The Kosciuszko Foundation annually awards a number of Fellowships/Grants to Poles for advanced study, research, and/or teaching at universities and other institutions of higher learning in the United States.

The Foundation provides a cost-of-living stipend, which includes transatlantic travel, housing allowance, health and accident insurance coverage, and (when warranted) domestic travel.

There are no allowances for dependents (spouse and children). Recipients are solely responsible for all expenses of accompanying dependents.

There are no restrictions to fields of study/research.

Awards generally range $3,000 per month and depend on the duration of stay.

Most candidates can expect a stay from 3 to 5 months.

Only Teaching Fellowships can be awarded for periods of up to 10 months from the start date.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DATES

This Application process is for the academic year 2019-2020, which starts September 1st, 2019 and ends August 31st, 2020.

The start date for 2019-2020 applications is July 18th, 2018.

The new application deadline for 2019-2020 is Wednesday, October 31st, 2018, midnight - Eastern Standard Time (EST). 

Please have recommendation letters forwarded via email to ExchangeToTheUS@thekf.org. Receipt of recommendation letters will be confirmed via email within the next few days.

December 2018 - the KF Committee will choose applicants for interviews in Warsaw. All chosen applicants will be informed and invited for their sessions accordingly.

February 2019 - the interviews in Warsaw will be organized by our KF Scholarship Committee. 

By the end of March 2019 - the KF Committee will decides who receive grants, scholarships. All applicants will be informed about the results accordingly.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Currently, the Kosciuszko Foundation's Exchange Program to the U.S. has 4 award categories:

Fellowships: awarded to successful candidates with doctoral degrees, including postgraduate scholars, professionals, or artists. 

Grants: awarded to candidates without doctoral degrees.

Teaching Fellowships: Only Polish Studies - Polish language teaching, Polish culture - University faculty members with teaching assignments at U.S. universities, in addition to individual research projects.

Centennial Award is a 3-month scholarship in honor of the centennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and the United States in 1919. This new exchange grant from the Kosciuszko Foundation will be offered during the 2019-20 application cycle to a committed researcher who is eager to enrich and share their expertise in the field of Polish-U.S. relations over the last century. The best candidates for "Centennial Award" will be historians, professors of American Studies or Ph.D. candidates researching important moments of Polish-U.S. history after Poland regained its independence in 1918. 

ELIGIBILITY

Only Polish citizens permanently residing in Poland are eligible. This program is NOT for Poles residing outside of Poland, or those residing temporarily outside of Poland, whether or not engaged in research/study.

Dual citizens (the United States and Poland) as well as individuals holding the United States permanent residency status (green card) are not eligible. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Applicants must hold an M.A. or M.S. degree prior to the commencement date of the award. Preference is given to doctoral or postdoctoral candidates. Current academic affiliation is required in all cases and must be documented with a certificate from an institution of academic employment or study.

Applicants must have strong English language proficiency in order to carry out their proposed projects. English proficiency will be assessed during personal interviews in Warsaw.

The Foundation does not support short-term academic visits to deliver a paper at a conference or take part in a seminar or training.

The Foundation does not subsidize any publications via this type of scholarship.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The application must be completed online. Please ensure that all of the following documentation is readily available:

1. A well-defined typewritten proposal (at most 500 words) for conducting work in the United States with specific study/research plans. Please note that if selected for the interview phase in February 2019, candidates will have an additional opportunity to promote their research to the Kosciuszko Foundation's Scholarship Committee.
2. A current invitation from a US educational institution where the applicant plans to conduct research/studies. Applicants must secure their own placement or affiliation; the Foundation does not assist in establishing contacts. Arrangements must be in place before submission of the application.
3. A detailed curriculum vitae, including a list of important and recent publications of which the applicant is the principal author.
4. Three letters of reference (at least one must be from outside of your academic affiliation) must be received by the Kosciuszko Foundation before October 31, 2018. These must be on letterhead, with the printed name and signature of the recommender on the document, and must be sent via email attachment from a recommender's email address from his/her University to the ExchangeToTheUS@thekf.org by October 31, 2018. Recommendations sent directly by the applicant will result in disqualification. Additional information regarding the reference letters may be obtained from the PREVIEW application below.  
5. Literary writers, journalists, and critics must support their research proposal with significant samples of their work.
6. Visual artists are required to submit (together with their applications) catalogs, photographs, slides, or videos of their work. All materials submitted are nonreturnable. These may also be mailed.

All research proposals are reviewed by the Kosciuszko Foundation's Academic Advisory Committee.

Based on the Committee's recommendations, selected candidates are invited for personal interviews in February 2019 in Warsaw, before a joint American and Polish Academic Commission. Award announcements are made by the end of March 2019.

PLEASE NOTE

All Fellowships/Grants are for the academic year following submission of an application (for example an application filed in October 2018 is for the 2019-2020 academic year).

Award duration ranges from 3-10 months, as determined by the Kosciuszko Foundation.

The Kosciuszko Foundation has a right to revoke any grant/fellowship in the event that a recipient is found to have violated laws of the United States, failed to maintain high academic or professional standards, and in cases of mental incapacitation.

The Foundation does provide visa application support for successful candidates. In some cases, U.S. universities/institutions offer to provide support for visa applications internally.

Fellowship/Grant recipients may re-apply after a period of 5 years.

Applications of unsuccessful candidates are valid for 2 years only.

In order to re-apply, Applicants MUST SUBMIT:

(1) a letter requesting reconsideration

(2) a letter confirming the applicant's continued institutional academic affiliation in Poland

(3) an updated invitation from a United States academic institution. Foundation grants do not cover tuition costs or university studies at any level.

Checklist of Documents             

You will need to upload several documents to complete the application:

1. A 2" by 2" US visa photo, a full-face photograph of yourself (taken within the last 6 months).
2. A research proposal - max. 500 words.
3. An invitation from the American institution you wish to attend.
4. Evidence of current academic employment.
5. Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications.
6. Diplomas scans (Master's and any applicable advanced degrees). 

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***Please have recommendation letters forwarded via email to ExchangeToTheUS@thekf.org. Receipt of recommendation letters will be confirmed via email within the next few days.***

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Founded in 1925, the Kosciuszko Foundation promotes closer ties between Poland and the United States through educational, scientific and cultural exchanges. It awards up to $1 million annually in fellowships and grants to graduate students, scholars, scientists, professionals, and artists, and promotes Polish culture in America. The Foundation has awarded scholarships and provided a forum to Poles who have changed history.