Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Award holders will be expected to teach one regular course for undergraduate/graduate students per semester in the Department of British and American Studies or another academic unit at the Institute of Modern Languages and Literatures, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS). The Distinguished Scholar will be encouraged to give talks at UMCS humanities and social sciences units.
Awards are offered for a semester or an academic year.
Since the academic year in Poland starts in October, grants cannot start prior to that date. One-semester grants must begin either in October 2026 or February 2027; two-semester grants must begin in October 2026.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
All teaching will be in English.
Additional language study would facilitate contacts with professionals at the host institution and would enable deeper engagement within the community and general well-being in the host country. We also recommend that candidates familiarize themselves with the culture of the host region. Therefore, prior language study is highly recommended.
The candidate should hold a Ph.D. in the humanities or social sciences. The award is intended for scholars with an excellent record of publications in their respective fields and significant teaching experience.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Monthly Payment
Stipend: $6,000
Grant benefits are disbursed in PLN based on the average USD/PLN exchange rate, as specified in the Terms and Conditions of the Award. Amounts are subject to change due to currency fluctuations. The stipend will be paid partly by the Commission and partly by the Maria Curie-Sklodowska University.
One-time payments:
Travel Allowance: $1,500
Relocation Allowance: $800
Monthly payment:
Conference / Research / Book Allowance: $150
Travel Allowance: $1,500 (per person), a one-time payment for dependent family members, provided that they accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the grant period and were listed as dependents at the time of application.
Dependent Allowance: $250 (per person), a monthly allowance for dependent family members, provided that they accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the grant period and were listed as dependents at the time of application.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
In addition to stipend and benefits the University provides housing for the whole grant period.
In-country private Medical Care Package
Enrichment opportunities: In-country orientation, mid-year meeting, language-learning opportunities, Inter-country travel grant
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Apply for a Fulbright grant to Poland - a modern country with a centuries-old cultural heritage and scholarly tradition, ample research and teaching opportunities, rich geographical diversity, low living costs and unique location in the heart of Europe!
With its picturesque old towns and medieval architecture, wild forests and powdery-sand beaches, humming city life and imaginative culinary scene, Poland is a country that is as captivating as it is surprising. Come and see for yourself!
Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe and the 6th most populous member of the European Union. The country shares borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia. Poland’s central location makes it a perfect base from which to explore the region. While living standards are comparable with those in Western European countries, the cost of living in Poland, even in bigger cities, is significantly lower (more information here).
Prior to your Fulbright grant, Fulbright Poland will invite you to a three day long Orientation in Warsaw, which typically covers topics such as the Polish culture and language, higher education, healthcare system and the specifics of your grant. Down the road you will have ample opportunities to bond and network with your fellow Fulbrighters and the Fulbright staff at events such as the Thanksgiving dinner, the November workshop, the Mid-Year meeting and the June Graduation. You will also have a chance to collaborate with experts from and beyond your host institution, as scholars may be invited to give occasional lectures in Poland and in other European countries participating in the Inter-Country Travel Program. Finally, throughout your grant period, you will have a dedicated Program Officer, who will oversee your stay in Poland.
In the words of one of our recent U.S. Fulbright Scholar alumni: "Get ready to fall in love with this place. I’m serious. This is a wonderful country, wonderful people. Get ready for your expectations to be exceeded.”
Higher education and research institutions in Poland
Poland boasts over 350 higher education institutions. These include universities, technical, agricultural, theological and pedagogical higher education institutions, medical universities, academies of physical education as well as higher education institutions of economics, arts and maritime studies. Polish higher education institutions provide a wide choice of 1st cycle, 2nd cycle and 3rd cycle studies as well as uniform long-cycle master’s programs, with about 900 programs offered in English.
Poland follows the Bologna framework of higher education, with a goal to facilitate comparability of qualifications and, as a result, student and academic mobility to and from other European countries. The quality of education and research offered at Polish higher education institutions is widely recognized and reflected in a growing number of international students representing over 170 countries.
The number of R&D institutions in Poland has grown over the recent years. Currently, there are ca. 102 research institutes and laboratories, and 69 institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, an independent state research institution with units all across the country. With the goal to enhance Poland’s commercial potential, research institutes established “The Łukasiewicz Research Network", Europe's 3rd largest research network (source: Euraxess).
Currently there are three national funding agencies in Poland that support research activities and academic mobility - The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), the National Science Center (NCN) and the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR).
The 2018 “Constitution for Science” reform aims to further improve the conditions for research and teaching excellence in Poland, encouraging sustainable growth of academic institutions, introducing doctoral schools and providing universities with more independence needed for effective management.
Basic information about the academic year in Poland
The fall semester (called the winter semester in Poland) runs from the beginning of October through mid-February, with a Christmas holiday break of about ten days. The examination session typically takes place in January and February.
The spring semester (called the summer semester in Poland) runs from mid-February through June, with a week-long Easter-break. The summer break takes place between July and August.
About the Fulbright Program in Poland
The Fulbright Program in Poland was initiated in 1959, at the height of the Cold War. Poland was the first country in Eastern and Central Europe to participate in the Fulbright Program and to this day remains one of the largest and most vigorous in the region. Approximately 5000 American and Polish alumni have benefited from the program since its inception. Over 100 grants are currently awarded each year by the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission to both American and Polish grantees. We offer approximately 12 U.S. Scholar grants in the research, teaching and distinguished scholar categories.
Applicants are encouraged to view the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission's website for current information about program offerings, recent initiatives and program alumni. For any additional information, please contact the Commission's Program Officers.
Website: fulbright.edu.pl/grants-for-american-citizens/
Facebook: /FulbrightPolska
Instagram: @Fulbright Poland
Testimonials
https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyWarsaw/videos/368188145334477/
Mark Brzezinski, the former US Ambassador to Poland and a Fulbright alumnus, talks about his Fulbright experience in Poland during a graduation party for American Fulbright grantees.
"I had an amazing experience as a Fulbright Senior Scholar grantee to Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. It was a joy to work with my Polish students and colleagues, both in Poznań and through other connections that I made. The Polish Fulbright Commission couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive in my acclimation; I truly felt like I had a network of people who cared about my experience and made me feel at home. One of the best experiences of my life and career".
Laura Wayth
Professor of Theatre and Coordinator of Actor Training
School of Theatre and Dance
San Francisco State University
"Being a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Warsaw was a transformative experience where the scientific and cultural exchange continues to be an important part of my life. Poland is a beautiful, interesting country and living there made it possible to learn about its many facets, from its well-known music and theater to its national parks, in addition to gaining insight into its complex history".
Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert
Ph.D. Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Scripps College
Professor of Biology
W.M. Keck Science Department
Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges
"Being deeply moved by the number of students whose research interests centered on some aspect of American and more specifically African American culture, my fondness for Polish culture, and by my success as a lecturer and performer got me interested in extending my Fulbright Award through the 2013-2014 academic year".
Stan L. Breckenridge
Musicologist, composer, vocalist, pianist, author
Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador
More testimonials at fulbright.edu.pl/testimonials/
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
The UMCS Institute of Modern Languages and Literatures (Instytut Językoznawstwa i Literaturoznawstwa) continues the rich academic history of the Department of English Studies and other departments of modern languages and literatures at UMCS. It is a large academic center, with more than 150 scholars working in different specializations of literary studies, linguistics, and cultural studies.
The UMCS Institute of Modern Languages and Literatures offers B.A. and M.A. programs in English Studies, for more than 350 students, and programs in German, Ukrainian, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and other languages. The programs, offered to more than 1,000 students, include a wide variety of specializations, foreign language teaching and translation being the most prominent ones. Ph.D. programs in modern languages, literatures, and cultural studies are offered through the UMCS Graduate School in Humanities.
The UMCS Institute of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a truly international teaching environment with approximately 15% of its students coming from outside Poland and a large group of native speakers employed as teachers. It cooperates with more than 20 European universities in the Erasmus program. The best students can apply for scholarships at universities in Spain, Finland, Norway, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries.
The contact person at the UMCS Institute of Modern Languages and Literatures is Dr. Zbigniew Mazur, zbigniew.mazur@umcs.pl
For further information you may also contact the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission's Senior Program Officer, Ms. Paulina Kubylis at paulina.kubylis@fulbright.edu.pl.
Note: Candidate's data will be processed by the Polish Commission in accordance with its Privacy Policy for Fulbright Poland grants.