The Banach NAWA Scholarship 2026: Step-by-Step for Master's Applicants

What the Banach Scholarship Actually Covers

The Banach Programme, administered by NAWA, offers fully-funded Master's-level studies in Poland to citizens of selected developing and Eastern Partnership countries. Recipients receive:

• Full tuition fee waiver at Polish public universities
• Monthly stipend covering living expenses
• A preparatory Polish language year (optional, for candidates without B2 Polish)
• Relocation support

For students from Nigeria, India, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kenya, and other partner nations, it is the most accessible route to a fully-funded European Master's.

Eligible Fields

The 2026 edition is restricted to:

• Engineering and technical sciences
• Agricultural sciences
• Exact sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science)

Humanities and social sciences are explicitly excluded. If your background is law or economics, this is not the right scholarship.

The Hard Deadline

Applications must be submitted by May 8, 2026 at 15:00 CET. NAWA does not accept late submissions. The portal closes automatically.

Strategic applicants begin their dossier in February to allow time for translations, supervisor letters, and corrections.

Step One: Confirm Eligibility

You qualify if you:

1. Hold citizenship of a Banach-eligible country (the list updates annually — check NAWA's official portal)
2. Hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
3. Have not previously studied in Poland on a NAWA scholarship
4. Demonstrate proficiency at B2 in the language of instruction (or B1 if applying with the preparatory year)

Step Two: Apply to NAWA

Register on the NAWA application portal and upload:

• Bachelor's diploma and transcript (with sworn Polish or English translation)
• Language certificate (IELTS 5.5+, TOEFL iBT 72+, or equivalent)
• CV in Europass format
• Motivation letter (max 3,000 characters) explaining your research interests
• Two academic recommendation letters
• Provisional study plan listing up to three target universities and programs

Common rejection causes: missing translations, low-resolution scans, motivation letters that copy generic templates.

Step Three: Apply to the Universities

Banach is a two-step process. NAWA selects candidates; universities admit them.

Once you submit to NAWA, also submit independent applications to each of your three target universities through their own admissions portals (typically IRK). The university must offer you a place; NAWA then funds it.

If a university rejects you but NAWA shortlists you, the scholarship moves to the next-listed university. If all three reject you, the scholarship lapses.

Step Four: Award and Mobilization

NAWA announces results in late June or early July. Successful candidates sign a scholarship agreement, receive their first stipend installment, and apply for a student visa. The scholarship begins with the academic year in October.

Final Recommendations

• Choose your three universities strategically — mix one ambitious (e.g. Warsaw University of Technology, AGH Kraków) with two reliable alternatives
• Tailor the motivation letter to each chosen university's research focus
• Begin language certification by February at the latest

The Banach Programme rewards meticulous applicants. Treat the application as a professional dossier, not a form.