Scholarships With No Application Fee in Poland 2026/2027

International students looking for scholarships with no application fee in Poland can find several government-funded opportunities administered through the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

For programmes such as Banach NAWA and Poland My First Choice NAWA, scholarship applications are submitted electronically through the official NAWA system, and the current 2026 calls do not state a separate fee for submitting the scholarship application. However, this does not necessarily mean that university admission itself is free. A Polish university may charge its own application or recruitment fee separately.

Understanding this difference can help students avoid unexpected costs.

Are There Scholarships With No Application Fee in Poland?

Yes. Several Polish government scholarship programmes allow eligible international students to submit scholarship applications directly through official systems without a separately stated scholarship application charge.

Important options include:

• Banach NAWA Scholarship.
• Poland My First Choice NAWA.
• Zawacka NAWA.
• General Anders Scholarship for eligible applicants of Polish origin.
• Selected NAWA mobility and academic exchange programmes.

Students should always use the official NAWA website rather than paying third-party agencies merely to access an application.

Scholarships With No Application Fee in Poland

1. Banach NAWA Scholarship

The Banach NAWA Scholarship is one of the strongest options for international Master’s students seeking substantial funding in Poland.

For 2026/2027, applications were submitted electronically through the official NAWA system. The call describes the online application procedure and required documents without listing a separate NAWA scholarship application fee.

What Does Banach NAWA Cover?

The 2026 scholarship provides:

• PLN 2,500 per month.
• Tuition fee exemption at eligible Polish public universities.
• PLN 2,500 travel allowance.
• Funded preparatory Polish-language course for the Polish study route.
• Polish language and culture course for students studying in English.

The scholarship is intended for full-time second-cycle Master’s study.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants for 2026 had to:

• Hold citizenship of one of the eligible programme countries.
• Not have Polish citizenship.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree obtained no earlier than 2024, or graduate by July 15, 2026.
• Not already hold a Master’s degree.
• Meet the applicable English or Polish language requirements.

The 2026 application deadline was May 8, 2026, so applicants now need to wait for the next official call.

Does Banach NAWA Mean University Admission Is Free?

Not necessarily.

The Banach scholarship application and the university admission process are related but separate.

Applicants may need to contact or apply to a Polish university as part of preparing their scholarship application. Individual universities may impose their own recruitment fees.

Therefore:

• NAWA scholarship application: no separate scholarship fee stated in the 2026 call.
• University admission: a university application fee may still apply.
• Tuition after receiving the scholarship: eligible public-university tuition is exempted under Banach NAWA.

This distinction is important when searching for Poland scholarships without application fees.

2. Poland My First Choice NAWA

Poland My First Choice NAWA is another government-funded Master’s scholarship.

For 2026/2027, applications were submitted electronically through NAWA by May 29, 2026. The official call lists the application procedure without stating a separate NAWA scholarship application charge.

Scholarship Benefits

Recipients receive:

• PLN 2,000 per month.
• Tuition fee exemption at public universities.
• A one-time travel allowance for moving to Poland.

Applicants must demonstrate at least B2 proficiency in the language of instruction.

Important University Application Fee Rule

Unlike NAWA itself, the university may still charge admission costs.

NAWA explicitly states that it does not participate in the university admission process. Candidates must independently apply to their selected university and satisfy its admission requirements.

Official Polish study guidance also notes that university admission can involve an application fee for the programme selected.

Therefore, Poland My First Choice should be described as a scholarship without a separately stated NAWA scholarship fee, not necessarily as a completely fee-free university application.

3. Zawacka NAWA Scholarship

The Zawacka NAWA Programme supports international academic exchange based on bilateral cooperation between Poland and partner countries.

For 2026/2027, the incoming call covers different forms of study or academic mobility depending on the applicant’s country. Applications and required documents are handled according to the official NAWA call and relevant national nomination procedures.

Opportunities may include:

• Part of Bachelor’s studies.
• Master’s-level mobility.
• Doctoral mobility.
• Research stays.
• Academic placements.

The 2026 call documentation describes the application process and required attachments without listing a separate NAWA scholarship application charge.

However, application routes vary by country, so students must check the annex applicable to their nationality.

4. General Anders Scholarship

The General Anders Scholarship Programme is designed for young people of documented Polish origin or applicants meeting the programme’s Polish-diaspora requirements.

In 2026, NAWA offered separate application rounds for:

• Bachelor’s and long-cycle Master’s studies.
• Second-cycle Master’s studies.

Students at eligible public universities can receive tuition-free education under the scholarship programme.

This is not a general scholarship for all international students, but it can be extremely valuable for eligible applicants.

No Application Fee Does Not Mean Zero Costs

Students should budget for expenses that may exist even when the scholarship application itself is free.

Possible costs include:

1. University recruitment or application fees.
2. Certified translations.
3. Diploma recognition.
4. Apostille or legalization.
5. English or Polish language examinations.
6. Visa and residence permit fees.
7. Health insurance.
8. Travel to Poland.
9. Accommodation deposit.

A tuition-free scholarship can therefore still require some upfront spending.

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

Use official Polish Government and university portals whenever possible.

Be cautious if an agent promises:

• Guaranteed NAWA scholarship approval.
• Guaranteed Polish student visa.
• Guaranteed university admission.
• “Priority” scholarship consideration for a payment.
• A secret scholarship application link.

Competitive government scholarships cannot be guaranteed by a private consultant.

Which No-Fee Scholarship Is Best?

For eligible Master’s students, Banach NAWA is one of the strongest options because it combines tuition exemption with a PLN 2,500 monthly stipend and travel support.

Poland My First Choice is another strong Master’s option for applicants from its eligible countries.

For academic exchange rather than an entire degree, Zawacka NAWA may be more appropriate.

Final Thoughts

There are genuine scholarships with no application fee in Poland, particularly through government programmes administered by NAWA.

Banach NAWA and Poland My First Choice use official electronic applications and their 2026 scholarship calls do not list a separate NAWA scholarship submission fee. However, students should not confuse this with the admission process of the selected university, which may have its own application charge.

The safest strategy is to check two costs separately before applying: the scholarship application fee and the university recruitment fee.

Students preparing for the next intake should follow official NAWA announcements because the major 2026/2027 Banach and Poland My First Choice application periods have already closed.

Official Sources

• NAWA – Banach Scholarship Programme
• NAWA – Banach 2026 Application Information
• NAWA – Poland My First Choice
• NAWA – Zawacka Incoming Scholarships
• NAWA – Scholarships for Foreign Students