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 is explicit on both programmes: it does not mediate university admission. 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.
Today is 22 September 2026. The 2026/27 calls closed in May. Results were due by 31 July 2026. NAWA has not published 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. Planning tool only — not a NAWA decision. The next call may change country lists and cutoffs.
1. Is your citizenship on either the Banach 36-country list or the My First Choice published list?
2. You do not hold Polish citizenship and have not applied for it?
3. First-cycle diploma in a programme country no earlier than 2024, or final-year student finishing by the call's July date?
4. You do not already hold a second-cycle / Master's diploma? (Banach exception: countries without a two-cycle system.)
5. You have never received a NAWA Director scholarship for second-cycle studies?
6. You can document B2 in the language of instruction (or Banach Polish-track B1 if you take the preparatory course)?
7. You 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.
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.
36 Polish Aid countries
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, or at country-group caps (300 / 200).
Programme page →Listed high-income countries
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. No country-group cap in that announcement.
Programme page →What this handbook covers
Eleven unique pages. Start with the country list, then university admission, then the NAWA portal — in that order.
Eligibility
Citizenship lists, degree date, no prior NAWA Master's award, language floors.
How to Apply
One NAWA application in the ICT system. University admission is a second file.
Deadlines
2026/27 dates confirmed. 2027 cycle branded forthcoming until NAWA posts it.
Documents
Passport, diploma or university certificate, language proof, Banach video, PMFC motivation letter.
Funding
Monthly amounts, travel lump sums, public-tuition waiver, private-HEI caveat.
Banach NAWA
Four country groups, paths, scoring, preparatory course, travel PLN 2,500.
Poland My First Choice
Official country/territory list, travel tiers, GPA bands, optional interview.
After Selection
Agreement deadlines, annual reports, payment via the host HEI, visa is not automatic.
FAQ
Official answers on admission, language, group caps, and what NAWA will not do.
Checklist
Combined tracker. Planning tool only — confirm every item on the next official PDF.
Official NAWA site
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 dates are not published
Blogs recycling “May 2027” without a NAWA PDF are guessing. Cite 2026/27 and wait for the next announcement.
Last official 2026/27 facts
Official: Banach, Poland My First Choice, study.gov.pl.
Start with the country list
If your passport is not on the next official announcement, the portal will not save you. Watch NAWA; use this handbook for the process the PDFs assume you already know.
Check Eligibility