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Social scholarship increased, among others, because of the place of residence

A student in an exceptionally difficult financial situation may also receive an allowance to the social scholarship in the form of an “increase” inter alia for:

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Rector’s Scholarship

Students whose academic year begins in the winter semester may submit their applications:

from 1 October to 30 October.

Students whose academic year begins in the summer semester may submit their applications:

from 1 March to 25 March.

Social Scholarship

To facilitate the processing of applications at the beginning of the academic year, students are advised to submit their applications:

• by 30 October – for programmes whose academic year begins in the winter semester;
• by 25 March – for programmes whose academic year begins in the summer semester.

These deadlines do not prevent students from applying for the Social Scholarship at a later date.

If a complete application is submitted on or before the 20th day of a given month, the scholarship may be awarded from that month. If the application is submitted after the 20th day of the month, the scholarship may be awarded from the following month, provided that all eligibility requirements are met.

Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Applications may be submitted during the academic year.

If a complete application is submitted on or before the 20th day of a given month, the scholarship may be awarded from that month. If the application is submitted after the 20th day of the month, the scholarship may be awarded from the following month, provided that all eligibility requirements are met.

Emergency Financial Aid

An application for Emergency Financial Aid must be submitted within 90 days of the event giving rise to the application.

In exceptional circumstances, the 90-day period may be extended.

WHERE CAN I SUBMIT MY DOCUMENTS?

Applications together with all required supporting documents may be submitted in person or sent by traditional post.

Students enrolled at a University Branch should submit their applications together with all required documents to the appropriate administrative unit of their University Branch.

Vistula University – 3 Stokłosy Street

Financial Aid Department
3 Stokłosy Street, Room 207
02-787 Warsaw

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

tel. +48 22 45 72 321
e-mail: r.keller@vistula.edu.pl

Additionally, in October 2026:

Saturdays: 3, 10, 17 and 24 October
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Vistula University – Kawęczyńska 36 Campus

Student Welfare and Disability Support Office
36 Kawęczyńska Street, Room F207 (2nd floor)
03-772 Warsaw

Thursdays: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

tel. +48 22 59 00 727
e-mail: r.keller@vistula.edu.pl

Additionally, in October 2026:

Sundays: 11 and 25 October
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT – PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID

The total period during which a student may be eligible for financial aid is 12 semesters, regardless of whether the student actually received financial aid during those semesters, subject to the following limits:

• first-cycle studies – no longer than 9 semesters;
• second-cycle studies – no longer than 7 semesters.

The total eligibility period is extended by 2 semesters for students enrolled in long-cycle Master’s degree programmes whose statutory duration is 11 or 12 semesters.

All semesters commenced by the student in first-cycle, second-cycle and long-cycle Master’s degree programmes are included in the eligibility period, including semesters during which the student was on an authorised leave of absence.

Semesters of subsequent first-cycle studies commenced or continued after obtaining the first Bachelor’s, Engineer’s or equivalent professional degree are not included in this period.

If a student is simultaneously enrolled in more than one degree programme, semesters completed at the same time are counted as one semester.

Financial aid is not available to a student who already holds:

• a Master’s degree, Master of Engineering degree or equivalent professional qualification;
• a Bachelor’s degree, Engineer’s degree or equivalent professional qualification, if the student enrols again in a first-cycle degree programme.

These rules also apply accordingly to students who studied or obtained professional qualifications abroad.

If a student’s disability occurred during their studies or after obtaining a professional degree, the Scholarship for Students with Disabilities may be awarded for an additional period of 12 semesters, in accordance with the Financial Aid Regulations.

SOCIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Social Scholarship may be awarded to a student who is in a difficult financial situation.

Eligibility for the Social Scholarship is determined on the basis of the monthly income per person in the student’s family, in accordance with the Polish Act – Law on Higher Education and Science, the Act on Family Benefits and the University’s Financial Aid Regulations.

The student is responsible for providing documentation confirming their financial situation.

When determining the student’s financial situation, the income of the following persons is taken into account, as applicable:

• the student;
• the student’s spouse;
• dependent children of the student or the student’s spouse;
• the student’s parents, legal or actual guardians and their dependent children – in accordance with the rules specified in the Financial Aid Regulations.

The rules concerning loss of income and newly acquired income are also taken into account.

A student who does not share a household with either parent or with their legal or actual guardians may, subject to the requirements specified in the Financial Aid Regulations, apply for the scholarship without declaring the income of those persons.

If the monthly income per person in the student’s family does not exceed the amount specified in the applicable social assistance legislation, the student must attach an appropriate certificate issued by a social assistance centre or social services centre. If the student or members of their family do not receive social assistance benefits, the student must provide documentation confirming the family’s sources of income in accordance with applicable law.

Social Scholarship at an increased rate

In particularly justified circumstances, a student may be awarded the Social Scholarship at an increased rate.

Circumstances justifying an increased scholarship may include, in particular:

• living in a student dormitory or other accommodation where daily commuting from the student’s permanent place of residence to the University would make studying impossible or significantly more difficult;
• living with a non-working spouse or the student’s child in a student dormitory or other accommodation;
• a serious health situation involving high treatment costs;
• another special, appropriately documented financial, living or unforeseen situation.

The above list of circumstances justifying an increased scholarship is not exhaustive.

Social Scholarship for international students

International students may apply for the Social Scholarship if they meet the requirements specified in Article 324(3) of the Polish Act – Law on Higher Education and Science.

This includes, among others, students who:

• hold a permanent residence permit or have EU long-term resident status;
• hold an appropriate temporary residence permit in the circumstances specified by law;
• have been granted refugee status in the Republic of Poland or have been granted temporary protection or subsidiary protection in Poland;
• hold a certificate confirming proficiency in Polish as a foreign language at a minimum C1 level;
• hold a valid Polish Card (Karta Polaka) or a decision confirming Polish origin;
• are a spouse, ascendant or descendant of a Polish citizen and reside in Poland;
• fall within another category of international students eligible under Article 324(3) of the Act.

Eligibility for the Social Scholarship is assessed individually on the basis of the student’s current legal status and the documents submitted.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Scholarship for Students with Disabilities may be awarded to a student who holds:

• a disability certificate;
• a certificate specifying the degree of disability;
• another certificate recognised as equivalent under applicable law.

The scholarship is awarded regardless of the student’s financial situation.

It is awarded for the period of validity of the disability certificate, but no longer than for the relevant academic year.

If the disability certificate expires during the academic year, payment of the scholarship is suspended from the month following the month in which the certificate expires, unless the validity of the certificate is maintained under applicable law.

The student should promptly provide a document confirming the continued validity of the certificate or submit a new certificate.

If a new certificate or applicable law confirms continuity of the validity period of the previous certificate, entitlement to the scholarship for the period of continuity is determined taking into account the new certificate and the previous decision. This does not exclude the possibility of receiving payment for the period during which all eligibility requirements were met.

If the disability occurred during the student’s studies or after obtaining a professional degree, the student may receive the Scholarship for Students with Disabilities for an additional period of 12 semesters, in accordance with the Financial Aid Regulations.

RECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP

The Rector’s Scholarship may be awarded to a student who has achieved:

• outstanding academic results; or
• scientific achievements; or
• artistic achievements; or
• sports achievements in competition at least at national level.

Academic results and achievements are assessed on the basis of the previous completed year of study comprising two semesters, including programmes whose academic year runs from March to February.

A student may apply for the scholarship on the basis of academic results after completing the first year of a first-cycle or long-cycle Master’s degree programme and being admitted to the next year of study.

A first-year student of a second-cycle programme may apply on the basis of academic results achieved during the final year of first-cycle studies, provided that the student commenced second-cycle studies within 24 months of completing first-cycle studies.

The scholarship may also be awarded to a student admitted to the first year of study in the same year in which they completed their secondary school leaving examination, if the student is:

• a laureate of an international competition or a laureate or finalist of a national-level competition;
• a medallist in sports competition for at least the title of Polish Champion in a particular sport.

Students eligible for the Rector’s Scholarship must obtain a total of at least 4.35 points for their grade average and scientific, artistic or sports achievements.

Due to the statutory limit on the number of scholarship recipients, the actual qualifying point threshold may be higher and may differ between degree programmes.

The Rector’s Scholarship may be awarded to no more than 10% of students in a particular degree programme, from among students who have submitted an application and meet all applicable requirements.

The Rector’s Scholarship cannot be awarded to a student who, among other circumstances:

• is repeating a year or semester;
• did not pass all courses at the first scheduled attempt;
• is repeating one or more courses under conditional enrolment for the current year;
• resumed studies after being removed from the student register due to failure to complete a semester or academic year;
• returned from an authorised or medical leave of absence and has not completed the subsequent year of study.

The student is responsible for providing appropriate documentation confirming their achievements.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID

Emergency Financial Aid is a form of one-time financial assistance for a student who has temporarily found themselves in a difficult life situation.

Circumstances that may justify Emergency Financial Aid include, in particular:

• death of a close person;
• an accident;
• serious illness of the student, a member of the student’s family or another close person;
• a natural disaster;
• birth of a child;
• another unforeseen event resulting in a temporary difficult life situation.

The above list is not exhaustive.

The student must attach documents confirming the circumstances giving rise to the application, such as medical documentation, certificates, court or police documents, invoices or receipts confirming expenses incurred as a result of the event, or other documents appropriate to the particular circumstances.

The application must be submitted within 90 days of the event. In exceptional circumstances, this period may be extended.

A student may receive Emergency Financial Aid no more than twice in an academic year.

As a general rule, Emergency Financial Aid cannot be awarded repeatedly for the same reason, unless otherwise decided in exceptional circumstances.

The maximum amount of Emergency Financial Aid in the 2026/2027 academic year is PLN 10,000.

From 1 to 20 October 2026, rectors of higher education institutions may submit applications for scholarships for students demonstrating outstanding scientific or artistic achievements related to their studies, or outstanding sporting achievements.

The award of Minister’s Scholarships to students is governed by:

• Articles 93, 359, 361 and 363 of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1571, as amended); and
• the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 1 April 2019 on scholarships of the minister responsible for higher education and science for students and outstanding young scientists (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 428).

A Minister’s Scholarship may be awarded to a student who demonstrates:

• outstanding scientific or artistic achievements related to their studies; or
• outstanding sporting achievements.

The Minister’s Scholarship is available to students enrolled in first-cycle, second-cycle and long-cycle master’s degree programmes.

A student simultaneously enrolled in several degree programmes may receive the scholarship for only one programme, as designated by the student.

A Minister’s Scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year may be awarded to a student who meets both of the following conditions:

• completed the year of study in the preceding academic year (i.e. 2025/2026); and
• was admitted to the next year of study in the academic year concerned (i.e. 2026/2027).

The above requirements do not apply to a student admitted to a second-cycle degree programme in the year in which the scholarship application is submitted (i.e. 2026). This exception applies exclusively to second-cycle students. A person admitted in 2026 to a long-cycle master’s degree programme or a first-cycle degree programme may not apply for the scholarship in the first year of that programme.

Failure to meet the above conditions will result in refusal to award the scholarship.

A Minister’s Scholarship is not available to a student who already holds:

• a master’s degree, a master of engineering degree or an equivalent qualification;
• a bachelor’s degree, an engineering degree or an equivalent qualification, but only if the student undertakes another first-cycle degree programme.

The scholarship is also unavailable to a student whose total period of study exceeds 12 semesters, subject to the following limits:

• first-cycle studies – more than 9 semesters;
• second-cycle studies – more than 7 semesters.

Every semester commenced counts towards the total period, even if the student was on an authorised leave of absence during that semester. An exception applies to semesters of subsequent first-cycle programmes commenced or continued after obtaining the first bachelor’s, engineering or equivalent qualification: such semesters are not counted towards the period of eligibility for a Minister’s Scholarship.

For long-cycle master’s programmes lasting 11 or 12 semesters under the applicable law, the scholarship eligibility period is extended by two semesters and therefore totals 14 semesters.

The above conditions are checked against data in the POL-on system during the formal assessment of applications.

Scientific and artistic achievements included in an application must be related to the degree programme (or programmes, in the case of individual interdisciplinary or interfaculty studies) for which the student applies for the scholarship. Achievements related to studies in another programme (e.g. a parallel programme at another institution) must not be included.

Scientific or artistic achievements unrelated to the student’s studies, for example those connected with professional employment, hobbies or other private interests, must not be included either.

The following are regarded as outstanding scientific achievements:

• Authorship or co-authorship of a scholarly monograph or a chapter in a scholarly monograph published by a publisher included, in the year when the final version of the monograph was published, in the list of publishers compiled pursuant to regulations issued under Article 267(2)(2) of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science. The current list of publishers, dated 22 July 2021, is available on the Ministry’s website. Publications issued by publishers outside that list do not constitute outstanding achievements and must not be included in the application.
• Authorship or co-authorship of a scientific article published in a scientific journal or in peer-reviewed proceedings of an international conference included, in the year when the final version of the article was published, in the list of such journals and proceedings compiled pursuant to regulations issued under Article 267(2)(2) of the Act. The current list of scientific journals and peer-reviewed international conference proceedings, dated 5 January 2024, is available on the Ministry’s website. Publications in journals or conference proceedings outside that list do not constitute outstanding achievements and must not be included in the application.
• Significant participation in a highly innovative research project conducted by the institution at which the student is or was enrolled, including participation in a research project funded through a national or international competition.
• Independent presentation of a scientific paper concerning highly innovative research of which the student is an author or co-author, at a prestigious national or international scientific conference organised by an entity referred to in Article 7(1) of the Act, a foreign higher education institution or a foreign research institution.
• Receipt of an individual award, or a significant contribution to an achievement recognised with a team award, in a prestigious international competition involving students from higher education institutions in at least five countries, excluding competitions organised as part of international scientific conferences.

The following are regarded as outstanding artistic achievements:

• Authorship or performance of a musical composition or other musical work presented at a prestigious review, festival or concert of at least national scope.
• Authorship of, or a significant creative contribution to, musical works recorded on an album released by a prestigious record producer.
• Significant contribution to an audiovisual work, including a film, presented at a prestigious review or festival of at least national scope, or distributed in cinemas or on television, including directing, editing, set design, cinematography or performing a leading or supporting role.
• Significant contribution to a theatrical, operatic, operetta, ballet or musical production presented at a prestigious review or festival of at least national scope, or performed on stage or broadcast on television, including directing, set design or performing a leading or supporting role.
• Authorship of a choreographic work presented at a prestigious review or festival of at least national scope, or performed on stage or broadcast on television.
• Authorship of a visual artwork or architectural work presented at a group exhibition organised by a prestigious cultural institution or in a public space.
• An individual exhibition of the student’s own visual artworks organised by a prestigious cultural institution.
• Receipt of an individual award, or a significant contribution to an achievement recognised with a team award, in a prestigious international competition, review or festival in music, theatre, film, visual arts or architecture.

Important: For artistic achievements, “authorship” means a 100% creative contribution to the work. Co-authorship (a significant creative contribution or significant participation) is recognised as an outstanding achievement only in categories 2, 3, 4 and 8.

The following sporting results are regarded as outstanding achievements:

• In Olympic, Paralympic or Deaflympic sports, in individual or team competition in disciplines governed by Polish sports associations referred to in the Act of 25 June 2010 on Sport (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1488), achieving at least:
• 16th place at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Deaflympics;
• 8th place at the World Championships;
• 6th place at the European Championships;
• 3rd place at the World or European Youth Championships;
• 1st place at the Polish Championships in the senior category;
• a placing referred to in points (b)–(e) at competitions organised for persons with disabilities.
• In individual or team competition in sports governed by Polish sports associations referred to in the Act of 25 June 2010 on Sport, achieving at least 3rd place at:
• the Universiade;
• the World University Championships;
• the European University Championships;
• the European Universities Games.

Achievements must be documented in writing. Declarations, certificates or competition regulations concerning the achievements listed above must be attached to the application. Declarations may be completed by hand or using a word processor. A list of required attachments and sample declarations are available for download at the bottom of the source webpage.

Declarations attached to an application must be signed by hand or electronically.

If a handwritten signature is used:

• complete the required fields in the declaration (using a word processor or by hand);
• sign the printed declaration by hand;
• scan or photograph the signed declaration;
• save the scanned declaration as a PDF file.

If an electronic signature is used (without printing):

• complete the required fields in the declaration using a word processor;
• save the declaration as a PDF file;
• electronically sign the PDF file via the relevant website, using one of the following methods:
• Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany);
• mObywatel application;
• Polish electronic ID card (e-dowód);
• qualified electronic certificate.

Important: The following methods are NOT acceptable for electronically signing declarations:

• inserting or pasting a digital image of your handwritten signature (e.g. a photograph, scan or image of the signature alone) into the PDF;
• drawing a handwritten signature with a stylus on a computer monitor or tablet screen in the PDF;
• signing the PDF using the “Fill & Sign” / “Add initials or signature” feature in Acrobat Reader.

The above methods do not constitute a valid electronic signature of the document (declaration).

Applications accompanied by declarations signed incorrectly will be returned for correction pursuant to Article 64 § 2 of the Code of Administrative Procedure: the rector will be requested to remedy the deficiencies within a specified period of not less than 14 days, with notice that failure to do so will result in the application being left unexamined.

Only the rector of a higher education institution may apply for a Minister’s Scholarship.

Each institution must independently establish the procedure by which students present their candidacies to the rector (the regulation does not prescribe this procedure).

The rector may decline to forward an application to the Minister if it does not meet the formal requirements (see sections 2.1 and 2.2) or does not include outstanding achievements as defined in the regulation.

Only achievements obtained by 30 September 2026 may be included. They must have been obtained during the period of study, namely:

• for a first-cycle or long-cycle master’s student – from the date on which that programme began;
• for a second-cycle student – from the date on which the preceding first-cycle programme began.

For students who have previously received a Minister’s Scholarship, only achievements obtained from 1 October of the academic year in which their most recent Minister’s Scholarship was awarded may be included.

Achievements obtained during authorised leaves of absence or other breaks granted under the study regulations must not be included.

Applications are submitted through the Integrated System of Services for Science – Financing Streams Management (OSF system).

The scholarship application module will become available in the OSF system on 1 October 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

An application may be submitted only by the rector or a person authorised by the rector, and only through the OSF system. The rector’s authorisation must expressly state that the person is authorised to submit applications for Minister’s Scholarships for students’ outstanding achievements.

Applications sent by any means other than the OSF system (e.g. by post in paper form or through ePUAP or e-Delivery) will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted by 20 October 2026. After that date, the OSF system will automatically close the call for applications. This is a substantive-law deadline and therefore cannot be reinstated under Article 58 of the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Only scientific, artistic or sporting achievements meeting the formal requirements set out in the applicable regulations (the regulation referred to in section 1) should be included.

In view of irregularities identified in applications submitted in previous competitions, the following should not be included, among other things:

• scholarly monographs or issues of scientific journals published in print or online after 30 September of the year in which the application is submitted (publications released after that date are not considered);
• summaries or abstracts of presentations (only full scientific articles are assessed);
• scientific conference proceedings under the category for scholarly monographs (peer-reviewed international conference proceedings are assessed under the scientific-journal category);
• student participation in non-research projects or programmes providing financial support for participation in conferences or competitions;
• student participation in projects that are neither conducted nor co-conducted by the student’s home institution;
• a presentation delivered jointly with others (the student must be the sole presenter of the paper, although the paper may have several co-authors);
• awards in national competitions (the competition rules must demonstrate that the competition is intended for students from higher education institutions in other countries);
• artistic works not presented at the specified types of artistic events, i.e. concerts (musical works); festivals and reviews (musical or film works, performances, choreography); stage or television distribution (film works, performances, choreography); or exhibitions/public spaces (visual or architectural works);
• medals or sporting results in non-Olympic sports (e.g. cheerleading or certain forms of karate) obtained at non-university competitions (world, European or Polish championships);
• medals or results achieved at world or European championships in lower divisions or leagues, etc. (only results at the highest competitive level, e.g. first league, first division or elite category, are scored).

The applicant (the rector) should verify whether the achievements included in the application meet the formal requirements.

First, all scholarship applications undergo a formal assessment. At this stage, the Ministry checks the student’s study history against the POL-on system. The completeness of the documentation, the correctness of the evidence of achievements (see section 2.4) and the validity of signatures on declarations (see section 2.5) are also verified.

Following the formal assessment, some applications may be returned to the rector for correction of formal deficiencies or submission of relevant explanations. This takes place through the OSF system and e-Delivery.

Only applications meeting the formal requirements undergo substantive assessment.

The guidelines for assessing achievements in this competition are published below in the “Materials” section of the source webpage.

Applications for scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year will be considered by 31 March 2027.

To receive the scholarship, the applicant must have student status on the date the Minister issues the decision. Articles 359 and 93 of the Law on Higher Education and Science imply that a person who is no longer a student cannot receive the scholarship. It is therefore appropriate for the institution to monitor whether each student nominated for the scholarship retains student status until the decision is issued (i.e. whether the student has completed their studies and obtained a master’s degree or has been removed from the student register for another reason), and to inform the Ministry if that status is lost.

After the Minister has considered the applications, administrative decisions awarding or refusing the scholarship will be sent to the institutions and students.

The Minister may award a maximum of 840 scholarships.

The scholarship is awarded for the academic year. The maximum scholarship amount is PLN 17,000. The amount will be specified in the scholarship award decision.

The institution pays the scholarship to the student from funds transferred for this purpose by the Minister.

The scholarship is paid as a single lump sum within 14 days of the funds being credited to the institution’s bank account, into a bank account or an account at a cooperative savings and credit union indicated by the student, or in cash.

https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/informacja-na-temat-stypendiow-ministra-nauki-i-szkolnictwa-wyzszego-za-znaczace-osiagniecia-dla-studentow-na-rok-akademicki-20262027-konkurs-sst07