scholarships for school students in Poland

21.07.2025

Scholarships for school students in Poland

How many scholarships are available for students? More than half of all scholarship programs in Poland are aimed at students – from primary schools, high schools, and technical schools. Since we’re talking about thousands of students and hundreds of programs, it’s worth taking a closer look. The latest Scholarship Map IV gives us the tools and data to do just that.

Students are the largest group targeted by academic scholarships
(98 programs), as well as hybrid scholarships (82 out of 111 academic-artistic-sports programs are intended for students).

From this article, you’ll learn:

  • What types of scholarships exist for students and where to find them

  • Who in Poland most often awards scholarships to students and young artists

  • What criteria are used to award support

  • How much money you can receive and what it can be used for

  • Whether scholarships can be combined with other forms of assistance

  • What to pay attention to when applying

A Record Number of Programs

In the research for Scholarship Map IV, 170 programs were analyzed – several dozen more than in the previous edition! As a result, in just one school year, over 19,000 students received scholarships. That number says a lot: the scale of both local and national initiatives is growing, and access to meaningful educational support is increasing.

Who Awards Scholarships?

The vast majority of student scholarships are local government initiatives – municipalities, cities, and regions support their students in education, arts, and sports. But that’s not all. NGOs are also active, often offering very specific programs. Good examples include the Foundation Work of the New Millennium and the “Horizons” program of the EFC Foundation.

What Can You Get a Scholarship For?

Most often – for academic achievements and extracurricular involvement. But the definition of “achievement” is quite broad. Here are some ways students can earn points:

  • High grade point average (sometimes the threshold is even 5.0)

  • Winning school competitions or sports tournaments

  • Participation in interest clubs or the student council

  • Volunteer work and organizing school events

Some programs combine different criteria – rewarding not just academic performance but also the student’s financial situation. These so-called hybrid scholarships are becoming more common.

Key requirements for student scholarships may include:

  • Formal conditions of the given program (e.g. age, place of residence, official student status)

  • Social criteria (usually based on monthly family income per person)

How Much Can You Get?

Amounts vary, but students typically receive around 300–500 PLN per month for 10 months. Sometimes it’s a one-time payment, other times it’s monthly – it depends on the program. Importantly, a scholarship is not just financial support. It’s also motivation, recognition, and often the first “contract” signed with an institution.

Where and When to Look?

The scholarship season usually begins in March, but most offers appear in September. It’s worth checking:

Each program should have a set of rules outlining the criteria, deadlines, and scholarship amounts. Don’t guess – just read carefully.

Study in Poland!

We have also a number of articles that offer guidance on issues you might encounter – such as deciding on where to study, getting involved in local organizations and learning Polish. We hope they will be useful to you!