The financial problems of students in Poland have unfortunately increased in recent years, and scholarships can be a partial solution. The Polish scholarship system is evolving and contributes to reducing financial inequalities and improving access to quality education. Additionally, it allows the development of unique talents and provides motivation for further growth. Where the formal education system fails, scholarships can step in. This is particularly important in light of the growing financial problems faced by students. Many people reach out to us for help in finding scholarships, and we also see great interest in programs for students. Studies and the Polish education system do not always function appropriately – it is difficult for students to support themselves, and they seek additional opportunities for development (e.g., mentoring, training, or joint trips).

Financial Problems of Students

Student living costs have been rising continuously for the past eight years, though the rate of these increases varies. The biggest burden for students remains the cost of renting an apartment. Despite rising expenses, students look at their financial situation with optimism and strive to build savings. These are the conclusions of the latest report “Student’s Wallet,” prepared by the Warsaw Institute of Banking in cooperation with the Polish Bank Association, published before the start of the new academic year 2023/2024. According to Wyborcza, every fifth student has considered dropping out or taking a dean’s leave due to financial reasons.

Recent research by Dr. hab. Łukasz Niesiołowski-Stano, the dean of the Faculty of History, shows that as many as 70% of respondents took up a job in the last 6 months, most on a mandate contract, and about 15% are employed off the books. For 34.6%, the reason for taking up a job was the necessity to earn money for their own living expenses.

Combining work with studies can be a significant psychological burden. Some students have a choice between independence and parental support. However, a large percentage of young people cannot rely on such help and therefore choose to work. We are aware that scholarships will not solve this systemic problem. High housing costs, dormitory issues, availability problems, and inflation are all the responsibility of the central government. Many people, however, are not aware of how helpful scholarships can be.

 How Scholarships Can Help

We believe that scholarships can be a golden solution. A good scholarship during studies is a way to maintain full independence (no need for parental support) and simultaneously develop one’s strengths, talents, and passions (without having to work in a field far from one’s interests). We have proof of this. We recall amazing stories from our ambassadors, or Nataniel Brożnowicz from the Maturalni team.

How to Search for scholarships?

We recommend our simple, intuitive scholarship search engine for students!

Our portal was created in 2009 for a simple reason – many young people were unaware that there are many scholarship programs outside the state budget. These include offers from companies, foundations, and local governments. Our site is a treasure trove of such offers. There are many cyclical, large programs that support numerous young people each year. We are thinking here of scholarships like FIRST YEAR or Master Start SWPS. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also local scholarships at the voivodeship, county, or municipal level. These can also be extremely helpful and partially solve students’ financial problems.

Let’s not forget about rector’s scholarships and those from the state budget. We recommend our comprehensive, detailed article on this topic.

We Need More Scholarships!

The financial problems of students mean that sometimes scholarships can’t keep up. The wide and wonderful Bridge Scholarships Program last year couldn’t provide support to 33% of applicants! That’s why we organize meetings under the Scholarships of the Future series (check out our latest publication!), help promote interesting scholarship programs, and publish articles for organizers.

Didn’t get the scholarship you dreamed of? Remember, there are many ways to get support. If not a scholarship, then maybe competitions for diploma work or artistic contests? Let’s not forget about international scholarships either!

But our actions do not end with theorizing. This year we are co-creating two scholarship programs, one of which may particularly interest students. The Grupa Pracuj Fund scholarship recipients (a program for this year’s high school graduates going to study new technologies) will receive substantive and financial support. The fund offers scholarships worth 8,500 PLN gross, paid in the first year of the scholarship recipient’s studies over 10 months (from September to June).

If you are interested in a career as a legal advisor, the Anna Manz Fund is a very interesting proposition. Support under the Anna Manz Scholarship Fund is available to those who, firstly, passed the entrance exam for the legal advisor application at the OIRP Warsaw in the current or previous calendar year, and secondly, are starting their first year of legal advisor application.

Thank You for Your Support

Thank you to all the anonymous donors who supported the smart journalism conducted by Moje Stypendium! Thanks to you, our team can reliably describe and search for scholarships outside the state budget – from foundations, schools, companies, and local governments – and place them on a single, transparent platform used by young people. Donate to us on Patronite so we can continue to support you with advice and reliable articles! Thank you!

Applying for studies in Poland always involves quite a bit of paperwork. Translating documents, finding the right health insurance, getting a visa… it can be a handful! If you are thinking of studying in Poland but you are not sure what kind of formalities you’ll need to deal with read the following articles:

• Studying in Poland
• Higher Education in Poland