Scholarship Programmes
BAYHOST
Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe
BAYHOST – Coordination Office for Ukraine
BAYHOST is a well‑known academic center based in Bavaria, Germany, which promotes academic exchange between Bavaria and the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Its main mission is to support Bavarian higher education institutions in initiating, developing and strengthening cooperation with partner universities and research organizations across this region.
Key activities and opportunities
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Scholarships and funding. BAYHOST administers one‑year scholarships funded by the Free State of Bavaria for graduates from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (including Ukraine) to pursue Master’s or PhD studies or one‑year research stays at Bavarian universities; these scholarships can often be extended up to a total of three years.
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Summer language courses. Students and young researchers from the target countries with at least B1 level of German can receive scholarships for intensive German summer courses at Bavarian universities; the funding usually covers course fees, accommodation and a food allowance.
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Taras Shevchenko Program for Ukraine. Within this program, BAYHOST additionally offers German language summer courses and preparatory opportunities specifically for Ukrainian pupils, prospective students and students with at least basic German (typically from A2 level).
Support for partnerships and mobility
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Development of academic partnerships. BAYHOST helps Bavarian universities establish and expand cooperation with partner institutions by identifying suitable contacts, advising on joint projects, and maintaining a broad network of experts and university partners in the region.
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Promotion of student and staff mobility. The center supports incoming and outgoing mobility of students, academic staff and young researchers through scholarships, small mobility grants, and information on other German and European funding schemes.
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Advisory and information services. BAYHOST provides intercultural expertise, information on existing collaborations, guidance on study and research opportunities in Bavaria and partner countries, as well as assistance in finding internships and early‑career positions related to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
NAWA
NAWA is a Polish governmental agency established in 2017 to coordinate and support academic mobility and the internationalization of Polish higher education and research institutions. Its core mission is to strengthen Polish science and higher education through international exchange and cooperation, benefiting both Polish and foreign students, doctoral candidates, researchers and universities.
Main areas of activity
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Programmes for students. NAWA offers scholarship and exchange programmes for foreign students wishing to study in Poland, as well as schemes supporting the outgoing mobility of Polish students to partner institutions abroad.
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Programmes for researchers. The agency funds research visits, postdoctoral fellowships, “Polish Returns” schemes and other mobility programmes that enable scientists from different countries to conduct research in Poland or in partnership with Polish teams.
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Programmes for institutions. NAWA supports Polish universities and research institutes in building and developing international cooperation, including joint projects, strategic partnerships, and international promotion activities.
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Polish language programmes. Dedicated programmes promote and support the teaching and learning of the Polish language worldwide, including summer schools and language scholarships for foreigners.
Flagship and special initiatives
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“Ready, Study, GO! Poland” campaign. This initiative promotes Poland globally as an attractive destination for higher education and research, providing information on study opportunities, living conditions and scholarship schemes for international candidates.
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“Solidarity with Ukraine” programme. Launched in response to Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, this programme enables Polish institutions to host Ukrainian refugees – students and doctoral candidates – and support them in continuing their studies and research in Poland.
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Support for academic mobility and international visibility. Through its broad portfolio of programmes and promotional campaigns, NAWA helps increase the international presence of Polish universities and facilitates sustainable academic cooperation with partners worldwide, especially in Europe.
DAAD
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) – Scholarship Programmes for Ukraine
DAAD Ukraine Information Centre, Kyiv
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers a broad range of funding opportunities for students and researchers from Ukraine, supporting study and research stays in Germany and long‑term academic cooperation between Ukrainian and German institutions. Its main goal is to promote international academic exchange and to strengthen higher education and science through mobility and partnership programmes.
Main funding lines
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Master’s degree scholarships. DAAD supports full‑time Master’s studies in Germany, usually for 10–24 months, with scholarships that typically cover living expenses, travel allowance, health insurance and study/research costs at state or state‑recognised higher education institutions.
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Research stays for graduates and young researchers. Dedicated programmes (including “Future Ukraine – Research Grants for Ukrainian Master’s students and researchers”) fund research stays of about 1–6 months at German universities or non‑university research institutions, carried out under the supervision of a host in Germany.
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Support for academic partnerships. DAAD finances and advises cooperation projects between Ukrainian and German universities, including joint study programmes, capacity‑building projects, staff and student exchanges, and networking formats that contribute to Ukraine’s academic reconstruction.
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German language courses. Various DAAD programmes offer funding for intensive German language courses in Germany (often summer schools) and support preparatory language training for scholarship holders when needed.
Key services and benefits
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Financial support. DAAD scholarships usually include a monthly stipend (amount depending on academic level), travel allowance, health insurance and, where applicable, additional benefits for family or special needs, enabling funded persons to focus fully on their studies or research.
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Academic mobility and networking. Through its programmes, DAAD facilitates mobility of students, doctoral candidates, postdocs and academics between Ukraine and Germany, and maintains a large alumni network that supports ongoing cooperation.
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Information and advisory services in Ukraine. The DAAD Information Centre in Kyiv, reopened in 2024, provides on‑site and online counselling, promotes cooperation between Ukrainian and German universities, and serves as a central contact point for roughly 4,000 DAAD alumni in Ukraine.
Special focus on Ukraine
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“Future Ukraine” research grants. This programme specifically supports highly qualified Ukrainian Master’s students, doctoral candidates and postdocs for short research stays in Germany, aiming to strengthen Ukrainian universities and enable young scientists to contribute to the country’s recovery and scientific development.
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Flexible support measures for Ukrainians. Since 2022, DAAD has launched and adapted several special measures to assist Ukrainian students and researchers, including flexible use of funds in existing projects, extensions of stays, and new scholarships for those who had to flee or whose studies were disrupted by the war.
Visegrad Fund
The International Visegrad Fund was established in 2000 by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to promote regional cooperation within the Visegrad Group (V4) and to support the Eastern Partnership countries, including Ukraine. The Fund pursues its mission by financing projects, youth exchanges and individual mobility programmes.
The main activities of the Visegrad Fund:
- Visegrad+ grants: This programme supports projects that involve cooperation between at least two V4 countries and one organisation from Ukraine. Projects can cover various areas such as culture, education and democratic values.
- V4 Generation mini-grants: The programme promotes short-term mobility of young people aged 12-30. Applicants can receive up to €10,000 for joint youth initiatives involving organisations from the V4 and Ukraine.
- Visegrad Scholarship Programme: Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and postgraduate students to study at V4 universities. The support is 3000 euros per semester for the scholarship holder and 1500 euros for the host institution.
- Visegrad Scholarship Programme: Short-term mobility for PhD students and researchers from Ukraine lasting from 2 to 10 weeks. Fellows receive €500 per week. Deadlines: two open periods per year (1 January - 30 June and 1 August - 30 November).
- Research grants at the EU Historical Archives: Grants for undergraduate and postgraduate students to conduct research at the Historical Archives of the European Union to prepare publications on European integration. The grant is worth 5000 euros.
- Visegrad Scholarship at the Open Society Archives (OSA): Research fellowships for young researchers with access to OSA archives, including travel and accommodation costs for a two-month research period.
Main features and offers:ї:
- Financial support: The Visegrad Fund provides funding for projects, youth exchanges and training programmes.
- International cooperation: The Foundation promotes cooperation between the V4 countries and Ukraine through joint projects.
- Academic mobility: Supporting students and researchers in their academic activities through scholarships and grants..
The Visegrad Fund is actively working to strengthen cooperation in the region and support young people in their professional development.