Poland NAWA Scholarships 2027: Banach and My First Choice Guide
Two Master's awards from NAWA: Banach for 36 Polish Aid countries, and Poland My First Choice for listed high socio-economic countries. The last published window was 2026/27; the 2027/28 calls are not out yet.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
5 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
As of 6 October 2026, the 2026/27 calls are closed and NAWA has published the results of both (Banach 16/2026 and My First Choice 19/2026). NAWA has not yet announced the 2027/28 calls. Recent Banach calls were announced on 6 June 2025 and 13 April 2026, and My First Choice on 30 April 2026, so expect the next announcements around spring 2027 — but treat that as an estimate and confirm on nawa.gov.pl.
Two Master's scholarships, one agency, two country lists
The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) runs student scholarships for full-time second-cycle (Master's) studies at higher education institutions supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. The two foreign-student programmes covered here are Banach NAWA and Poland My First Choice.
Banach is Polish development aid: a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NAWA for citizens of 36 Polish Aid countries. Poland My First Choice is aimed at citizens (and listed residents) of high socio-economic countries and territories published on the programme page. You cannot pick the other door because the monthly amount looks better.
NAWA does not mediate university admission. You apply for the scholarship and for your university place separately.
NAWA is explicit on both programmes. You apply to NAWA in programs.nawa.gov.pl and, separately, to a university that has a framework agreement with NAWA. Course search sits on study.gov.pl and Studyfinder.
The 2026/27 calls closed in May 2026 and the results were due by 31 July 2026. Until NAWA publishes a 2027/28 student-call calendar, treat the next cycle as forthcoming and use 2026/27 as the last official window.
Quick programme checker
Based on the 2026/27 published rules. This is a planning tool only, not a NAWA decision — the next call may change country lists and cutoffs.
0 of 7 answered
- 1Is your citizenship on either the Banach 36-country list or the My First Choice published list?
- 2You do not hold Polish citizenship and have not applied for it?
- 3First-cycle diploma in a programme country no earlier than 2024, or final-year student finishing by the call's July date? (2026/27 wording)
- 4Banach only: you do not already hold a second-cycle / Master's diploma (unless your country has no two-cycle system)? My First Choice applicants answer Yes.
- 5You have never received a NAWA Director scholarship for second-cycle studies?
- 6You can document B2 in the language of instruction (or Banach Polish-track B1 if you take the preparatory course)?
- 7You understand university admission is a separate process from the NAWA form?
You match the 2026/27 published gates. Confirm the next call on NAWA. Country lists can change.
These 2026/27 rules may exclude you. Read eligibility and the official announcement when it appears.
First-cycle planning checklist
Progress: 0% (0 of 5). Planning tool, not a NAWA decision. Full tracker: checklist.
Pick the door that matches your passport
Both awards fund statutory full-time second-cycle studies and waive tuition at public universities. Private HEIs set their own fees. Banach also funds a one-year Polish preparatory course, or a Polish language and culture course on the English path.
PLN 2,500 a month, PLN 2,500 travel lump sum, tuition exemption at public HEIs, Polish or English tracks. Call no. 16/2026 closed 8 May 2026, 15:00 Warsaw time, or earlier at country-group caps (300 / 200).
PLN 2,000 a month, country-tiered travel lump sum, tuition exemption at public HEIs. Call no. 19/2026 closed 29 May 2026, 15:00 Warsaw time. No country-group cap in that announcement.
What this handbook covers
Eleven pages in all. Start with the country list, then university admission, then the NAWA portal — in that order.
Citizenship lists, degree date, no prior NAWA Master's award, language floors.
One NAWA application in the ICT system. University admission is a second file.
2026/27 dates confirmed. The 2027/28 cycle stays "forthcoming" until NAWA posts it.
Passport, diploma or university certificate, language proof, Banach video, PMFC motivation letter.
Monthly amounts, travel lump sums, public-tuition waiver, private-HEI caveat.
Four country groups, paths, scoring, preparatory course, travel PLN 2,500.
Official country/territory list, travel tiers, GPA bands, optional interview.
Agreement deadlines, annual reports, payment via the host HEI, visa is not automatic.
Official answers on admission, language, group caps, and what NAWA will not do.
Combined tracker. Planning tool only — confirm every item on the next official PDF.
If this handbook and nawa.gov.pl disagree, NAWA wins.
Three things listing sites get wrong
NAWA is not admissions
Both 2026 announcements say NAWA does not mediate admission. A NAWA award without a university place is an incomplete plan.
Country lists are not interchangeable
India is Banach, not My First Choice. The United States is My First Choice, not Banach. Do not invent extra countries.
2027/28 dates are not published
Blogs recycling a "May 2027" deadline without a NAWA PDF are guessing. Cite 2026/27 and wait for the next announcement.
Last official 2026/27 facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agency | NAWA (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange) |
| Portal | programs.nawa.gov.pl |
| Banach close | 8 May 2026, 15:00 Warsaw time (or earlier at group caps) |
| My First Choice close | 29 May 2026, 15:00 Warsaw time |
| Results (both) | Due by 31 July 2026; results lists now published by NAWA |
| Studies start | Winter semester 2026/27 (from October 2026) |
| Banach email | banach@nawa.gov.pl |
| My First Choice email | pmfc@nawa.gov.pl |
Official: Banach, Poland My First Choice, study.gov.pl.
Start with the country list
Check eligibility →If your passport is not on the next official announcement, the portal will not save you. Watch NAWA, and use this handbook for the process the PDFs assume you already know.