Scholarships for First-Year Students in Krakow: 2026/2027 Guide

Income thresholds and support amounts 2026/2027

The statutory income threshold entitling to apply for a social scholarship is indexed and for 2026/2027 it is expected that it will exceed the amount of PLN 1500-1600 net per person (the exact rate is set by each university in consultation with the student government). If your income does not exceed this amount, you are entitled to a monthly payment. In Krakow, due to the high cost of rent in districts such as Krowodrza or the Old Town, students can apply for the so-called social scholarship in an increased amount. It is primarily available to people who have to commute to the university from distant towns and live in Krakow dormitories or rented apartments.

Required documentation in Krakow dean’s offices

When preparing an application for social support, you need to collect certificates from the Tax Office for the previous tax year, documents from the Social Insurance Institution on the amount of health insurance contributions and certificates on the size of the farm (if applicable). In the case of first-year students in Krakow, the university’s IT systems (e.g. USOSweb) usually open the call for applications in the first half of October. Remember that if your income is very low (below the threshold set out in the Social Assistance Act), you must attach a certificate from the Social Welfare Center about your and your family’s income and property situation.

Rector’s scholarship for first-year students – award for results from the matura exam

Many students mistakenly assume that the rector’s scholarship for academic results can only be received in the second year. At Krakow universities in 2026/2027, the Rector’s scholarship for first-year students is available to a strictly defined group of secondary school graduates.

Who can receive the Rector’s Scholarship at the start?

If you are a laureate of an international Olympiad or a laureate or finalist of a subject Olympiad with a nationwide scope, you are entitled to this benefit from the first semester of your studies in Krakow. In addition, this support is available to medalists of sports competitions for the title of Polish Champion in a given sport, as long as they have the status of a first-year student.

Rankings and scoring at the Jagiellonian University, AGH University of Science and Technology

At the Cracow University of Technology (PK) or the AGH University of Science and Technology, the Rector’s scholarship for the best first-year students is paid for 9 or 10 months. These amounts in 2026 may oscillate between PLN 800-1500 per month. It is crucial to submit the application on time with the certificate of the main committee of a given Olympiad. Remember that these achievements do not expire in the context of admission, but you must submit your scholarship application in person to the Student Affairs Department or through your university’s electronic system.

Municipal support system – City of Krakow Scholarship 2026/2027

Krakow, as a municipal municipality, offers its own support program for talented young people studying in the capital of Małopolska. The scholarship of the City of Krakow is independent of the benefits received at the university and focuses on students who demonstrate outstanding scientific, artistic or sports activity.

Criteria for awarding the city scholarship

To apply for these funds in the academic year 2026/2027, you must be a student at one of the Krakow universities and have a high average (if applicable to subsequent semesters) or outstanding achievements from the period before the start of studies (in the case of first-year students in certain categories). This program aims to retain the most talented people in Krakow who can contribute to the development of the local innovation and culture sector.

John Paul II Scholarships

It is also worth checking the offer of the John Paul II Thought Center and Krakow public benefit organizations, which award scholarships to first-year students on the basis of social engagement and academic results, while taking into account the candidate’s difficult financial situation. Applications for city scholarships are usually submitted at the Krakow City Hall (often in locations such as Powstania Warszawskiego Avenue).

Support for students with disabilities in Krakow centers

If you have a disability certificate, you can apply for a disability scholarship. In Krakow, each major university has a dedicated Office for Persons with Disabilities (BON), which coordinates the process of granting financial support.

Independence of income

This benefit is granted regardless of your income. The only document entitling to collect money in 2026/2027 is the current decision of the competent authority. The amount of the scholarship is gradable – it depends on the mild, moderate or significant degree of disability.

Additional funds from PFRON

First-year students in Krakow can also take advantage of the “Active Self-Government” program (Module II) financed by PFRON. It allows you to obtain a subsidy for tuition fees (in the case of non-public universities or paid studies) and an allowance to cover the costs of education (e.g. purchase of specialized software, computer hardware or Internet fees). Applications are submitted through the SOW (Support Service System).

Allowances – ad hoc support in random situations

A student’s life in Krakow can bring unforeseen events that rapidly worsen the financial situation. In this case, you are eligible to apply for student allowance.

When is the benefit entitled?

The allowance is a one-off benefit. You can apply for it in the 2026/2027 academic year if you have been affected by a random event, such as:

• death of a close family member
• serious illness of you or a family member,
• theft of necessary learning equipment in a Krakow dormitory or apartment,
• fire, flooding, or other natural disasters.

Deadlines and documentation of the event

You must usually submit an application for the allowance within 3 months of the occurrence of the event. At universities such as the University of the Commission of National Education (UKEN) or the University of Agriculture (URK), hard evidence is required: copies of death certificates, medical certificates, police protocols or documents from insurance companies. The amount of the allowance is determined individually by the scholarship committee and can range from several hundred to several thousand zlotys.

Minister’s Scholarship for First-Year Students

Although the scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education is associated mainly with older students, the system also provides support for people starting their education who have the status of an outstanding young scientist.

Criteria for scientific excellence

For a first-year student in Krakow, the year 2026/2027 may be the time to apply for this prestigious support if you demonstrate significant scientific achievements (publications, participation in research projects at the high school stage) or artistic achievements of international importance. Applications for the Minister’s scholarship are sent by the rector of your university after a positive opinion from the senate of a given institution (e.g. the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow or the Academy of Music).

How to secure funds for the first year in Krakow?

In order not to lose the chance of financial support, you need to act according to a strictly defined plan. Scholarship systems do not forgive formal errors and exceeding deadlines.

• Activate mObywatel and trusted profile: You will be submitting most scholarship applications in Krakow in 2026 electronically. A trusted signature is necessary to authorize documents in USOS systems.
• Monitor emails in the university domain: Information about the deadlines for submitting applications for social scholarships at AGH UST or the Jagiellonian University comes only to your new student mailbox. Ignoring these messages is the most common reason for losing support.
• Download the certificate of entry on the list of students: It is necessary for many non-university applications (e.g. for foundation scholarships or city programs). You will pick them up at the dean’s office right after matriculation.
• Apply to the scholarship committee of the local government: Members of the student council are most often the people who know the “hooks” in the benefits regulations best. They will help you calculate your income correctly, which is crucial for a social scholarship.
• Check out faculty funds: Some faculties of Krakow universities (especially technical and medical faculties) have signed agreements with business partners who offer “funded” scholarships for first-year students of selected strategic faculties.

Student Loan 2026/2027 – Repayable but Preferential Financial Support

If the sum of the social and rector’s scholarships awarded does not fully cover your living costs in Krakow, you should consider a student loan. In the academic year 2026/2027, it is one of the cheapest forms of financing science, offered by banks cooperating with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (e.g. PKO BP, PEKAO SA).

Conditions for obtaining and withdrawal amounts

You can apply for a student loan regardless of whether you are studying at a public university (such as the Jagiellonian University) or a non-public one. The key criterion is the income per person in the family, which in 2026 cannot exceed the threshold set by the Minister of Science (it is usually higher than the threshold for a social scholarship). You can choose the amount of the monthly tranche: from PLN 400 to even PLN 1000, paid for 10 months a year.

Possibility of loan forgiveness for the best

What makes a student loan extremely attractive for students of Krakow universities is the system of forgiveness. If you graduate in the group of 1%, 5% or 10% of the best graduates of your university (which is a challenge at prestigious AGH UST or UEK courses, but a realistic goal), you can count on a write-off of 20% to even 50% of the entire borrowed amount. You start repaying the loan only two years after defending your diploma thesis, which gives you time to find stable employment in Krakow corporations.

Bridging Scholarships – an opportunity for students from small towns

For many first-year students, moving to Krakow from smaller centers is a financial barrier. The Bridging Scholarships Program is an initiative addressed to you if you come from a village or city with up to 20 thousand inhabitants.

Criteria for the programme in the academic year 2026/2027

A bridging scholarship in the amount of approx. PLN 7000 (divided into installments over the first year of studies) is awarded to persons who:

• are children of former employees of the State Agricultural Farm,
• achieved good results in the matura exam,
• They come from low-income families.

You apply for bridging scholarships online, usually during the holiday period (July-August), even before the official start of the academic year in Krakow. It is an excellent complement to the social scholarship, allowing you to cover the costs of accommodation in student dormitories, such as the AGH UST Student Campus.

Subsidy for accommodation in Krakow dormitories

The specificity of the Krakow academic market is a large number of student dormitories of varying standards. In 2026, universities offer additional forms of support for people living in dormitories.

Housing allowance for social scholarship

As part of the application for a social scholarship, as a first-year student, you have the right to apply for an increase in the scholarship for living in a student dormitory or a facility other than a student dormitory (e.g. a rented room in Kurdwanów or Czyżyny). The condition is to document that daily travel from the place of permanent residence to Krakow would be impossible or significantly difficult.

Discounts in dormitory fees

Some Krakow universities, such as the Cracow University of Technology, apply a system of discounts for students in a particularly difficult financial situation, consisting in reducing the monthly rent for a place in a dormitory. You will receive information about such discounts directly from the manager of the respective student dormitory or from the student affairs office.

Tax Benefits and Benefits of Casual Work in Krakow

Financial support is not only direct transfers from the university, but also savings resulting from your student status. In 2026/2027, the Polish tax system is conducive to students taking up their first job.

Relief for young people (Zero PIT for a student)

If you decide to work casually in Krakow’s gastronomy, tourism or service sector, your salary up to PLN 85,528 per year is exempt from income tax (PIT). This ensures that your “handy” rate is equal to your gross rate. This is real financial support that allows you to supplement the budget without having to wait for the decision of the scholarship committee.

Exemption from social security contributions

If you work on a contract and have student status (a valid ELS card), your employer does not pay social security contributions. For you, this means a higher transfer every month, which in Krakow’s market realities at hourly rates in 2026 is a significant cash injection.

Grants and scholarships of scientific circles – money for projects

Krakow’s universities (especially AGH and PK) are famous for their strong scientific circles. Although it is not a classic social scholarship, participation in research projects can bring you real financial benefits.

• Rector’s Grants: Scientific clubs apply for funds for the implementation of specific projects (e.g. the construction of solar boats or Mars rovers). As a team member, you can receive remuneration as part of the grant or reimbursement of research travel expenses. 
• Scholarships from EU projects: Many faculties implement programmes funded by the EU Structural Funds. First-year students can often take part in paid internships with the university’s industrial partners, which is a form of support combined with gaining experience.

Scholarships funded by business partners of Krakow universities

Krakow is one of the most important technology and business hubs in Europe (often referred to as the “Krakow Silicon Valley”). Companies such as Comarch, Motorola Solutions, ABB and Nokia work closely with Krakow’s technical and economic universities. For a first-year student in the 2026/2027 academic year, this means a chance for funded scholarships.

IT and FinTech Giant Scholarship Programs

At faculties such as Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunications (especially at AGH UST and the Cracow University of Technology), strategic partners offer dedicated support programs. They are often not published in the general USOS system, but on the websites of specific faculties or career offices.

• Internship Scholarships: Some companies offer a “start-up scholarship” in exchange for a declaration of a paid internship after the first year of study.
• Competitions for the index and scholarship: Companies such as Comarch organize competitions for university candidates, where the prize is not only a place at the university, but also constant financial support for the first semester.

Support for foreign students and people with the Pole’s Card

Krakow is the city with the highest percentage of international students in Poland. In the academic year 2026/2027, the support system for people of Polish origin and foreigners is very extensive, which is crucial for people coming mainly from across the eastern border.

General Józef Bem Scholarship Program

It is a prestigious program addressed to people of Polish origin ( holders of the Pole’s Card) who are starting their studies in Krakow. It allows you to cover the costs of living and accommodation.

• Art Universities: First-year students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow or the Academy of Music can apply for government scholarships under bilateral agreements between Poland and other countries.
• Stefan Banach Scholarship: Addressed to students from the Eastern Partnership countries and Central Asia, starting second-cycle studies, but in 2026 components are also planned to support outstanding high school graduates from these regions to start first-cycle studies in Krakow.

Microgrant programs and funds of scientific circles to start

As a first-year student in Krakow, you can apply for the so-called microgrants for personal development. Many Krakow universities as part of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” (IDUB) programs allocate funds to support the innovative ideas of the youngest students.

Funding of the first research projects

If you join a research club in the first semester (e.g. at the University of Agriculture in Krakow or the University of the National Education Commission), you can apply for funding for your first research project.

• Material cost coverage: These grants often include the purchase of reagents, prototype parts, or software.
• Trips to conferences: As a first-year student, you can get reimbursement of travel costs and conference fees if you represent a Krakow university with your own paper or scientific poster.

Krakow religious and regional foundations

It is one of the largest scholarship funds in Poland, with a particularly strong presence in Krakow. Scholarship holders (the so-called “living monument of John Paul II”) receive support divided into two packages:

• Social package: To cover the costs of accommodation and food in Krakow.
• Scientific package: For the purchase of books, language courses and study aids.

Economic aspects of studying – hidden financial savings

Financial support also means real relief in the cost of living, which in Wrocław or Warsaw is often higher than in some areas of Krakow.

• MPK Krakow Semester Ticket: As a first-year student, by obtaining the Krakow Card (even with temporary registration), you gain access to the cheapest season tickets in Poland. In 2026, a semester ticket for all lines is a cost that is a fraction of the price of single tickets on a monthly basis.
• Student canteens and milk bars: Krakow is famous for its milk bars (e.g. “U Józefa” in Krowodrzy or “Pod Temidą” on Grodzka Street), which receive subsidies from the state budget for meals for students. It is de facto indirect material assistance, allowing for a full dinner for the price of a few zlotys.

FAQs about Scholarships in Krakow 2026/2027

Can I receive a social scholarship and a rector’s scholarship at the same time?

Yes, the scholarship system in Poland allows you to combine benefits. You can receive a social scholarship, a rector’s scholarship and a scholarship for people with disabilities at the same time. However, you must remember about the limit of the total amount of scholarships (social and rector’s), which in 2026 cannot exceed a certain percentage of the professor’s salary.

Can I get a benefit if I lost my laptop for studying?

Yes, the theft of electronic equipment (e.g. from a locked room in a dormitory) confirmed by a police note is treated as a random event. You can apply for a one-time allowance for the purchase of a new device.

Does siblings’ income count towards my application?

In the scholarship application, you include your parents and siblings studying up to the age of 26. Siblings’ income (e.g. from holiday jobs) must also be demonstrated, which may affect the average income per person.

Am I entitled to a scholarship as a part-time student in Krakow?

Yes, part-time students (part-time, evening) have the same right to apply for a social scholarship, rector’s scholarship or allowance as full-time students. The income and scientific criteria are identical.

What if my parents work abroad?

You must submit documents on income earned outside Polish, translated by a sworn translator. In Krakow, scholarship committees precisely verify exchange rates on the day of income, in accordance with the regulations of your university.

Is the social scholarship awarded for one year or for a semester?

Typically, scholarships are awarded for an academic year (9 or 10 months). However, if your financial situation changes during the year (e.g. your parent loses his job), you have the right to apply for a recalculation of your income and the granting of the benefit during the summer semester.

Do I have to return my scholarship if I drop out of my studies during the first semester?

Generally, scholarships paid up to the date of resignation are non-refundable as long as the application has been submitted truthfully. However, as soon as you are removed from the list of students, you lose the right to further payments. Exceptions are situations in which the university is misled (e.g. concealment of income) is proven.

Securing funding for your studies in Krakow in 2026/2027 requires you to be proactive from the first days of October. The key to success is the reliable collection of income documentation and monitoring of intra-university deadlines. Regardless of whether your goal is a social scholarship at the Jagiellonian University or a rector’s scholarship at AGH, remember that these funds are the right of every student who meets the criteria. Krakow offers a wide range of support, which, with proper application management, can cover a significant part of your living costs in the city.