flights can be a significant upfront expense, and this allowance goes some way toward covering that cost.
Preparatory Language Course (Polish-Language Track)
For students who choose to study in Polish and who do not yet meet the required B2 language proficiency level, NAWA funds a one-year preparatory Polish language course before the start of formal degree studies. This means students who choose the Polish-language track can arrive with a B1 level of Polish and use the preparatory year to reach the necessary standard before beginning their Master’s programme. The full cost of this preparatory course is covered by NAWA, and the monthly stipend is paid throughout this period as well.
Polish Language and Culture Course (English-Language Track)
For students who choose to study in English, the scholarship includes a Polish language and culture course scheduled for September and October 2026. This is a shorter introductory course rather than the full year of language preparation, allowing English-track scholars to arrive in Poland, gain a foundational understanding of the Polish language and cultural context, and then begin their Master’s studies in English from October 2026.
The Two Study Tracks: Polish or English
One of the most practical features of the NAWA Banach Scholarship Programme is the flexibility it offers through two distinct study tracks. Understanding which track is right for you is an important part of your application decision, because the track you select at the time of application is binding for the full duration of the programme.
The Polish-Language Track
If you want to study in Polish, you have two options within this track depending on your current level of the language. If you already hold a recognised Polish language certificate at B2 level or higher, you can apply to start your Master’s studies directly in October 2026 without needing to complete the preparatory course first. If your current Polish level is at B1 or you are starting from scratch, you can apply to begin with the one-year NAWA preparatory course starting in September 2026, which will bring you to the required standard for degree-level study. The preparatory course is funded by NAWA and includes the monthly stipend throughout its duration.
The English-Language Track
If English is your preferred medium of instruction, you can apply to study entirely in English at one of the partner universities that offers English-language Master’s programmes. To be eligible for the English track, you need to hold a recognised English language certificate demonstrating at least B2 proficiency. Under this track, you attend a short Polish language and culture course in September and October 2026 before your Master’s studies begin. This course is not designed to make you fluent in Polish but to give you basic language tools and cultural familiarity to help you settle into life in Poland comfortably.
When choosing your track, think about your long-term goals. The Polish-language track offers the deeper cultural immersion that comes with studying in the local language and may open more professional doors for those who plan to stay in Poland after graduation or work with Polish organisations. The English-language track is more accessible for students who are not yet familiar with Polish and want to begin their Master’s studies without a full year of language preparation.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria Explained
The NAWA Banach Scholarship Programme has clear and specific eligibility requirements. You must meet all of the following conditions to be considered for the scholarship.
Nationality and Country of Study
You must be a citizen of one of the 36 to 37 countries covered by the Polish Aid programme. You must have both obtained your Bachelor’s degree in one of these eligible countries and be a citizen of that country. Citizens of Poland and anyone who has applied for Polish citizenship are not eligible.
The full list of eligible countries for the 2026 call includes: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Montenegro, the Philippines, Georgia, India, 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, and Vietnam.
If your country is on this list, you are from the right background. If your country is not listed, the Banach Scholarship is not open to you in this cycle, but it is worth checking the NAWA website for other scholarship programmes that may be relevant.
Academic Qualification
You must hold a first-cycle degree, meaning a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, obtained no earlier than 2024. This means your Bachelor’s degree must be relatively recent. Older qualifications from before 2024 are not eligible for the 2026 call. If you have not yet graduated, you may still apply on the condition that you obtain your Bachelor’s degree diploma by July 15, 2026. This provision allows final-year students to apply in parallel with completing their undergraduate studies.
No Previous Master’s Degree
You must not have previously obtained a second-cycle degree or a uniform Master’s degree diploma from anywhere in the world. The programme is specifically designed for those pursuing their first postgraduate qualification. If you already hold a Master’s degree, you are not eligible for the Banach Scholarship.
No Previous NAWA Director’s Scholarship
If you have previously received a scholarship from NAWA under any of its programmes for second-cycle studies, you are not eligible to apply again under the Banach Programme. The scholarship is intended to reach new beneficiaries each year.
Language Proficiency
Depending on your chosen track, you must demonstrate the appropriate language proficiency. For the English-language track, you need a recognised English language certificate at B2 level or higher. For the Polish-language track starting directly at Master’s level, you need a recognised Polish language certificate at B2 or higher. If you are applying for the Polish-language track via the preparatory course, B1 level Polish is sufficient since the preparatory year will bring you to B2 before degree studies begin. A list of recognised language certificates is attached to the official call announcement on the NAWA website.
Eligible Countries: The Full List for NAWA Banach 2026
This is the confirmed list of countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for the NAWA Banach Scholarship Program 2026. The programme covers nations from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The countries are: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Montenegro, the Philippines, Georgia, India, 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, and Vietnam.
This is a diverse and wide-reaching list. Students from West Africa, East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Latin America are all included. If your country is on this list and you are a recent Bachelor’s graduate without a Master’s degree, you have every reason to apply before the deadline.
The Quota System: Why You Must Apply Early
This is possibly the most important practical point in the entire article. Please read it carefully.
The NAWA Banach Scholarship Programme operates under a country quota system. This means that once a specific number of applications has been received from a given country, the application portal closes for applicants from that country, regardless of whether the overall deadline of May 8, 2026 has passed. Based on the programme’s structure and past patterns, individual country quotas are typically in the range of 200 to 300 applications per country group. In some cases, the application window for specific countries has closed well ahead of the official deadline.
This is not a theoretical risk. It has happened in previous editions of the programme. Applicants who assumed they had until the final deadline to submit found themselves locked out of the system days or even weeks before May 8 because their country’s quota had already been reached.
The practical advice is straightforward: treat the May 8, 2026 deadline as the absolute latest possible moment, not as your target submission date. Aim to submit your application as early as possible in the application window, ideally within the first few days of the portal opening. Do not delay gathering your documents, writing your motivation letter, or setting up your NAWA system account.
Where Can You Study? Polish Universities Under the Banach Programme
The Banach Scholarship is valid for full-time second-cycle studies at universities supervised by the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education that have concluded a framework agreement with NAWA for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. The full list of eligible universities is attached to the official call announcement on the NAWA website and should be consulted carefully before you make your university choice.
Poland has a rich and well-regarded higher education system. Universities in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan, and other major cities offer a wide range of Master’s programmes in fields ranging from engineering and technology to economics, social sciences, computer science, agriculture, life sciences, and the humanities. The country has strong academic traditions dating back centuries, and Polish universities have been climbing in international rankings steadily over the past two decades.
It is important to understand that applying for the Banach Scholarship and applying for admission to a Polish university are two entirely separate processes. NAWA does not arrange or coordinate your university admission on your behalf. You are responsible for contacting your chosen university, meeting their admission requirements, and securing a formal admission offer independently of your NAWA scholarship application. Both the scholarship application and the university admission process need to be completed in parallel. Once you have received your scholarship award from NAWA, you must submit your certificate of admission through the NAWA application system and sign your scholarship agreement within 45 days.
Fields of Study Available Under the Banach Programme
The Banach Scholarship Programme covers a broad range of academic disciplines at the Master’s level. There are no restrictions on the field of study for the main scholarship programme as it currently stands, which means you are free to pursue a Master’s degree in virtually any subject available at the eligible Polish universities, as long as the programme is delivered in Polish or English and is offered at a full-time second-cycle level.
This is a significant advantage compared to many scholarship programmes that restrict funding to specific subject areas. Whether your background is in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, economics, management, social sciences, environmental studies, public health, education, humanities, or any other discipline, the Banach Scholarship can support your studies.
When choosing your field and university, look for programmes that align with the development needs of your home country. Strong applications for the Banach Scholarship often connect the applicant’s academic choice to a concrete vision for how their education will contribute to socio-economic progress back home. This connects directly to the stated mission of the programme.
How to Apply for the NAWA Banach Scholarship Program 2026
The application process for the Banach Scholarship is entirely online. All submissions must be made through the NAWA online application system. Applications can be submitted in either Polish or English. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how the process works.
Step 1: Create an Account in the NAWA Application System
Your first task is to register for an account in the NAWA ICT system. This is the official online portal through which all Banach Scholarship applications are submitted. Set up your account as early as possible so you are ready to begin your application when you have gathered your documents.
Step 2: Read the Official Call Announcement and Regulations
Before you fill in a single field of your application form, download and read the full call announcement for Call No. 16/2026 and the NAWA Programme Regulations. These are the authoritative and legally binding documents for this scholarship cycle. The FAQ section on the NAWA website provides helpful summaries, but it is not a substitute for the official documents. Understanding the exact requirements will save you from making avoidable mistakes.
Step 3: Research and Contact Your Target University
Start the university application process in parallel with your NAWA scholarship application. Check the list of NAWA partner universities for 2026 to 2027 and identify the institutions that offer your preferred programme in your chosen language of instruction. Contact the international admissions office at your target university to understand their admission requirements and timeline. Remember that NAWA does not coordinate this process for you.
Step 4: Prepare Your Application Documents
Gather all required documents before you begin filling in your application form. These typically include your Bachelor’s degree diploma and transcripts, a recognised language certificate (Polish at B2 or B1 for Polish track, or English at B2 for English track), a certificate of citizenship or a copy of your passport, a motivation letter explaining your reasons for applying and your study and career goals, a curriculum vitae, and any additional documents specified in the call announcement. Read the document requirements in the official call carefully as specific format and certification requirements may apply.
Step 5: Submit Your Application Online
Complete your application form in the NAWA system and submit it before the deadline of May 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central European Summer Time. Remember the quota system. If your country’s quota is reached before the deadline, the portal will close for applicants from your country. Apply as early as you can. Do not wait until the final days.
Step 6: Await Results
The results of the scholarship selection will be announced by July 31, 2026, on the NAWA website. Individual applicants will also be notified through the NAWA application system and via the email address they provided during registration. Make sure you have ongoing access to that email account throughout the selection period.
Step 7: Submit Admission Certificate and Sign Scholarship Agreement
If you are selected as a Banach Scholar, you must submit your certificate of admission from your chosen Polish university through the NAWA application system and sign your scholarship agreement within 45 days of the scholarship offer. You are also required to submit a short annual report on your studies by October 31 each year.
To begin your application, visit the official NAWA Banach Scholarship Programme page and access the online application portal: access the official NAWA Banach Programme call for applications here.
Tips for a Strong NAWA Banach Scholarship Application
The Banach Scholarship is competitive. Not every application that meets the basic eligibility criteria will receive an award. Here are practical tips to help your application stand out and give you the best possible chance of being selected.
Write a compelling and specific motivation letter. Generic statements about wanting to further your education or help your country will not be enough. Talk about the specific field you want to study, why Poland is the right place for that education, how your chosen Master’s programme connects to your professional goals, and how the skills and knowledge you gain will contribute to development in your home country. Be concrete, be honest, and be personal. The selection panel reviews hundreds of applications and a genuine, well-reasoned statement is noticed.
Start your university application early. Many applicants underestimate how long the university admission process takes. Polish universities have their own timelines and documentation requirements. If you are waiting for a university offer before you can complete your NAWA application, starting late on the university side can jeopardise your entire scholarship application. Begin both processes simultaneously.
Choose the right language track for your actual proficiency. Do not overstate your language ability. If you are applying for the English track, make sure your English genuinely meets the B2 standard required. If you are planning to use a Polish language certificate, confirm that it is on the list of recognised certificates attached to the call announcement. Submitting an application with an unrecognised certificate will result in its rejection.
Double-check every document before submission. Incomplete or incorrectly formatted applications are among the most common reasons for rejection. Go through the official document checklist in the call announcement line by line. If a document needs to be certified or translated into Polish or English, arrange this in advance.
Apply early to beat the quota. This point bears repeating. The quota system is real and it affects applicants every year. The day the portal opens, your application should be as close to complete as possible. The students who lose their places are not necessarily weaker candidates; they are simply students who waited too long.
What Happens After the Scholarship: Life as a Banach Scholar in Poland
Winning the Banach Scholarship is the beginning of a two-year journey in Poland. Understanding what life looks like as a Banach Scholar will help you prepare properly and make the most of the opportunity.
Poland is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, which means your student residence in Poland gives you legal access to travel freely across much of the European continent. This is a significant benefit that many scholars from Africa, Asia, and Latin America value enormously. Poland itself is a culturally rich, historically fascinating, and rapidly modernising country with a growing economy, a vibrant university culture, and a welcoming atmosphere for international students.
Polish cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk are increasingly cosmopolitan, with strong international student communities, affordable living costs relative to Western Europe, and growing networks of professionals across business, technology, research, and public administration. The monthly stipend of PLN 2,500, while modest by Western European standards, is generally sufficient to cover basic living expenses in most Polish cities, especially when combined with the tuition fee waiver.
As a Banach Scholar, you are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and submit a short annual report on your studies to NAWA by October 31 each year. These requirements are straightforward and exist to ensure that NAWA can track the impact of its investment and provide support where needed. Maintaining good academic standing is both a scholarship condition and, more importantly, in your own best interest as someone building qualifications that will serve you throughout your career.
The Banach and Lukasiewicz Programmes Merger
If you have been researching Polish government scholarships and come across both the Banach Scholarship and the Lukasiewicz Scholarship, you should know that for the 2026 academic year, these two scholarship programmes have been merged into a single unified programme. The Lukasiewicz Scholarship Programme, which previously focused more specifically on engineering, technical, agricultural, and life science fields, has been consolidated with the Banach Programme under a single call.
This merger streamlines the application process and broadens the overall scope of the combined programme. If you previously followed the Lukasiewicz Scholarship, your target scholarship in 2026 is now the unified Banach NAWA Programme.
Who Is Stefan Banach? The Story Behind the Scholarship
Understanding who the programme is named after adds a meaningful dimension to applying for this scholarship. Stefan Banach was born in 1892 in Krakow and is widely regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of the twentieth century. He was the co-founder of the renowned Lviv School of Mathematics and the founder of the field of functional analysis, a branch of mathematics that has applications across physics, engineering, economics, and computer science.
Banach came from humble origins and largely educated himself in mathematics outside the formal university system before being recognised for his extraordinary abilities. His story is one of talent triumphing over circumstance, which is a fitting symbol for a scholarship programme designed to give talented young people from developing countries the chance to access world-class education regardless of the financial barriers they face at home.
Naming Poland’s flagship development scholarship after Stefan Banach is a deliberate and thoughtful choice. It reflects both Poland’s deep academic heritage and the programme’s belief that brilliance exists everywhere and that a fair system should create pathways for it to flourish.
Final Thoughts: Do Not Miss This Window
The NAWA Banach Scholarship Program 2026 is a rare, fully funded opportunity to earn a Master’s degree from a European university with no tuition costs, a monthly living stipend, and a travel allowance to get you there. For students from any of the 37 eligible countries who hold a recent Bachelor’s degree and want to advance their education and career at the international level, this programme deserves your immediate attention.
The deadline is May 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM Central European Summer Time. But with the country quota system in operation, your personal deadline might come earlier than that. The time to act is now. Create your NAWA system account today, begin your university application in parallel, gather your documents, and write a motivation letter that tells your real story and your real ambitions.
Poland is waiting for its next generation of Banach Scholars. Be one of them.
