University of Silesia Scholarships 2026/27: Study Options and Funding in Poland
- Country
- Poland
- Level
- Undergraduate, Masters
The University of Silesia in Katowice is a large public university in southern Poland, offering more than 200 fields of study across the arts, humanities, law, sciences, and social sciences. If you are an international student considering it, it is important to understand honestly how its scholarships work, because some listings describe a single "fully funded University of Silesia scholarship" that does not really exist in that form.
Here is a clear guide to the real funding options, who they suit, and how to apply.
The honest overview
The University of Silesia does not offer one blanket, fully funded scholarship that covers every student's tuition and living costs. Instead, there are two layers to understand:
- University scholarships (merit and need-based), which are typically partial and help reduce your costs.
- External funding programmes the university participates in, which can be fully funded for eligible applicants, most notably the Stefan Banach NAWA scholarship and Polish government (NAWA) scholarships.
Understanding this distinction lets you target the right funding rather than expecting a single all-in award.
At a glance
- University: University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
- Level: Bachelor's and Master's (first and second cycle), across many fields
- University awards: Rector's (merit) and social (need-based) scholarships, usually partial
- Full funding: Via external programmes such as Stefan Banach NAWA
- Tuition: Relatively modest (Polish public university)
- Application: Through the university's IRK admission portal
What the scholarships actually cover
Here is the honest breakdown.
- Rector's (Chancellor's) scholarship: a merit-based award for students with strong academic results (and in some cases sporting or artistic achievement), paid as a recurring amount during the year. It rewards performance rather than covering all costs.
- Social scholarship: a need-based award for students in a difficult financial situation, subject to eligibility rules. It provides support toward living costs rather than full funding.
- External fully funded routes: for genuinely comprehensive funding, the key options are the Stefan Banach NAWA scholarship (full tuition exemption plus a monthly stipend, for master's students from eligible developing countries) and Polish government scholarships. These are run by NAWA and Poland's government, and the University of Silesia is one of the many Polish universities where you can use them.
Because Polish public-university tuition is relatively affordable to begin with, a partial university scholarship plus low tuition can still make Silesia a realistic option, and an external programme like Stefan Banach can remove tuition entirely for those who qualify.
Why study at the University of Silesia
Silesia offers a broad range of programmes, including options taught in English, in a lively student city in the Katowice metropolitan area. Poland is an affordable EU study destination with a growing international academic scene, and studying there gives you access to the wider European experience.
Who can apply
- International students admitted to a University of Silesia programme (for university scholarships, once enrolled)
- Applicants meeting each scheme's specific rules (merit for the Rector's award, financial need for the social scholarship)
- For external funding, applicants who meet that programme's own criteria (for example, Stefan Banach is for citizens of eligible developing countries)
- Applicants meeting the university's admission and language requirements
How to apply
- Choose your programme at the University of Silesia and check its language and entry requirements.
- Apply for admission through the university's IRK online portal, submitting your academic records, language proof, and any required documents.
- Apply for university scholarships (Rector's or social) according to their rules, usually once you are enrolled.
- For full funding, apply separately to the relevant external programme (such as Stefan Banach NAWA) through its own portal and deadline.
- Meet the admission deadline for your intake, then follow up on any scholarship steps.
Deadlines
Admission for a given intake has its own deadline (a recent one was around 30 September, via the IRK portal), while external programmes such as Stefan Banach have separate, earlier deadlines. Because dates change each year, always confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines on the official University of Silesia site before applying.
Apply and confirm the details
Check the current programmes, fees, and scholarship options, and apply, on the official University of Silesia admissions site: University of Silesia admissions, official site.
Keep exploring: read our guide to the fully funded Stefan Banach NAWA scholarship, browse all our scholarships, get ready with our free IELTS and English prep, or read how we verify every listing.
Disclaimer: FoundScholar is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Silesia. Details change each year, so always confirm on the official source before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one fully funded University of Silesia scholarship?
No, not a single all-in package. The University of Silesia offers a menu of scholarships: merit-based Rector's (Chancellor's) scholarships and need-based social scholarships, which are typically partial. Genuinely full funding usually comes through external programmes the university participates in, such as the Stefan Banach NAWA scholarship or Polish government scholarships, rather than one university-wide fully funded award.
What does each type cover?
The Rector's scholarship rewards strong academic results (and sometimes sporting or artistic achievement) with a recurring payment, and the social scholarship supports students in difficult financial situations. These reduce your costs rather than covering everything. External programmes like Stefan Banach can cover full tuition plus a living stipend for eligible developing-country students.
Who can apply?
International students admitted to a University of Silesia programme can be considered for university scholarships once enrolled, subject to each scheme's rules. Eligibility for external funding (such as Stefan Banach) depends on that programme's own criteria, for example citizenship of an eligible developing country.
What is the tuition and deadline?
As a Polish public university, tuition for international fee-paying students is relatively modest compared with Western Europe, and a scholarship can reduce it further. Admission for a given intake has its own deadline (a recent one was around 30 September via the IRK portal). Always confirm current fees and dates on the official university site.