The COVID-19 epidemic raised questions about the future of foreign exchange programmes for students. It is then a great surprise that young people all over the world seem much more keener study in Poland.

This year's Polish National Agency for Student Exchange (NAWA) has published record numbers of applicants for scholarships and exchange programmes in Poland despite demanding circumstances of COVID-19 as well as consequent travel restrictions. Applications from the students of Polish origin (who are permitted to enrol in who can participate in The gen. Anders Programme for the Polish diaspora) or international students from around the world - Indonesia, Columbia, Columbia, Mexico, Vietnam or the Central Asian Countries - have increased considerably through the Administrator of a variety of programmes inviting young people from abroad to study in Poland.

As announced by NAW Agency, the Gen. Anders Program – more than twice as many as last year – and more than 2,300 Ignacy Šukasiewicz Scholarship applicants have been submitted four times more than in 2019.

As a result of the outbreak of the pandemic, internet applications and interviews were carried out this year and certain deadlines were delayed. However, the Agency officials have shared that they should look forward to the next academic years with confidence by relaxing their 14-day obligatory quarantine for students from abroad.

For more information on the NAWA programmes, visit the website of the Polish National Academical Agency: he gen. Anders Programme, The Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme, The Ignacy Łukasiewicz Scholarship Programme or Poland My First Choice Programme. The website offers updates on various Polish language and culture enthusiasts' programmes.