Skip to main content
European Commission logo

Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Mobility in higher education
Poland

Poland

13.Mobility and internationalisation

13.2Mobility in higher education

Last update: 3 October 2024
On this page

Student mobility

Students participate in mobility mainly under the EU Erasmus+ Programme, but Polish and international students may also undertake a study period or follow a full degree programme within the framework of:

  • projects co-funded by the EU and the national budget;

  • multilateral programmes;

  • bilateral programmes; and

  • national programmes.

Within the EU Erasmus+ Programme, a study period or practical placement abroad is recognised in accordance with an agreement between the student and the home and host higher education institutions (HEIs), and the principles of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). In other programmes, sending and receiving HEIs agree arrangements for recognition. Qualifications (diplomas and degrees) obtained abroad are recognised in accordance with the national legislation; for details, see the final section in this chapter.

EU Erasmus+ Programme

Under the Erasmus+ Programme (2014-2020; 2021-2027), administered by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, students and doctoral students can carry out a period of study and / or a practical placement abroad as part of Learning Mobility projects. They can also participate in short-term mobility linked to specific project objectives in various other types of Erasmus+ projects.

Programmes / projects co-funded by the EU and the national budget

The National Agency for Academic Exchange carries out two programmes, PROM and EU4Belarus, which are co-funded by the EU and the national budget. 

  • Program PROM (Ferry): short-term academic exchanges 

The PROM Programme, co-funded by the European Funds for Social Development (2021-2027) (information available in Polish only) and the national budget, awards grants to Polish HEIs for the mobility of Polish and international students and doctoral students (and academic staff; see Chapter 13.2.2) aimed at developing their knowledge and skills. Grants can be used for the participation in a conference, summer or winter school, short training course or for a mobility period to prepare a grant proposal, teach classes or collect material for a doctoral thesis or a scientific publication. Mobility periods can last between 5 and 30 days and can be carried out as physical, virtual or blended mobility. 

  • Programme “EU4Belarus”

The Programme is co-funded as part of the EU Programme “Support for Advanced Learning and Training – EU4Belarus-SALT”, established in response to the political crisis after the 2020 presidential election in Belarus. It awards scholarships to Belarussian students enrolled in higher education institutions in Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Latvia, and to young people from Belarus for taking degree programmes in these countries.

For information about projects supported by other EU funds which also involve mobility, see ‘Partnerships and Networks’ in Chapter 13.5. 

Multilateral programmes

Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies, CEEPUS

CEEPUS is the first multilateral cooperation programme in the field of education in Central Europe, established by a multilateral agreement. Poland has participated in the programme since 1994. The National Agency for Academic Exchange is the contact point for the programme in Poland. The other participating countries are Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. CEEPUS offers short-term scholarships to students and doctoral students (and academic staff; see Chapter 13.2.2) for research internships, summer schools and intensive courses as part of inter-institutional cooperation networks.

International Visegrad Fund

The International Visegrad Fund was created in 2000 by the governments of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary (V4 countries). Each of the four countries provides an equal financial contribution to the Fund, and additional funding can come from other governments or government organisations. The Fund aims to strengthen cooperation among the V4 countries and between the V4 Region and other countries, in particular in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) and the Eastern Partnership Region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). The unit administering the Fund is situated in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Fund awards scholarships to students from the V4, Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries for a study period at the Master’s level or for a post-Master research period (and scholarships for short-term mobility of academic staff; see Chapter 13.2.2). 

Bilateral programmes / initiatives

Bilateral agreements

Poland has signed bilateral cooperation agreements covering scholarship-based exchanges with around 100 countries in all regions of the world (for a list of the countries, see the Chapter ‘Bilateral Agreements and Worldwide Cooperation’). As part of the agreements, the Government of Poland and / or the partner country offer(s) scholarships to academic staff and students. Arrangements for mobility and the recognition of study periods and / or qualifications are agreed with each signatory country.

Details about the agreements are available on the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (in Polish only) and in the Internet Treaty Database (in English and Polish) operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regularly updated information (in English and Polish) about mobility opportunities is published on the website of the National Agency for Academic Exchange, which manages student and academic staff exchanges under bilateral agreements.

Bilateral scholarship programmes

Fulbright Programme

Under the Fulbright Programme, the Polish-US Fulbright Commission offers scholarships to Polish and U.S. students and / or doctoral students for various types of mobility. Scholarships are funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the U.S. State Department. 

Polish students and doctoral students of all fields of study or disciplines, except medical and related areas requiring direct contact with patients, can receive a grant to take a Master’s degree, PhD or another programme for one academic year, with a possibility of a renewal for the second year. Graduates receive a diploma of an U.S. institution. The Programme also offers grants to Polish students following programmes in biology, chemistry, biophysics, medicine and related areas to undertake a one-year placement in an U.S. research institution. Persons who are writing a PhD thesis at Polish HEIs or other research institutions can be awarded a grant to carry out their own research project (4 to 10 months) at an U.S. HEI, a research institute or a non-governmental organisation. 

U.S. students (and graduates) of all fields can apply for a grant to carry out a research project for 9 or 10 months or to teach English language classes for 9 months at a Polish institution. The Programme also offers students and doctoral students (and academic and public administration staff) 3- to 9-month grants to study or conduct a research project on topics related to the European Union at Polish HEIs or other research institutions. 

Lane Kirkland Scholarship Programme

The Programme is funded mainly by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, with some scholarships awarded by the National Agency for Academic Exchange, and is administered by the Leaders of Change Foundation. Scholarships for two-semester study periods at HEIs and internships of at least 2 weeks at public and private institutions in Poland are awarded to young leaders and experts holding a degree from the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Studies in Poland are intended to enhance knowledge and skills related to the development of democracy, economy and civic society.

National programmes / initiatives

As part of its statutory responsibilities, the National Agency for Academic Exchange administers a number of programmes for Polish doctoral students and international students or other foreigners interested to study in Poland (in addition to the programmes listed above and funded from various other sources).

Programmes for Polish doctoral students

  • M. Bekker Programme

The Programme aims to support the development of research competence of Polish doctoral students (and academic staff; see Chapter 13.2.2) in all disciplines. Doctoral students can receive grants for stays of 3 to 24 months at international research or academic institutions across the world to undertake a part of their doctoral training, conduct research or collect material for scientific publications.

  • Prof. F. Walczak Programme

The Programme awards grants for the mobility of doctoral students (and researchers) in medical, pharmaceutical and health sciences to enhance the capacity of Polish HEIs and other research institutions and healthcare institutions. Grants are awarded for stays of 1 to 6 months at international institutions, and grant-holders can choose a teaching, research or clinical track. 

  • PRELUDIUM BIS Programme

The Programme offers grants to Polish doctoral students for internships at research and academic institutions in Europe and beyond, related to their participation in research projects which are funded under the National Science Centre’s Programme “PRELUDIUM BIS”. Internships, which can take 3 to 6 months, enable doctoral students to gain research experience and establish research collaboration.

Programmes for international students

  • Programme ‘Poland My First Choice’

The Programme awards scholarships to foreign nationals to take a full second-cycle programme in any field of study, at a public or non-public HEI supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Applications can be submitted by candidates from EU Member States, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Uruguay, Israel, Republic of Korea, Japan and Singapore, and by China’s nationals who are Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents.

  • Gen. Anders Programme

The Programme is targeted at young people of Polish origin and individuals holding the so-called Card of the Pole from various regions of the world. Scholarship holders can take a full first-, second- or long-cycle programme at Polish HEIs supervised by the Ministers of Science and Higher Education, Health, and Culture and National Heritage.

  • S. Banach Scholarship Programme

The Programme has been designed jointly by the National Agency for Academic Exchange and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of Poland’s development aid. It aims to support socio-economic development of developing countries by enhancing knowledge and upgrading qualifications of their citizens. It is open to nationals of the following countries in all regions of the world: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Kongo, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Macedonia, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.

Scholarship holders can follow a full second-cycle programme in the fields of engineering and technology, science, natural or agricultural sciences at public HEIs which are supervised by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Nationals of some countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) can also receive a scholarship for a full second-cycle programme in the fields of humanities and social sciences (except language and literature studies in their mother tongue).

Recognition of study or practical training periods and qualifications

Tools facilitating recognition based on European initiatives

The 8-level Polish Qualifications Framework (PQF) describes qualifications awarded in the country as referenced to the EQF. PQF qualifications are defined in terms of learning outcomes including knowledge, skills and social competences. Together with the Integrated Qualifications Register, the PQF is part of the Integrated Qualifications System, which was put in place in July 2016, in accordance with the Act of 22 December 2015 on the Integrated Qualifications System (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa o Zintegrowanym Systemie Kwalifikacji z dnia 22 grudnia 2015 r.) (z późn. zm.). 

Based on the national legislation, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) was introduced as mandatory for Polish HEIs in 2006. The legislation specifies, among other things, the minimum number of ECTS credits required for the completion of first-, second- and long-cycle programmes and the award of a degree. Since 2004 HEIs have issued a Diploma Supplement based on the corresponding Europass document.

Recognition of qualifications

Recognition of qualifications (diplomas and degrees) is regulated in accordance with EU legislation and international conventions, including the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Convention) which was ratified in December 2003 and entered into force in Poland in 2004.

Like in other European countries, different regulations are in place in Poland for academic recognition (for individuals wishing to continue or begin studying or use an academic degree) and professional recognition (for individuals wishing to take up employment or practise a profession).

Academic recognition

Recognition is governed by the following legislative acts:

A degree awarded in any country gives its holder the right to continue studies in a second-cycle programme or a non-degree postgraduate programme, or access to doctoral education or the right to initiate the process leading to the award of a doctoral degree if it gives the right, respectively, to continue studies in a second-cycle programme or apply for a doctoral degree in the country where it was awarded. 

Furthermore, degrees awarded by recognised HEIs in the members states of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – signatories of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) confirm in Poland the completion of a higher education programme at the level corresponding to the level at which their holders completed a programme in the awarding country. A degree awarded in one of these countries upon the completion of: 

  1. a 3-year programme or a first-cycle programme lasting at least 3 years confirms in Poland that its holder has a first-cycle degree; 
  2. a second-cycle programme confirms in Poland that its holder has a second-cycle degree; 
  3. a long-cycle programme lasting at least 4 years confirms in Poland that its holder has a second-cycle degree if it is considered as corresponding to a second-cycle degree in the awarding country. 

A first-, second- and long-cycle degree / diploma may be recognised as equivalent to a corresponding Polish degree / diploma based on an international agreement, and in the absence of such an agreement, through a recognition process (nostryfikacja).

A doctoral degree or a post-doctoral degree awarded by an authorised institution operating in a member state of the EU, EFTA-EEA or the OECD is equivalent to a corresponding degree awarded in Poland. A doctoral degree awarded by the European University Institute is equivalent to a Polish doctoral degree. Otherwise, a doctoral or post-doctoral degree may be recognised as equivalent to a Polish one based on an international agreement, and in the absence of such an agreement, through a recognition process. 

Poland has signed bilateral agreements on the recognition of qualifications with:

  • the following countries: Armenia, Austria, Belarus*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam; and

  • the following countries that have ceased to exist: Czechoslovakia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, German Democratic Republic and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics.

*Belarus: As Belarus terminated the agreement in November 2022, its provisions are in force in relation to persons who began to study at Polish HEIs before 3 November 2023. 

Detailed information about the agreements is available on the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (information in Polish only) in the Internet Treaty Database (information in Polish and English) operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The recognition process (nostryfikacja) identifies a Polish qualification corresponding to a foreign qualification. For first-, second- and long-cycle degrees / diplomas, the process is conducted by HEIs which have the A+, A or B+ research category (one of the three highest ratings awarded as an outcome of an external evaluation of the quality of research) in the discipline concerned. For doctoral and post-doctoral degrees, it is conducted by HEIs and research institutions which have the A+ or A research category in the discipline concerned.

Detailed information about academic recognition is available on the website of the National Agency for Academic Exchange, which is the Polish ENIC-NARIC Centre.

Professional recognition

Recognition procedures vary depending on whether or not a given profession is regulated in Poland.

For non-regulated professions, pursuant to the Code of Labour of 26 June 1974 (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa – Kodeks Pracy z 26 czerwca 1974 r. (z późn. zm.)), a decision to recognise a foreign professional qualification is taken by the employer. The employer may require confirmation of the equivalence of a foreign qualification (see Academic recognition above).

Regulated professions in Poland include the so-called sectoral professions (doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, midwife, veterinary surgeon and architect) and professions such as lawyer and schoolteacher. A full list of professions which are regulated in Poland is available in the EU Regulated Professions Database. 

Qualifications in regulated professions obtained in EU member states, member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – signatories of the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, and Switzerland are recognised in Poland in accordance with the Act of 22 December 2015 on the rules for the recognition of professional qualifications acquired in Member States of the European Union (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z 22 grudnia 2015 r. o zasadach uznawania kwalifikacji zawodowych nabytych w państwach członkowskich Unii Europejskiej (z późn. zm.)), and Acts of Parliament on the sectoral professions and the provision of services by foreign lawyers. The legislation is based on EU directives 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU.

Since higher education programmes for the sectoral professions are based on the EU legislation, a qualification may be automatically recognised if the applicant submits supporting documents (a diploma or certificate) to the competent Polish body.

Qualifications in professions such as schoolteacher are recognised under the so-called general recognition system within the EU. The competent body assesses a given qualification in terms of the level of education / study and professional status / rights to practise a given profession which it confers on the holder in the state where it was awarded. Where the scope of education or the professional activity varies significantly between the home and host countries, the holder may be required to undertake an adaptation placement or take an aptitude test. Recognition of qualifications for legal and other regulated professions is governed by separate regulations.

For qualifications obtained in other countries, holders should first apply for the academic recognition of a qualification (diploma / degree) (see above), and, subsequently, for an authorisation to practise a given profession in accordance with the legislation applicable to a given profession.

For further details about professional recognition, see the website of the National Agency for Academic Exchange. 

Other useful information

Information on the higher education system, degree programmes and scholarships offered, and practical information about Poland is available in the ‘Ready, Steady, Go Poland’ Portal, operated by the National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Education of foreigners and support for international students

Foreign nationals may take first-, second- and long-cycle programmes, non-degree postgraduate programmes, specialist programmes, doctoral training programmes and other courses in accordance with the Law on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018 (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z 20 lipca 2018 r. – Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym i nauce (z późn. zm.)). Students gain admission and follow programmes or courses on the basis of:

  • an international agreement;

  • an agreement concluded between a Polish HEI and a foreign institution;

  • a decision of the competent body; for example, the Minister, the Director of the National Agency for Academic Exchange (for scholarship holders; see the scholarship programmes above), the rector of an HEI or the head of a research institution.

Detailed arrangements are laid down in individual agreements and decisions.

Public HEIs do not charge tuition fees for full-time first-, second or long-cycle programmes, nor for doctoral training at doctoral schools. However, they may charge fees from foreigners taking a first-, second or long-cycle programme in the Polish language, and fees for the following education services: part-time first-, second or long-cycle programmes; classes or courses repeated due to unsatisfactory learning achievements; programmes delivered in a foreign language; and classes or courses which are not part of a curriculum. Public HEIs may also charge fees for non-degree postgraduate programmes, specialist programmes or other forms of education and training.

No tuition fees are charged to foreigners taking a full-time programme in the Polish language who:

  1. are nationals of EU Member States, EFTA / EEA Member States or Switzerland, or members of their families, residing in Poland;
  2. are nationals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who exercised their right to reside in an EU Member State or their right as frontier workers in an EU Member State in accordance with EU law before the end of the transition period after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and continue to do so thereafter; 
  3. are EU long-term residents or hold a permanent residence permit;
  4. hold a temporary residence permit issued in accordance with the rules laid down by the Act on Foreigners of 12 December 2013;
  5. have the status of refugee granted in Poland or have been granted temporary or subsidiary protection in Poland;
  6. hold a certificate of proficiency in the Polish language as a foreign language at least at the C1 level, issued by the State Committee for Certification of Proficiency in the Polish Language as a Foreign Language;
  7. hold a Card of the Pole or an appropriate document confirming Polish origin;
  8. are spouses, ascendants or descendants of a Polish national who reside in Poland;
  9. stay in Poland as part of short-term research mobility or hold a visa issued for conducting scientific research or development work.

HEIs may waive tuition fees charged to foreign nationals for a programme delivered in Polish or a foreign language and fees for classes or course repeated due to unsatisfactory learning achievements. Such arrangements are set out in an international agreement or an agreement between HEIs / institutions, a decision of the rector of a HEI, the head of a research institution, the Minister or the Director of the National Agency for Academic Exchange (for scholarship holders; see the scholarship programmes above).

The higher education system offers various types of financial support to foreign nationals. The Minister of Science and Higher Education may award a scholarship to cover, in full or in part, tuition fees and travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Foreign nationals listed under points 2 to 8 above may receive a student maintenance grant and / or a student credit. All international students are eligible to apply for other types of financial support. These include the Minister’s and the Rector’s scholarship for learning or sporting achievements; a scholarship for people with a disability; an aid payment; a scholarship funded by a local government body; a scholarship for learning or sporting achievements funded by a natural person or a corporate body which is not administered by a state or local-government body.

The legislation does not specify other types of support for international students. However, HEIs have in place various student services such as support in entry formalities (for examples, visa application); practical support (for example, accommodation); Polish language courses; orientation and integration programmes; academic support (for example, an academic teacher-tutor for a group of international students); and daily support by local students as buddies for international students.

Academic staff mobility

Strategic context

Mobility of Polish academic staff to European countries is an integral part of international cooperation supporting the development of the European Higher Education Area. 

As indicated on the introductory page of this chapter, the work on a national strategy for the internationalisation of higher education and science is underway. The Expert Team supporting the National Agency for Academic Exchange and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education began its work in January 2024. 

Currently, skills development and support for skills development of management and teaching staff in the entire formal education sector are among the priority areas of intervention in The 2030 Integrated Skills Strategy (Zintegrowana Strategia Umiejętności 2030), adopted by the Government in December 2020. The lines of action in these areas include the promotion of international staff mobility; the development of planning and management skills for international projects; and the promotion of international good practice in teaching (see the introductory page of this chapter).

Conditions of service related to mobility

The legislation lays down conditions for granting leave to academic staff. Pursuant to the Law on Higher Education of 20 July 2018 (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 20 lipca 2018 r. – Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym i nauce (z późn. zm.)), the rector of a higher education institution (HEI) may grant the following types of leave:

  • for academic staff preparing a doctoral dissertation: paid research leave of up to 3 months;

  • for academic staff holding at least a doctoral degree: paid research leave of up to 1 year in total (which may be split into several periods) during 7 years of employment in a given HEI;  

  • for all academic staff: paid leave to undertake a period of learning / training or a research or teaching placement / internship or participate in a conference abroad, or participate in joint research conducted with a foreign institution under a research cooperation agreement.

During paid leave, the HEI pays a full salary and social security contributions for the academic teacher. Periods of paid leave are counted towards periods which determine employee entitlements, including, for example, retirement-related entitlements based on the length of service.

Non-academic staff of a HEI are subject to the generally applicable provisions of the Labour Code of 26 June 1974 (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa – Kodeks Pracy z dnia 26 czerwca 1974 r. (z późn. zm.)). They are entitled to paid training leave for professional development, but the conditions of granting such leave do not refer to mobility: leave of 21 days is granted to prepare for and take the final exam upon completion of a degree programme. In other cases, staff may take unpaid leave and its duration is agreed with the employer.

Recognition of achievements and qualifications

There are no national regulations on the recognition of performance abroad or mobility outcomes for academic or non-academic staff. However, HEIs are required by law to conduct a periodic performance appraisal of academic staff, at least every 4 years or at the rector’s request, as part of internal quality assurance. Performance appraisal criteria are laid down by each HEI. Many HEIs take into consideration international experience, including mobility and participation in transnational projects, in periodic appraisal of academic staff and in the assessment of their achievements for career progression.

The standard on teaching staff for external programme evaluation, regularly conducted by the Polish Accreditation Committee (see Chapter 11.2.2 “Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Approaches and methods for quality assurance”), does not refer explicitly to academic staff mobility. However, the standard on the internationalisation of education addresses the skills of staff for teaching classes in a foreign language, support for international mobility of teaching staff, and the development of courses delivered in a foreign language.

For information on the recognition of qualifications, see ‘Student Mobility’ in Chapter 13.2. 

Data on mobility

HEIs provide data on staff mobility in their annual reports for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Foundation for the Development of the Education System produces various statistical and / or analytical reports on the implementation of the EU programmes which it manages. However, there are no aggregate or summary studies on the impact of all programmes and initiatives supporting mobility of academic or non-academic staff.

Programmes / projects supporting mobility

Like for students, the EU Erasmus+ Programme is currently the main programme in terms of the number of outgoing and incoming teachers, but Polish and foreign academic staff are also offered mobility opportunities within the framework of:

  • projects co-funded by the EU and the national budget;

  • multilateral programmes;

  • bilateral programmes; and

  • national programmes and projects.

Non-academic staff can undertake a mobility period only within the Erasmus+ Programme.

EU Erasmus+ Programme

Under the Erasmus+ Programme (2014-2020; 2021-2027), administered in Poland by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, higher education staff can carry out a teaching assignment or a training period (job shadowing or training activity), or participate in an intensive programme abroad as part of Learning Mobility projects. Short-term mobility of staff as part of various other types of Erasmus+ projects is linked to specific objectives of a given project.

Programmes / projects co-funded by the EU and the national budget

  • PROM Programme

The PROM (Ferry) is co-funded by the European Funds for Social Development (2021-2027) and the national budget, and is administered by the National Agency for Academic Exchange. It awards grants to academic staff (and students and doctoral students; see Chapter 13.2.1) for outward and inward mobility periods aimed at developing knowledge and skills. Grants can be used to cover the costs of participation in a conference, summer or winter school or short course, the development of a grant proposal, the teaching of classes, or the collection of material for a doctoral thesis or research paper. Mobility periods can last between 5 and 30 days and can be undertaken as physical, blended or virtual mobility. 

For information on EU-funded academic cooperation projects which also involve mobility, see Partnerships and Networks in Higher Education in Chapter 13.5.

 

Multilateral programmes

Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies (CEEPUS)

For general information about CEEPUS see ‘Student mobility’ in Chapter 13.2.1. The programme awards short-term scholarships to academic staff (and students and doctoral students) for research internships, summer schools and intensive courses as part of inter-institutional cooperation networks.

International Visegrad Fund

For general information about the International Visegrad Fund, see Chapter 13.2.1 “Student Mobility”. In addition to scholarships for students, the Fund awards scholarships to academic staff from the V4 countries and the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) for short stays (2 to 10 weeks) in a participating country to conduct or participate in a research project, run lectures, classes or seminars or collect material in public libraries or archives. Currently, on a pilot basis, such scholarships are also offered to academic teachers and researchers from Ukraine. 

Bilateral programmes / initiatives

For staff exchanges, see bilateral agreements in Chapter 13.2.1 “Student Mobility”.

Fulbright Programme

The Fulbright Programme offers scholarships to Polish and U.S. academic staff (and Polish and U.S. students). See general information about the Programme in Chapter 13.2.1 “Student Mobility”. 

Grants are awarded to Polish and U.S. academic staff, for example, to conduct their own teaching-and-research projects or research projects, or to teach classes for 3 to 10 months at hosting HEIs, research institutes or other institutions. Staff from Polish HEIs and research institutions who specialise in culture and history of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe can receive a grant for a teaching assignment in an U.S. HEI which collaborates with the Polish-US Fulbright Commission. Academics and researchers representing the STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) can apply for a grant to carry out a teaching-and-research project (lectures, seminars, workshops; development of a curriculum or teaching materials) or conduct a research project at U.S. HEIs or other institution. 

National programmes / initiatives

As part of its statutory responsibilities, the National Agency for Academic Agency administers several programmes targeted at academic staff which involve learning mobility (in addition to the programmes listed above and funded from other sources and national programmes offering scholarships for research mobility only).

  • M. Bekker Programme

The Programme aims to support scientific development of Polish academic staff (and doctoral students; see Chapter 13.2.1) in all scientific disciplines. Academic staff are awarded scholarships for stays of 3 to 24 months at international research or academic institutions across the world to conduct research or development work, collect material for scientific publications, undertake a post-doctoral internship or other forms of research or academic activity.

  • S. Ulam Programme

The Programme aims to boost internationalisation of Polish HEIs and research institutions. Grants are awarded for 6- to 24-month stays of international scholars (including Polish scholars working abroad on a permanent basis) who hold at least a doctoral degree in any discipline. Incoming scholars can conduct research, undertake a post-doctoral internship, collect material for research or a research publication and / or teach classes to students.

See also the information about the programmes for doctoral students in Chapter 13.2.1 “Student Mobility”.