FAQ: Banach NAWA Programme – scholarship for second-cycle studies beginning from the winter semester 2024/25
Do you have questions about the Banach NAWA scholarship? We created an extensive list of frequently asked questions and recommend you to look here in the first instance.
1. Criteria of eligibility
1.1. Citizens of which countries can apply for the Banach NAWA scholarship?
Citizens of the following countries can apply for scholarship in the Banach NAWA Programme:
Group No. 1: Albania, Argentina, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Kosovo, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Ukraine, Venezuela;
Group No. 2: Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Vietnam;
Group No. 3: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Yemen, Zambia;
Group No. 4: Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Nigeria.
1.2. What fields of study does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship covers all full-time second-cycle study programmes offered by Polish universities supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, regardless of a specific scientific field. The full list of covered universities can be found here (in Polish).
1.3. I want to start the bachelor degree studies in Poland. Can I apply for this scholarship?
No. The scholarship covers only the second-cycle studies (Master studies with duration of 3 to 4 semesters).
1.4. I was graduated from Polish university / I expect to obtain my bachelor diploma in Poland by September 2023. Can I apply for the Banach NAWA scholarship?
No, the scholarship offer is addressed to those applicants who obtained their bachelor degree in one of the 46 covered countries outside Poland no earlier than 2022 and to those who are in their final semester of bachelor studies in these countries (see the full list of covered countries above, question 1.1).
1.5. Can I apply for the Banach NAWA scholarship if I plan to study at a private (non-public) university in Poland?
Yes. The scholarship is for those starting full-time second-cycle studies at public or non-public universities (supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education) in October 2024. If you choose a non-public university, you can still receive the monthly scholarship and the mobility allowance. However, the exemption from tuition fees cannot be guaranteed, as this issue remains within the competence of each specific non-public university. If you want to study at a non-public university, make sure you understand all financial conditions set by this specific university.
1.6. If I have graduated from the university in 2021 or earlier, can I apply for the Banach NAWA Programme?
No. It is possible to apply for this scholarship if:
- you obtained your bachelor’s degree in one of covered countries not earlier than 2022, or
- you're a final semester bachelor’s student in one of the covered countries.
1.7. Can I apply for the scholarship if I am a final-year bachelor’s student?
Yes, you can, if you will obtain your bachelor’s degree within the period which allows you to get the admission to second-cycle studies in Poland from October 2024.
1.8. Can I apply if I have already obtained a Master’s degree in my country?
No. Only the candidates who have not obtained their Master’s degree can apply for the Programme.
1.9. Do I need to know the Polish language in order to apply for the scholarship?
If you want to study in Polish, it is required to prove at least A2 level of Polish proficiency in your scholarship application. In turn, if your chosen study programme is offered in English, you must confirm your level of English proficiency only – in this case the B2 level is required.
2. Formal requirements, language proficiency and deadlines
2.1. What are the required documents to apply for the scholarship?
- Scan of the valid international passport with your personal data, confirming your citizenship.
- Scan of the first-cycle (Bachelor) degree diploma with the supplement. If you are a final semester Bachelor student or haven’t yet received your diploma, you can submit a scan of the university's certificate confirming your academic status, your GPA and your full transcript of records.
- Scan of the document confirming your participation in the admission process for full-time, second-cycle studies starting from October 2024.
- Scan of the document confirming your level of proficiency in Polish or English language – depending on your chosen language of studies in Poland.
Find more information about the formal requirements in the call for applications (section 2.6.).
2.2. My diploma (or certificate of admission) was issued only in the official language of the country where I studied. Do I have to translate it for my scholarship application?
Every document issued in other language than Polish or English has to be attached to your application together with a certified translation into Polish or English. Find more information about the translation requirements in the call for applications.
2.3. Do I have to have my diploma legalized or authorized with apostille to apply for the scholarship?
No, at the stage of applying for the scholarship you don’t have to provide us with apostille or other proofs of legalization. Your application should contain readable scans of required documents and their translation (if necessary). However, the legalization of your diploma will be very important for admission to the Polish university. Thus, we strongly recommend you to learn about this topic and the other procedures related to the admission in advance.
2.4. Which English language certificates are required to apply for this scholarship? Can I confirm my level of English with a Duolingo certificate?
No, the Duolingo certificates are not appropriate proof of language skills. To prove your English skills in your scholarship application, you have to:
- have one of accepted certificates at B2 level, or
- have a bachelor's degree completed in English, or
- have a document from a Polish university confirming sufficient knowledge of the English language.
If you're from a country where English is the official language, you don't need to prove your English skills.
2.5. Where can I find the list of the recognized English language certificates?
You can find it here.
2.6. What is the deadline for submitting the application?
The call for proposals will be closed on June 27, 2024 at 3:00:00 local time (Warsaw) or in the moment when 400 applications are submitted in a given group of countries.
2.7. Should I prepare the application in the Polish language?
No, not necessarily. You can submit the application in English or Polish.
2.8. Should I add a recommendation letter to my scholarship application?
Recommendation letter isn’t a required document for your application. Moreover, only recommendation letters issued by Polish diplomatic missions will be considered. If you don’t have one, please don’t add any other recommendation letters.
3. Scholarship value, results announcement
3.1. What is the amount of the monthly stipend provided by the scholarship Programme?
The scholarship is paid during the regular period of education for a maximum of 12 months per academic year, starting from the first month of classes at the HEI. The scholarship amounts to PLN 1,800 per month.
3.2. Are there any other costs among monthly scholarship covered by the Programme?
Yes, first and foremost every NAWA scholarship holder is entitled to a tuition fee waiver at public universities. In addition, participation in the Programme includes a one-off mobility allowance (lump sum for the costs of international travel) in amount mentioned in section 2.8. of the call for applications. This mobility allowance will be paid together with the first monthly scholarship.
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