START PhD / early-career scholarships 2026 in Poland
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 2
- 6 min read
If you are an early-career researcher (PhD candidate, PhD holder or R&D practitioner) in Poland — applications are now open for the START PhD / early-career scholarships 2026 (Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, FNP).
The START programme awards annual stipends to outstanding young researchers so they can devote themselves fully to research. The call for START 2026 runs 18 September 2025 – 5 November 2025; winners are selected through a multi-stage peer review and (if selected) receive a 12-month stipend and the option to apply for a short outgoing (study) visit abroad.
🎓 Scholarship summary
Location: Poland (award administered by the Foundation for Polish Science — Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, FNP).
Host institution: whichever Polish scientific institution (university, PAS institute, research institute, research company, NGO etc.) with statutory R&D mission that nominates / signs the application as the Applicant.
Study Level: Early-career research stipend (for doctoral students in Poland or persons conducting R&D work in Poland — includes PhD holders conducting R&D).
Target group: Outstanding young researchers with documented scientific accomplishments
Fields of Research: All fields; START awards are given across three broad fields (humanities & social sciences; natural sciences & medicine; exact & technical sciences) and may recognise interdisciplinary work.
Value & coverage: Annual stipend awarded for 12 months. In recent editions individual awardees received PLN 30,000 per year & funds for supplementary Outgoing Stipends (study visits abroad).
Award duration: 12 months
Applications deadline 2026: Electronic + hard copy must be submitted between 18 Sept 2025 and no later than 5 Nov 2025
Eligible to: doctoral students enrolled in Poland or researchers (including PhDs) performing R&D work in Poland at institutions whose statutory purpose includes research
📚 Scholarship overview
START is an annual competitive stipend to recognise the most promising young researchers at the outset of their careers. The programme is merit-based and evaluates scientific quality and originality of accomplishments to date — reviewers place high weight on the candidate’s most important research achievement(s) and the scientific value conveyed in the submitted publications and descriptions. The competition uses a multi-stage evaluation (formal check → expert review → reviewer panels → Board decision), after which the Foundation’s Board and Council approve winners.
Two programme features worth noting:
Outgoing Stipend (optional add-on): START winners may apply for a supplementary study visit (up to 4 weeks) to one or two foreign research centres; funding is discretionary and paid in addition to the START stipend. Justification, host details and an invitation are required.
Special recognitions: the programme sometimes awards additional named stipends (e.g., Prof. Barbara Skarga recognition, Prof. Wacław Szybalski Stipend, Prof. Adam Sobiczewski Fund supplements) to winners working in particular interdisciplinary fields or in fields related to a benefactor’s interests — these increase the stipend for selected recipients.
🎁 Benefits — what the stipend covers
Cash stipend for 12 months to enable full dedication to research (annual amounts recently around PLN 30,000; top-rated winners can receive increased amounts via special recognitions).
Possible additional financing for a short outgoing (study) visit abroad (funded separately, up to 4 weeks; amount determined case-by-case).
Visibility & networking: awardees are publicly listed on FNP webpages; START laureates may be nominated to prestigious events (for example, cooperation with the Lindau Meetings has allowed some START laureates to attend Nobel Laureate meetings).
No tuition/fee coverage obligation is specified because START is a personal research stipend rather than a tuition scholarship — its purpose is to support research time and career development. (Research, reporting and ethics obligations for recipients are specified in the Agreement and programme Rules.)
✅ Eligibility — who should apply
Core rule: doctoral students enrolled at Polish research institutions OR PhD holders / researchers conducting R&D work in Poland at institutions whose statutory purpose includes research and development.
Scientific accomplishments required: documented publications, patents or conference papers (the competition expects a short list of up to 5 most important publications; up to 3 full texts to be attached). Quality matters more than quantity.
Age limit: candidates must be born in 1995 or later for the 2026 call (calendar-year rule) — age can be extended up to 1–2 years for documented parental leave or for documented breaks in research (rules and documents required outlined in the Instructions).
Institutional applicant requirement: an applicant institution (the university rector/vice-rector or the director of a research institute / authorized representative) must submit and sign the application; the printed form must carry the required signatures and (when handwritten) the institutional seal. Digital signatures are accepted under stated conditions.
📝 Application procedure
Prepare attachments in PDF (no Polish characters in file names), keep each file within system limits, and prepare signed documents that require signature (these may be scanned or signed electronically if accepted).
Register and complete the online form at the FNP application system (the online portal used is https://wnioski2023.fnp.org.pl/ — the system generates the application form after data and attachments are entered). Save work early and use the “Finish editing data” only when ready.
Upload all required electronic attachments (CV, list of up to 5 publications, copies of up to 3 publications, description of the originality of the most important research achievement (≤2 pages), research plans for 2026 (≤2 pages), supervisor’s opinion and signed list, supervisor’s declaration, outgoing stipend materials (if applying), and any documents supporting age-extension claims or name changes).
Finalize online submission (use the Application Verification and Submission tab; generate the application PDF) and upload the scanned signed application form (signed by candidate and Applicant representative) as a single PDF to the system.
Send / deliver the printed signed application form (paper copy with original signatures and institutional seal if required) to: I. Krasickiego 20/22, 02-611 Warsaw — the postmark (or receipt) determines timeliness. Electronic submission without the paper copy (or without required signatures/seal where applicable) will lead to disqualification. Deadline for both electronic and paper copy: 5 November 2025.
🗂️ Documents required
Candidate’s CV (≤3 pages).
List of up to 5 publications (generated by the portal as a PDF and signed by the scientific supervisor).
Copies (PDF) of up to 3 publications, patents or conference papers considered most important (or relevant excerpts for long works).
Description of the originality of the candidate’s most important research achievement(s) (≤2 pages; bibliography optional on a 3rd page).
Research plan for calendar year 2026 (≤2 pages).
Opinion of the scientific supervisor (signed) and the Scientific Supervisor’s Declaration (template provided).
Signed application form (printed) with signature and institutional seal of the Applicant (or qualified electronic signature / “Podpis zaufany” where permitted).
If applying for Outgoing Stipend: justification, host institution information, and invitation letter from host scientist.
If requesting age extension, attach supporting documents (parenthood or documented research interruption).
🔍 How applications are evaluated
Primary criterion: scientific quality and originality of accomplishments to date — reviewers concentrate on the candidate’s most important research achievement, the attached publications and the short description of originality. Even a single high-value publication can be decisive.
Process: formal verification → at least two experts evaluate (panel discussion) → top applications progress to external reviewers (≥3 reviewers per application) who score (1–7) and rank → Executive Board selects winners and the Council ratifies decisions. Decisions are final and not appealable.
ℹ️ Useful Tips
Quality over quantity: limit the publication list to the 5 best works and attach the 3 most representative texts; reviewers prefer a focused, high-value selection.
Describe your contribution clearly for co-authored works (1–2 sentences indicating your role) — do not give percentage contributions.
Check file integrity before upload (no encryption, files must open). Keep copies of all submitted files and proof of mailing (registered mail recommended).
If you want an Outgoing Stipend, design the visit to NEW centres where you can establish fresh collaborations — FNP prefers visits that expand the applicant’s independent research trajectory rather than reinforce existing collaborations.
Expect reporting obligations if you receive the stipend: a certified report of activity during the stipend period (to be signed by your supervisor or head of the research team) within 90 days of the end of the stipend; Outgoing Stipend reports within 60 days of the visit.
🌎 Resources
Portal for registration and submission: https://wnioski2023.fnp.org.pl/ (the online system generates the application PDF and the publication list PDF for supervisor signature).
Programme coordinators (START): Dr Aleksandra Czerniawska (aleksandra.czerniawska@fnp.org.pl) and PhD Sofiia Azovtseva (sofia.azovtseva@fnp.org.pl) — contact them with procedural or technical questions.
✔️ Final checklist (before you submit)
[ ] Generate the publication list in the portal and have it signed by your scientific supervisor.
[ ] Prepare and attach up to 3 PDF copies (or excerpts) of your most important works.
[ ] Write a clear 2-page description of your most important research achievement and a 2-page research plan for 2026.
[ ] Get the required supervisor opinion and declaration signed.
[ ] Ensure the institutional representative (Rector / Director) signature and seal (or a valid digital signature) are available and applied to the printed application form.
[ ] Upload all attachments to the portal, finish editing, generate the final application PDF, upload the scanned signed application form and post/deliver the signed paper form to FNP by 5 Nov 2025 (postmark decides).
