Deadline: 29-May-2026
The Bekker NAWA Programme supports researchers and doctoral candidates from Polish scientific and academic institutions to undertake research stays, postdoctoral fellowships, doctoral study periods, and academic collaboration abroad. It promotes international research cooperation, access to global institutions, and the development of strong academic partnerships, with projects under the current call expected to start between 1 March and 1 October 2027.
Overview
The Bekker NAWA Programme, offered by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), is an international academic mobility and research funding opportunity for researchers linked to Polish institutions.
The programme helps eligible participants conduct research abroad, collaborate with international scientists, complete part of their doctoral education overseas, and collect research materials needed for academic work. It is designed to strengthen global academic cooperation and increase the international visibility of Polish research.
What Is the Bekker NAWA Programme?
The Bekker NAWA Programme is a research mobility and international collaboration programme.
It provides support for researchers and doctoral candidates from Polish scientific and academic institutions to spend time abroad for research, fellowships, study, or academic cooperation.
The programme is intended to:
- Support postdoctoral fellowships abroad
- Enable joint research projects with international scientists
- Help doctoral candidates complete part of their education abroad
- Support the collection of research materials
- Build long-term international academic partnerships
- Strengthen cooperation with leading global researchers and institutions
Who Is Eligible?
The programme is aimed at researchers connected to Polish academic and scientific institutions.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants may include:
- Researchers affiliated with Polish scientific institutions
- Researchers affiliated with Polish academic institutions
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Doctoral candidates (PhD candidates)
Who Is This Best Suited For?
This programme is especially relevant for applicants who want to:
- Conduct a research stay abroad
- Work with leading international research teams
- Undertake a postdoctoral fellowship
- Complete part of a PhD or doctoral programme internationally
- Collect data, archives, samples, or research materials abroad
- Expand international academic networks
What Does the Programme Support?
The Bekker NAWA Programme supports several forms of international academic engagement.
Main Support Areas
The programme can support:
- Postdoctoral fellowships
- Research projects with international scientists
- Doctoral education abroad
- Research material collection
- Academic collaboration with leading institutions
- Short- to medium-term international research mobility
Typical Activities Covered
Funding generally supports:
- Travel for international research stays
- Fellowship or research stay costs abroad
- Research-related academic activities
- Collaboration and networking with host institutions
- Activities needed to complete the proposed research or study plan
Why This Programme Matters
The Bekker NAWA Programme is important because it gives Polish researchers access to international research ecosystems and high-level academic collaboration.
Why It Is Valuable
- Strengthens international research cooperation
- Improves access to top global universities and laboratories
- Supports career development for postdocs and doctoral candidates
- Increases the global visibility of Polish research
- Helps researchers build long-term partnerships
- Supports access to specialized materials, archives, data, and facilities abroad
For early-career and mid-career researchers, this can be a strong pathway to international publication, joint projects, and future institutional partnerships.
Preferred Destinations and Research Trends
Previous editions of the programme show strong interest in top global universities.
Frequently Chosen Host Institutions in Earlier Calls
Among the most preferred destinations have been:
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Commonly Represented Disciplines
Past editions have frequently included applicants from:
- Natural sciences
- Engineering and technology
- Medical sciences
- Agricultural sciences
This does not necessarily limit eligibility, but it indicates where participation has been especially strong.
Project Timeline
Projects selected under the current call are expected to begin between:
- 1 March 2027
- 1 October 2027
Applicants should design their timelines and host institution arrangements with this start window in mind.
What a Strong Application Should Show
A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate both academic value and international relevance.
Strong Proposals Usually Include
- A clear research or fellowship objective
- A strong fit between the applicant and the host institution
- A convincing reason for carrying out the work abroad
- A well-defined collaboration with international researchers
- Clear expected outputs (publications, data, methods, networks, training)
- A realistic mobility and research timeline
- Strong institutional affiliation in Poland
- Clear explanation of how the stay supports long-term academic development
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Recommended Steps
- Define your research objective
Clearly explain what you want to achieve during the international stay. - Choose the right host institution
Select a university, lab, archive, or research team that directly supports your project goals. - Build the international collaboration case
Show why the proposed host and researchers are important for your work. - Prepare a realistic work plan
Include the activities, timeline, expected outputs, and research milestones. - Explain why the project must happen abroad
This is critical, especially if you are collecting materials, accessing equipment, or working with a specialized team. - Align with the project start window
Ensure your proposed schedule fits the 1 March to 1 October 2027 start period. - Highlight career and institutional impact
Explain how the experience will benefit your research career and strengthen your home institution in Poland.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a host institution with weak relevance to the research topic
- Submitting a vague mobility plan without clear outputs
- Failing to explain why the work must be done abroad
- Weak evidence of collaboration with the host institution
- Overly broad research objectives
- Poor timeline alignment with the 2027 project start window
- Focusing only on travel rather than academic impact
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Bekker NAWA Programme?
It is an international academic mobility programme that supports researchers and doctoral candidates from Polish institutions to conduct research, fellowships, or study-related activities abroad.
2. Who can apply?
Researchers affiliated with Polish scientific or academic institutions, including postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates, are the main target applicants.
3. What types of activities are supported?
The programme supports postdoctoral fellowships, research collaboration, doctoral study periods abroad, and the collection of research materials.
4. What does the funding usually cover?
Funding typically supports travel, research stays, and academic activities abroad connected to the proposed project.
5. When can selected projects begin?
Projects under the current call are expected to start between 1 March and 1 October 2027.
6. Are only certain academic disciplines eligible?
The programme commonly attracts applicants from natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical sciences, and agricultural sciences, but the text does not state that it is limited only to those fields.
7. Why is this programme useful for doctoral candidates?
It allows doctoral candidates to complete part of their studies abroad, access international expertise, and collect materials needed for their dissertation or research work.
Final Takeaway
The Bekker NAWA Programme is a valuable international mobility opportunity for researchers and doctoral candidates affiliated with Polish institutions who want to strengthen their research through global academic collaboration.
For applicants seeking postdoctoral fellowships, overseas research stays, or doctoral study periods abroad, the programme offers practical support for travel and research activities while helping build long-term international partnerships. Strong applications will clearly show why the proposed research must be carried out abroad and how it will create academic value for both the applicant and their home institution.
For more information, visit NAWA.
