Everything You Need to Know About the Social Scholarship – 2026/2027 academic year
Category: 2026/2027, Social scholarship
Key Information
Applications for the Social Scholarship for the winter semester of the 2026/2027 academic year open on 1 September. Here are the key information:
- This form of financial support is available to students in difficult financial circumstances where the monthly income per person in the family does not exceed PLN 2,099.70.
- An application must be submitted twice a year – once for the winter semester and once for the summer semester (the scholarship may be awarded for a maximum of five months in each semester).
- In addition to the scholarship application, you must submit an income declaration for 2025.
- Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the USOSweb system – there is no need to print the application or submit the original supporting documents.
- The earlier you submit your application, the more favourable the outcome may be.
Example: If you submit your application on 31 October, you may be awarded the scholarship with payments backdated to October. If you submit your application on 1 November, the scholarship may be awarded from November onwards, without backdated payment for October.
The original submission date is taken into account, even if the application subsequently requires amendments, so it is advisable to submit your application as early as possible, even if it is incomplete.
To apply for the Social Scholarship, you must submit:
- an income declaration of income for the 2026/2027 academic year (base year: 2025); and
- an application for the social scholarship for the winter/summer semester of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The date on which the application is submitted is crucial; however, you cannot complete the application without first submitting the income declaration.
How can I check whether I am eligible for the Social Scholarship?
The most common reason for refusal of a scholarship is exceeding the maximum number of semesters of study:
- first-cycle studies – more than 9 semesters;
- second-cycle studies – more than 7 semesters;
- a total of more than 12 semesters.
Each semester in which a person has held student status counts, including semesters spent studying abroad. In the application, you must provide the start and completion dates of all studies undertaken outside the University of Warsaw, as well as the dates on which you were removed from the list of students.
IMPORTANT: Everything You Need to Know About the Total Period for Which Benefits Are Available
Furthermore, the Social Scholarship cannot be awarded:
- for a first-cycle studies if the student already holds a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent or higher-level qualification;
- for a second-cycle studies if the student already holds a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification;
Who should be included in the family household?
As a general rule, the following persons are included in the composition of the family:
- the applicant;
- both parents;
- the applicant’s spouse;
- children;
- siblings who are under 18, studying and under 26, or have a disability (regardless of age).
A parent (one or both) is not included in the composition of the family if:
- the parent is deceased;
- the parent is legally obliged to pay maintenance under a court judgment;
- the parent is serving a custodial sentence;
- the parent has been reported missing and this has been confirmed by the Police.
When is it not necessary to provide the income of parents (and siblings)?
In certain circumstances, you do not need to provide the income of family members. This applies if the person applying for the scholarship:
- has reached the age of 26; or
- is married; or
- has children who are dependent on them; or
- reached adulthood while in foster care; or
- has a regular source of income and their average monthly income in the previous tax year and in the current year (in the months preceding the month in which the declaration is submitted) amounts to PLN 1,866.40 or more.
Which period is taken into account when calculating income?
The base year is 2025, and income for that year is taken into account on the basis of a certificate issued by the Tax Office. However, your current financial situation is also taken into account. Therefore, if, after 31 December 2025 and up to the date on which you submit your declaration, you gain a new source of income (e.g. start a new job) or lose income earned in 2025 (e.g. lose your job), you must report this.
Find out more about the income declaration here: Everything You Need to Know About the Income Declaration [SOCIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2026/2027]..
What documents are required to complete the income declaration?
| Applicant: | Applicant’s parents | Applicant’s adult siblings | Applicant’s minor siblings | |
| Mandatory documents | 1. Certificate from the Tax Office confirming income and the amount of social insurance contributions for 2025.
2. Certificate from ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) confirming the amount of health insurance contributions for 2025, including insurance codes (unless you had no income in 2025). 3. Declaration of non-taxable income for 2025. |
1. Certificate from the Tax Office confirming income and the amount of social insurance contributions for 2025.
2. Certificate from ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) confirming the amount of health insurance contributions for 2025, including insurance codes (unless the parent had no income in 2025). 3. Declaration of non-taxable income for 2025. |
1. Certificate from the Tax Office confirming income and the amount of social insurance contributions for 2025.
2. Certificate from ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) confirming the amount of health insurance contributions for 2025, including insurance codes (unless the parent had no income in 2025). 3. Certificate confirming enrolment at a school/university and/or disability certificate 4. Declaration of non-taxable income for 2025. |
1. Certificate confirming enrolment at a school/university. |
| Additional documents | If one parent is not included in the composition of the family: child maintenance judgement/settlement agreement (a court settlement or a settlement concluded before a mediator and approved by the court), confirmation that a child maintenance claim has been dismissed, death certificate, full copy of the birth certificate (where the father is unknown), or a certificate from the Police (where the parent is missing). | |||
| Income lost in 2025 or thereafter | Employment contract or employment certificate and PIT-11 from the relevant employer.
In the event of deregistration of a business, a CEIDG extract. |
|||
| Income earned after 2025 | Certificate confirming the amount of income for the second month after entering into the contract, together with an employment contract, contract of mandate, or certificate from the employer. | |||
- Certificates from the Tax Office and ZUS cannot be replaced by a personal income tax document [pl. PIT] or any other document.
- Do not worry – if you fail to attach any of the required documents, you will be given an opportunity to complete your application.
PLEASE NOTE! The full list of required documents can be found in the Rules and Regulations on Student Benefits at the University of Warsaw (Appendices 1 and 2).
Where members of the family own an agricultural holding
In this case, you must provide a certificate from the relevant municipal office confirming the size of the agricultural holding in physical hectares and conversion hectares for 2025. In such cases, the relevant certificates from the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) should be provided instead of documents from ZUS.
Can I apply for the increased amount of the Social Scholarship?
Meeting any one of the following criteria is sufficient to qualify for the Social Scholarship at an increased amount.
| Criterion | Supporting document (one of the documents listed is sufficient) |
| a first-year student of a first-cycle or a long-cycle studies meets the eligibility criteria for the Rector’s Scholarship | ● certificate confirming that the student is a laureate or finalist of an academic competition – as for the Rector’s Scholarship |
| the student has been awarded the Rector’s scholarship or the Minister’s scholarship for significant achievements during the academic year:
● in which he/she applies for the increased amount of the social scholarship, or ● preceding the one for which he/she applies for the increased amount of the social scholarship |
● certificate or diploma confirming receipt of the Minister’s Scholarship;
● decision awarding the Rector’s Scholarship or certificate confirming receipt of the scholarship (for universities other than the University of Warsaw) |
| the applicant is dependent on parents, legal guardians or actual guardians regularly and currently receiving one or more of the following benefits: permanent allowance, purpose-specific allowance, periodic allowance, special purpose-specific allowance, attendance allowance or childcare benefit, or is himself/herself regularly and currently receiving them | ● document from a social welfare centre confirming receipt of support – a decision or certificate |
| the applicant has reached the age of majority while living in foster care, is not dependent on parents, legal guardians or actual guardians and has not reached the age of 25 | ● court judgment or certificate confirming that the applicant reached adulthood while in foster care |
| the applicant is an orphan and has not reached the age of 25. | ● parents’ death certificates |
| daily commuting from the student’s permanent place of residence makes studying difficult or impossible | ● Screenshot of an online map showing the route from the place of residence to the university
● proof of purchase of a public transport season ticket for travel to the university ● confirmation of accommodation in a student hall of residence |
Please! The most common criterion, the so-called commuting criterion, applies both to students who commute to the university every day from other towns and to those who are required to rent accommodation in Warsaw because of the distance from their permanent place of residence, including students living in student halls of residence.
Amount of the Social Scholarship in the 2026/2027 academic year
- the Social Scholarship amounts to [information will be provided in October 2026]
- the Social Scholarship at an increased amount amounts to [information will be provided in October 2026]
- the base amount is [information will be provided in October 2026]
- the income threshold is PLN 2,099.70
Payment dates in the 2026/2027 academic year
The Social Scholarship will be paid by the University of Warsaw Bursar’s Office on the following dates:
[Information will be provided in October 2026.]
Net. Health and social insurance contributions and taxes are deducted from income, which is why all the required documents must be provided. There is no need to worry. The coordinators check every declaration and will make corrections or ask you to amend it if anything is incorrect. No. The coordinators verify the declaration only once the application has been submitted, so you should not delay submitting your application. There is no need to do so. Your financial situation after the decision has been issued is not subject to verification and does not affect your entitlement to the scholarship, including if you subsequently receive a new and substantial source of income. Unfortunately, the opposite situation cannot be taken into account either: if your income suddenly decreases after the decision has been issued, you may nevertheless apply for the financial aid. Further information: Social scholarship