On 6 February 2026, a webinar dedicated to the TOP200 NAWA Programme took place.

Those who were unable to attend, as well as participants who would like to revisit selected topics discussed during the meeting, are invited to watch the recording: 

Below, you will find the questions raised and the answers provided during the Q&A session held as part of the webinar.

TOP200 NAWA Webinar – Q&A

1. Q: I have a Master’s degree in science (science track) and graduated with distinction. Am I eligible to apply?

A: The Programme is open to all fields of science; however, the Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a PhD degree.

2. Q: I obtained my PhD from the University of Agriculture in Kraków in November 2025. I am currently working as a part-time researcher at the same university and implementing my own NCN Preludium grant. I am originally from Ethiopia. Am I eligible to apply?

A: The country of origin and the institution awarding the PhD are not relevant in this funding scheme. However, you must provide evidence of engagement with a TOP200 institution for the period specified in the Call. Based on the information provided, this requirement does not appear to be met.

3. Q: How can I find institutions with whom I could collaborate in observational astrophysics? Is this considered applied research? Do I need to have an institutional affiliation at the time of application? I am an active researcher, 15 years post-PhD.

A:

• NAWA does not coordinate collaboration platforms; however, you may consult:
  • researchinpoland.org
  • EURAXESS Poland
• The PI, together with the institution, must demonstrate whether the project qualifies as basic or applied research.
• There is no formal requirement to have an institutional affiliation at the time of submitting the application

4. Q: Do applicants have to provide proof that their institution is ranked in the QS Top 200, or will NAWA verify this?

A: NAWA will verify formal eligibility, including compliance with the TOP200 requirement.

5. Q: My PhD diploma is issued in Latin. Should I include additional documents, such as the examiners’ report? Is it acceptable if the attachment consists of four pages?

A: There is no specific page limit. According to the Call, you must attach “a scan of the document confirming that the Principal Investigator is a PhD holder – in the original language.”

6. Q: I hold a PhD and have over 20 years of industrial experience in the same field. Is this profile eligible?

A: Yes, provided that all other requirements of the Call are met.

7. Q: The TOP200 rankings are limited to universities listed in three databases. What about researchers working at well-known institutes such as the Max Planck Society (MPG) or private US institutes?

A: Only institutions ranked 1–200 in one of the three rankings specified in the Call can be recognised.

8. Q: Please provide guidance on how to search for foreign universities eligible for the programme. Are there universities from, for example, Slovakia or Austria among them?

A: The programme covers institutions ranked between positions 1–200 in at least one of the following rankings:

• • Academic Ranking of World Universities 2025 (Shanghai Ranking)
• • QS World University Rankings 2025
• • Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

9. Q: How should “experience of the Applicant (Institution) within the scope of the Project” be understood?

A: Both institutional experience in hosting researchers and thematic expertise are important; however, during the assessment, particular emphasis will be placed on expertise in the project’s thematic area.

10. Q: What budget is available to pursue the research?

A: NAWA funding covers remuneration only. Research costs may be financed through an optional NCN or NCBR starting grant (up to PLN 400,000 for the first 18 months). This component must be planned and described in the NAWA application. The NCN/NCBR application assessment includes a formal assessment and budget verification. The PI is expected to actively apply for external research grants in order to secure additional funding for the project team. The scope of the planned grants should be consistent with, or extend, the substantive tasks of the TOP 200 project. Double financing of the same costs is not permitted.

11. Q: Is funding limited to salaries? Can project members already employed at the host institution be included? Does this include administrative staff?

A:

• NAWA funds salaries only. Additional costs may be covered under the NCN/NCBR component.
• Project group members may already be employed at the host institution.
• Administrative staff may be host personnel or individuals hired specifically for the project.

12. Q: Is the PLN 160,000 salary limit for Junior Fellow team members a gross amount for the entire project duration?

A: No. For the Junior Fellow track, PLN 160,000 applies per year. All remuneration amounts include employer costs, in accordance with the Call.

13. Q: For the Junior Fellow track, does the required 12 months of research experience abroad need to be completed after obtaining the PhD?

A: Yes. Doctoral training does not count toward the required period of research work.

14. Q: To whom will the intellectual property (IP) generated under the project belong?

A: The PI must define IP arrangements in the application after prior agreement with the host institution.

15. Q: How and when does one apply for the NCN/NCBR component?

A: The component must be planned in the NAWA application. Following a positive decision, beneficiaries submit a separate simplified application in the NCN or NCBR ICT system, dedicated to them only.

16. Q: Is there an age limit for applicants?

A: No. There are no restrictions related to age, scientific discipline, or country of origin.

17. Q: Does the PI have to spend 100% of their time in Poland?

A: The PI is expected to relocate to Poland and be employed full-time. Reduction in employment time after project start may occur due to the requirements of additional research funding granted to the Principal Investigator and results in proportional funding reduction.

18. Q: Do all team members need to come from outside Poland?

A: No. The project group composition depends on the PI’s needs.

19. Q: What is a POLON-affiliated institution?

A: A POLON-affiliated institution is registered in the POL-on system, Poland’s official national database for higher education and science, and is formally recognised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

20. Q: When are selected candidates expected to start?

A: The project may start between 1 September 2026 and 1 April 2027 (which is tantamount to the date of concluding the contract with the PI).

21. Q: What if an applicant wishes to remain anonymous and does not want their current employer’s HR department informed?

A: Formal confirmation from the TOP200 institution is required to verify eligibility.

22. Q: If an applicant completed their PhD in 2019, do they qualify as Junior or Senior Fellow?

A: This depends on the date of degree conferral and application submission.

• Up to 7 years since PhD: Junior Fellow (=7 and less)
• More than 7 years: Senior Fellow
  Exception: Documented leadership experience allows application to the Senior track, even for researchers who are not seven years past their PhD defense.

23. Q: Can team members work part-time or remotely?

A: Yes. There are no restrictions in this regard, excluding the PI: full-time employment is required in this case. According to the Call, „the Principal Investigator will reside in Poland during the implementation of the Project (the centre of the Principal Investigator’s personal or economic interests will be Poland)”.

24. Q: Can the project require part of the team to work outside Poland for a specific period?

A:

• Fieldwork abroad: yes.
• Employment outside Poland: no.

25. Q: Is there any post-project career commitment from the host institution?

A: No such requirement exists under the pilot programme. For immigration-related matters, contact EURAXESS Poland.

26. Q: Is it possible to implement a project lasting only 12 months in Poland?

A: No. The minimum duration is 24 months (Junior Fellow) or 36 months (Senior Fellow). Applicants may consider the NAWA Ulam Programme as an alternative.

27. Q: Does the inviting person have to be from the same faculty?
A: It is sufficient that the person is a researcher employed by the organisational unit that is the applicant (entities specified in the Announcement referred to in Article 7(1)(1), (2) and (4–7) of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science).

28. Q: Does the inviting person have to be an independent (senior) academic researcher?
A: There is no such requirement.

29. Q: Is the host institution required to provide a financial contribution?
A: No.

30. Q: Can the funding of the research component start later than after 18 months?
A: No. The component must start along with the NAWA project and be spent during the first 18 months.

31. Q: How should the method of calculating and justifying expenditures be described?
A: At the application stage, the description should highlight the estimations in order to explain to the experts how the Principal Investigator (PI) plans to organize and finance the project team.

32. Q: Why are there no indirect costs in the NCN component, while they are included in the NCBR component?
A: The components are designed in accordance with the rules applicable at NCN and NCBR. Detailed questions should be addressed directly to these institutions.

33. Q: May I indicate the names and surnames of members of the project team in the application? May individuals involved in the project perform their duties under civil law contracts, and, if they are employed by the university, through salary supplements? Or should the project team consist entirely of individuals external to the applicant institution?

A: NAWA does not impose any provisions that would prevent indicating project team members by name. However, good practice in designing the project team – as shared by subject-matter experts – is to describe it primarily in terms of competencies and assigned tasks or roles rather than specific individuals. Recruitment for the positions indicated in the application should be carried out in accordance with the Labour Code and the internal regulations of the beneficiary.

The same response applies to the second question. Applicants should verify whether concluding civil law contracts with their own employees is permissible, as this depends on the institution’s internal regulations. The same applies to salary supplements, which are governed by the employer’s internal rules (although it should be noted that this is a common practice among institutions implementing NAWA institutional programmes).

The decision as to whether project team members are recruited from within the applicant institution or from outside rests with the PI.