How to Get a Rector’s Scholarship for Students? What is the amount of the Rector’s Scholarship? Who can receive it? What are the requirements? You’ll find the answers to these questions in the article below – feel free to check it out!

What is Rector’s Scholarship in Poland?

The Rector’s Scholarship in Poland is a financial award given to outstanding students who demonstrate excellent academic performance or notable achievements in science, art, or sports. It is available to students at both public and private universities for various levels of study, including undergraduate and graduate programs. The scholarship amount varies by institution and is awarded based on a ranking system, typically limited to the top 10% of students in a particular field. Additionally, new students with high scores from entrance exams or achievements in national competitions may automatically qualify for this scholarship.

Rector’s Scholarship – Where to Start?

First, to learn more about the latest student benefits in higher education, take a look at the government guides.

Benefits for Academic Students in the 2024/25 Academic Year

Good news! In the upcoming academic year, the budget for student benefits will increase by 178 million PLN. This funding will cover social scholarships, Rector’s Scholarships, scholarships for students with disabilities, and emergency financial aid. Plus, part of the money will be used to build new dormitories and cafeterias, improving student living conditions.

The Rector’s Scholarship is for students who have excellent academic results, or who stand out with artistic, scientific, or athletic achievements. New students who scored highly on entrance exams can also qualify. This scholarship is available to students at both public and private universities, for undergraduate, graduate, and integrated master’s programs. However, it’s important to note that professional soldiers and public service officers are not eligible.

Students can receive benefits for up to 12 semesters. Additionally, you can get one type of scholarship, like a social scholarship, for one field of study, and a different one, like the Rector’s Scholarship, for another field—even at a different university.

Who Can Get a Rector’s Scholarship?

The Rector’s Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for those who excel at their university! If you have top academic results or outstanding achievements in science, art, or sports (at the national level or higher), you can certainly apply. Moreover, at some universities, such as the University of Gdańsk, there is no set minimum GPA required for the Rector’s Scholarship. Instead, each year, the university creates a ranking of students with the highest GPAs, provided they have submitted a proper application and do not have any disqualifying issues, like academic debts.

Furthermore, if you’re a new student fresh out of high school, you might automatically qualify for the Rector’s Scholarship if you meet specific criteria. For instance:

• You are a laureate of an international or national-level olympiad in Poland, or
• You have won a medal in the Polish Championships in sports.

Given these opportunities, it’s definitely worth applying! You can find the detailed rules in your university’s regulations. Additionally, first-year students who don’t meet special criteria can still apply based on the general rules. These rules typically include academic performance or other achievements, as outlined by each university.

**IMPORTANT!** Keep in mind that only up to 10% of students in a particular field can receive the Rector’s Scholarship. Therefore, if there are fewer than 10 students in a field, only one student may be awarded the scholarship. However, it’s important to note that Olympiad winners and Polish Championship medalists are not counted in this limit, which means they don’t take up spots in the main scholarship pool.

How Much is the Rector’s Scholarship?

As mentioned in one of our articles, each university sets the exact amount of the Rector’s Scholarship each year. The law only defines the upper limit of the award.

We checked the announcements from several leading universities in Poland to see how much the monthly Rector’s Scholarship amounted to last year. Below are the results of our analysis! These figures reflect the 2023/24 academic year, but keep in mind that the amounts should slightly increase this year.

In general, the monthly payments ranged from 600 to 1300 PLN, depending on the university and the scholarship category. The amounts varied, but most often, the Rector’s Scholarship was around 1000 PLN for top students. In some cases, students received just over 1000 PLN in the 2021/2022 academic year.

Rector’s Scholarship Amounts at Major Polish Universities

Here are a few examples of monthly Rector’s Scholarship amounts at top Polish universities:

• University of Łódź: 950 to 1250 PLN
• Jagiellonian University in Kraków: 1000 to 1200 PLN. Additionally, first-year students can apply for the Rector’s Scholarship Fund for Olympians.
• Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin: 600 to 1300 PLN (2023/24)
• University of Warsaw: 1000 PLN (2023/24)
• University of Gdańsk: 1000 PLN (2024/25)

Rector’s Scholarship at Technical Universities in Poland

Here are some examples from technical universities:

• Poznań University of Technology: 900 PLN (2024/25)
• Warsaw University of Technology: 850 PLN (2023/24)
• Wrocław University of Technology: 875 to 1125 PLN (2023/24)
• Częstochowa University of Technology: 800 to 950 PLN (2023/24)
• Gdańsk University of Technology: 700 to 1300 PLN (2023/24)

Rector’s Scholarship at Medical Universities in Poland

And now, for some examples from medical universities:

• Medical University of Łódź: 800 to 1000 PLN
• Medical University of Białystok: 800 to 1500 PLN (2024/25)
• Warsaw Medical University: 500 PLN (unchanged for years)
• Maria Skłodowska Curie Medical University in Warsaw: 300 to 700 PLN (2023/24)
• Piastów Śląskich Medical University in Wrocław: 800 PLN (2023/24)

When to Apply for the Rector’s Scholarship?

You can apply for the Rector’s Scholarship at the beginning of the academic year. Most universities we analyzed set the deadlines in October, typically between October 4 and 25. Some universities, like Warsaw Medical University, have their deadline in early November. Leading universities in Poland usually pay out the first scholarships in December, with back pay for October and November. To prepare:

• Gather the necessary documents (originals or scans) before the academic year starts,
• Be ready for a slightly longer waiting time before the decision and payment are processed.

In the meantime, we encourage you to apply for other scholarships—not just those offered by your university!

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