The Polish-American Freedom Foundation Founder of the Program and Leaders of Change Foundation Program Administrator announce an open competition for candidates from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan for the 2026 KIRKLAND RESEARCH scholarships.

Within the Kirkland Research Program, we offer a scholarship for a one-semester research stay in Poland during the 2026/27 academic year for candidates with a PhD degree who have an established academic position.

Application deadline is March 1, 2026.

Announcement Apply Reference letter

Financial information

  • stipend paid for four months (2,700 PLN per month)
  • accommodation provided during the four months stay in Poland

FIELDS:

  • Economics and Management
  • Administration / Management in Business, NGOs, Culture, Education and Healthcare
  • Public Administration (Central and Local Government Administration)
  • Law (including Human Rights with Issues of Migration)
  • Social Sciences (Social Psychology, Sociology)
  • Political Science and International Relations
  • Environmental and Climate Protection
  • Security and Cybersecurity
  • Crisis Management
  • Development Policy and Humanitarian Aid
  • Fields related to the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the war e.g. urban planning, civil engineering, forensic science, etc.

In addition, the Program administrator provides:

  • reimbursement of travel expenses (arrival in Poland and return) according to limits set annually
  • reimbursement of public transport costs
  • scientific and didactic package up to PLN 3,500
  • health insurance for medical outpatient care, treatment costs in case of an emergency, and civil liability insurance
  • participation in additional training courses and Polish language classes

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

You must

  • have citizenship and permanent residence in one of the countries covered by the Kirkland Research Program: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan; the competition is also open to citizens of Belarus or Ukraine residing in Poland for political reasons, who found themselves in Poland after January 2025;
  • be under 45 years of age;
  • have experience in research and scientific work – minimum 4 years;
  • have at least two years break from participation in any previous scholarship abroad that was longer than 6 months; this criterion does not apply to candidates from Ukraine or Belarus, staying in Poland since 2025;
  • have scientific achievements, including publications;
  • have the knowledge of Polish or English at minimum B2 level. (In the case of having English at B2 level, Polish must be at least at A1 level).

Preferences

The Program offer is addressed to candidates who have not participated in the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program; have not completed their doctoral studies in Poland; during the scholarship period are not bound by an employment contract with any Polish university/institution.

Required documents

  • You must fill-in the on-line application form, and include the following:

    • personal data questionnaire.
    • description of the candidate’s scientific activity.
    • research work project – justification for participation in the Kirkland Research Program, together with proposals for how the results of conducted research will be used (7500-12000 characters with spaces).

     

    Sample of application form

     

  • Two letters of reference (in Polish or English) confirming the candidate’s achievements, qualifications and the usefulness of the research to be conducted through participation in the Kirkland Research Program in the candidate’s further development and work in his/her professional or social field.

  • A copy of the PhD diploma.