Poland in Armenia

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.

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.

Kirkland Research Program is a scholarship for a stay in Poland from mid-September to late January (first semester). Its grantees have to participate in scientific seminars and work individually under the supervision of an academic advisor; this work is to result in the preparation of a scientific article. The requirement for obtaining a diploma for completing the Program is a scientific article approved for printing by the grantee’s academic advisor and the presentation of the results of this work during the January convention of grantees.

The Kirkland Research Program is run in parallel with the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program. Both Kirkland Research Scholarship grantees and the Kirkland Program grantees take part in the program during the autumn and winter semester: in September they participate in an introductory course, then in a grantees’ convention, and optionally in various other courses and training prepared for Kirkland Program scholars between September and January.

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).

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. 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

SELECTION PROCESS:

The best candidates will be selected in a 3-stage evaluation process:

• Stage 1 - Review of applications with regard to eligibility criteria
• Stage 2 - Review of applications by experts in the fields in question
• Stage 3 - Interviews (planned for 7–24 April 2026).

The candidates who advance to Stage 3 will be notified by e-mail by the end of March. Information on the final nominations will be e-mailed to the candidates in May.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

 - You must fill-in the on-line application form that include the following:

• personal data questionnaire:
• description of your 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).

 - 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.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

A description of the program  be obtained directly from the following website: www.kirkland.edu.pl.
Application forms should be filled out on-line and include the following attachments in PDF: 2 letters of reference, a copy of the candidate's Phd degree, an introduction to the planned scientific article and a working paper.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

The deadline for applications for the Kirkland Research 2026/27 scholarships is 1 march 2026.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. 

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

• Inauguration of the Program and introductory course (8-10 days, mid-September 2026)
• Individual research work in one of the Polish academic centers: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, or Lublin (from October to January)
• Personal development trainings and workshops
• Preparation of a scientific article
• Grantees’ conventions
• Participation in a Polish language course (throughout scholarship period)
• Presentation of the grantee’s research work results (January)

PROGRAM PATRON:

The Program is named after Lane Kirkland (1922-1999), the legendary trade union leader (AFL-CIO), member of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund Board of Directors, and promoter of the PolishAmerican Freedom Foundation. In the 1980’s, he wholeheartedly supported the Polish “Solidarity” movement. He also understood and supported the aspirations for freedom and democracy of other peoples of Central and Eastern Europe. He was awarded the highest distinctions, including the American “Medal of Freedom” and the Polish “Order of the White Eagle.” In 2022, he was posthumously awarded the "Medal of Gratitude" for his support for the Polish "Solidarity" movement.

CONTACT:

Leaders of Change Foundation
www.leadersofchange.pl

L. Kirkland Scholarship Program
Al. Jerozolimskie 133 m. 56, 02-304 Warsaw, Poland
E-mail: kirkland@kirkland.edu.pl
www.kirkland.edu.pl