The objective of the Programme is to promote international mobility of doctoral students by enabling them to acquire scientific experience in foreign research and academic centres, establish international scientific cooperation and implement a part of their doctoral degree programme in foreign units.

Eligible applicants

Applicants in the Programme may be natural persons who are either:

• Doctoral students,
• Persons employed in Polish universities or other HEIs who have the conferment procedure for a doctoral degree formally open,
• Persons who are in the “Industrial PhD” programme.

Actions implemented under the Programme:

The Programme allows visits whose aim is to:

1) Implement a part of a doctoral degree programme;

2) Implement a part of the “Industrial PhD” programme, in accordance with the rules announced by the Minister of Science and Higher Education;

3) Conduct scientific research related to preparing a doctoral thesis;

4) Obtain materials for the doctoral thesis or scientific publication;

5) Conduct teaching activities at the host centre as a complement to the above objectives;

6) Other forms of scientific or academic activity related to preparing the doctoral thesis as a complement to the above aims.

In the application, the Applicant submits a project covering one or more of the above-mentioned activities that (s)he intends to implement at a foreign host centre, indicating its goals, relevance to the development of their academic career and justifying the host's choice for planned activities. The applicant also encloses an invitation from the host centre, confirming the will to cooperate and accepting NAWA scholarship fellow for the requested period.

The Programme is open to candidates representing all fields of science. There are also no restrictions on the countries where host centres are located.

For further questions/details, please contact:

Piotr Serafin, Department of Programmes for Scientists

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

phone: +48 22 390 35 46

Why is it worth applying for a scholarship under the Iwanowska Programme?

See what the winners have to say!

Joanna Badach

PhD student at the Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology

Scholarship holder in the Iwanowska Programme

Visit to Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong

"The programme provides PhD students with very good conditions for doing research, because it enables them to visit a university of their choice, gain new experience and see a foreign country. At the University of Hong Kong, I am going to carry out a project related to urban development, the spread of pollution and the improvement in the quality of city air. I am happy that I will be able to conduct research which is a part of my PhD dissertation at this particular university."

Piotr Gadawski

Scholarship holder in the Iwanowska Programme

PhD student at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz

Visit to Canada, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph

"Why apply for the Iwanowska scholarship? The answer is simple. To fulfil your scientific dreams. The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange enabled me to fulfil my dreams. I have the opportunity to complete a part of my studies at the world’s best research centre in my discipline – the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph. In addition, as a biologist, I have always dreamed of visiting Canada with its fascinating natural environment and rich natural resources. Now, the dreams are coming true."

Svitlana Sovinska

PhD student at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology

Scholarship holder in the Iwanowska Programme

Visit to Germany, Münster University of Applied Sciences

"The scholarship under the Iwanowska Programme will enable me to complete my PhD dissertation. I am going to study semiconductive nanomaterials for applications in optoelectronics and photovoltaics at Münster University of Applied Sciences. Some of the results will be described in my thesis. This stay abroad is a step forward in developing my scientific career and international cooperation."