The UNESCO/Poland Co-Sponsored Fellowships in Engineering 2025 is a prestigious, fully funded program designed to enhance the human resource capacities of developing countries in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. Jointly organised by the Polish National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Chair for Science, Technology, and Engineering at AGH University of Krakow, this initiative offers 28 fellowships to qualified candidates from selected developing Member States. The fellowship provides an opportunity for participants to undertake individual research projects at AGH University of Krakow over a six-month period, from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
Through this initiative, 28 fully funded fellowships will be awarded to selected candidates to pursue individual research in Science, Technology, and Engineering. The key aim is to strengthen international collaboration, promote scientific excellence, and enhance intercultural understanding. This prestigious program has consistently empowered researchers to engage in transformative scientific work while living in one of Europe’s cultural capitals.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for this fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Nationality: Be a citizen of one of the 57 eligible developing Member States.
Educational Background: Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in science, technology, or engineering-related fields. Some projects may require a Master’s (MSc) or PhD degree.
Age Limit: Be under 32 years of age at the time of application.
Language Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in English. If English is not the applicant’s mother tongue, a UNESCO Certificate of Language Knowledge is required.
Health: Be in good health, as certified by a medical examination.
Eligible Countries
- AFRICA (21 Member States) • Angola • Burkina Faso • Cape Verde • Côte d’Ivoire • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Eritrea • Ethiopia • Gabon • Gambia • Kenya • Malawi • Mali • Mozambique • Nigeria • Senegal • South Africa •The Comoros • the Seychelles • Uganda • United Republic of Tanzania • Zambia
ARAB STATES (2 Member States) • Bahrain • Iraq
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (22 Member States) • Bhutan • Brunei Darussalam • Fiji • Independent State of Samoa • Kazakhstan • Kyrgyzstan • Mongolia • Nauru • Pakistan • Palau • Papua New Guinea • Republic of Kiribati • Republic of Maldives • Tajikistan • Thailand • The Solomon Islands • Tonga • Turkmenistan • Tuvalu • Uzbekistan • Vanuatu • Viet Nam
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (12 Member States) • Barbados • Cuba • Dominican Republic • El Salvador • Haiti • Jamaica • Mexico • Peru • Saint Lucia • Saint Vincent and Grenadines • Trinidad and Tobago • The Bahamas
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
Completed UNESCO Fellowship Application Form (4 pages, in English, capital letters).
Copy of valid passport.
Passport-sized photograph.
Certified copies of academic degrees (with Apostille or official legalisation).
UNESCO Certificate of Language Knowledge (if English is not the mother tongue)
Two letters of recommendation dated 2025 from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional work.
How to Apply – Guidance for Candidates
Before you start your application, please check Annex II (List of Invited Member States) and Annex III to make sure your country (nationality) is eligible for your intended project/field of research.
Step 1:
Read carefully Annex I (Terms and Conditions) and Annex IV (List of fields of research/project titles as determined by the Polish authorities) for the 2025 edition of UNESCO/Poland Co-Sponsored Fellowships in Engineering to understand the requirements for eligible candidatures and the procedures for application submission.Step 2:
Contact the National Commission for UNESCO of your country to enquire about the application procedures at the national level. Click here for the contact information of the National Commissions for UNESCO.Step 3:
Prepare your application, including the following supporting documents.- UNESCO fellowships Application Form, All 4 pages duly completed in English using capital letter (illegible documents will be eliminated from the evaluation procedure, and handwritten forms must be written in capital letters only);
- A copy of the applicant’s passport
- A copy of the identity photo of the applicant;
- Certified copies (in English) of Bachelor’s, Master’s Degree or PhD degree obtained (with Apostille or authorised by competent authority); For countries that do not recognise the Apostille: legalization the above documents in the country of issue is required.
- A UNESCO certificate of language knowledge, duly completed by a relevant authority, if the mother tongue of the candidate is not English.
- Two letters of recommendation from people familiar with the candidate’s work, confirming their qualifications (dated 2025).
Step 4:
Submit your application with all the supporting documents mentioned above to the National Commission for UNESCO of your country.NOTE: As the National Commissions for UNESCO of the invited countries will select and transmit the applications of nominated candidates to UNESCO Paris Headquarters by 12 May 2025 at the latest, applicants are advised to submit their applications to the National Commissions as early as possible.
Step 5:
As soon as you are informed by the National Commission for UNESCO of your country that you are endorsed and nominated as a candidate for this programme, you should submit your application by email to agh.poland@unesco.org (with uniune25@agh.edu.pl and Fellowships.Engineering@unesco.pl in copy) and then complete and submit the online information sheet this link.Facilities Offered
By Polish Authorities:
Free tuition and access to university facilities.
Accommodation at the AGH UST Student Campus in Kraków.
Monthly allowance:
1800 PLN for Bachelor’s degree holders.
2200 PLN for Master’s degree holders.
One-time special allowance upon arrival:
1800 PLN for Bachelor’s degree holders.
2200 PLN for Master’s degree holders.
By UNESCO:
International travel expenses (most direct and economical route) to and from Krakow, Poland.
Health insurance (up to $50,000 USD) in accordance with EU requirements for Schengen visa
One-time special pocket allowance of $120 USD.
Selection Process
Applicants should submit their application documents through the National Commissions.
The National Commission of Invited Member States will select qualified candidates and transmit to UNESCO the Letters of Endorsement and all the application documents of the nominated candidates by e-mail listed in step 5 above by Monday, 12 May 2025, midnight Paris time at the latest. Candidatures with incomplete applications or submitted after this deadline won’t be considered.
The selection of fellowship recipients will be made and decided by the concerned Polish authorities, taking into consideration gender equality and diversity. The National Commissions for UNESCO of the selected fellows will be duly informed by UNESCO.
VISA
Fellows from countries with a Polish Embassy or Consulate must obtain their entry visa for Poland before departure. Those from countries without a Polish Embassy or Consulate should secure their visa through the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Republic of Poland.
UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Poland do not provide financial assistance for passport or visa expenses. Selected beneficiaries are responsible for obtaining their own visas.
Pro Tips for Applicants
- Project Selection: Carefully review the list of available projects and select those that align closely with your academic background and research interests.
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Language Proficiency: If English is not your native language, arrange to obtain the UNESCO Certificate of Language Knowledge promptly.
Recommendation Letters: Choose referees who are well-acquainted with your academic or professional work and can provide strong endorsements.
National Commission Engagement: Maintain regular communication with your country’s National Commission for UNESCO to stay informed about any additional requirements or deadlines.
- Opportunities like the UNESCO/Poland Co-Sponsored Fellowships don’t come around every day. It’s more than just a fully funded research program; it’s a chance to grow, connect, and contribute to global progress through science, technology, and engineering. Head over to the UNESCO official website to get started.
