Scholarships for Poland
See Another Part of the World
Poland presents many opportunities for students including language and culture studies and those focused on the socio-political environment historically and from a contemporary standpoint. Once a heavily Communist country, this large country is now free from much of the ties that bound up its economy and social scene. However, since some of this has only taken place in the last few decades, there is an immediacy and time line that affords its own curriculum.
Students spending time in Poland are also accessible to other emerging European powers, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia. Germany is close by as well.
Government Scholarships
For undergraduates and underprivileged students the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships are a boon. In fact the more disadvantaged you are the better. You must be a Pell Grant recipient to qualify and be pursuing an engaging tack of study. Over 700 of these awards are given out annually for study abroad in hundreds of far-flung locations, including Poland.
The David L. Boren Scholarships are equally competitive and well known. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply for consideration. Top-notch academics and a passion for language and cultural studies may earn you up to $25,000 in travel funds for a year program. This scholarship for service program is a one-for-one deal: you get a year of scholarship funds in return for a year of service in a national security agency. Applicants with a career interest in security are given preference.
Private Funding
The Kosciuszko Foundation has been providing educational exchange between Polish and American students and scholars since 1925. In concert with the Polish Ministry of Education and Sports the Kosciuszko Foundation is able to offer the following scholarship funds applicable for those students wishing to study in Poland:
- Year Abroad Program provides a scholarship for U.S. students who want to study “Polish Studies” for a semester or year. Awards cover all expenses except for travel costs. Applicants must have an excellent academic record and be pursing a four-year undergraduate degree.
- Graduate Study and Research in Poland Scholarships are provided, of course, to graduate students whose research or studies require a semester or year in Poland.
- Students, undergraduate or high school seniors, who want to spend a summer studying Polish in Krakow at Jagiellonian University, may apply for the Tomaszkiewicz-Florio Scholarships. Applicants must be academically motivated and have an educational goal when applying. Awards cover room and board in Krakow, but funds for travel are limited.
Rotary International maintains one of the mightiest scholarship programs as well as prestigious and competitive. The Ambassadorial Scholarships are designed for top-level students who present an exemplary Rotary image. Students pursuing a challenging program of study in Poland may qualify for up to $25,000 for a year of study. To be eligible, applicants must be heading into a plan of study focused on sustainable development or a similar curriculum. Upon return to the states, Ambassadorial Scholars must share their Poland experiences with a Rotary audience.
College Scholarships
Michigan State University is renowned for its innovative and engaging study abroad programs that uniquely target specific disciplines. The “Retail Distribution in Russia and Poland” program has become a mainstay in the International Studies department. Applicant-majors are encouraged from the Advertising and Public Relations department. The program takes an in-depth survey of the realm of retail marketing in one of the larger post-Soviet regions. Administered by the Department of Jewish Studies, the Jewry of Poland program immerses participants in the sights and sounds of Krakow, Poland in a deeply engaging summer program of study. MSU students may qualify for the following scholarships, but the programs themselves are open to students from other colleges and universities:
- Students at the top of their class and heading off to Poland may apply for either the Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo Merit Scholarships or the Office of Study Abroad Academic Excellence Awards.
- The MSU Credit Union is one of the university’s largest scholarship sponsors and therefore the widest selection of awards is drawn from this fund. Applicants are considered for a combination of academic merit and financial need. Up to $1,000.
- Forest Akers Scholarships are specifically held for those students who might not otherwise be able to financially afford a study abroad program. Applicants may not be receiving the Pell Grant, but must demonstrate a debilitating level of financial need. Up to $500 available.
Student majors in Wayne State University’s Department of German and Slavic Studies who are pursing Polish studies might qualify for the Friends of Jagiellonian University Scholarship. The funds make it possible for a varying number of scholarships to be awarded to students in the department who would like to study in Poland for a term. Funding varies.
