By 
A new route into research leadership
Poland has opened applications for the third edition of its Perły Nauki, or Pearls of Science, programme, creating a new funding opportunity for high-achieving students who are already developing serious research or artistic work. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced the programme on 8 October, and universities began circulating application guidance on 12 October.
The scheme is designed to help universities create better conditions for exceptionally talented students to carry out research or artistic projects under the supervision of an academic or artistic mentor. Rather than treating students only as participants in established projects, the programme gives eligible candidates the opportunity to become project leaders at an early stage of their careers.
Applications are open from 12 October through 30 November 2026, with submissions due by 16:00 on the final day. Universities must submit applications electronically through the national OSF funding-management system.
Who can apply
The programme targets students who have already moved beyond the introductory stages of higher education. Eligible applicants include students enrolled in second-cycle, or master’s-level, studies. Students in long-cycle master’s programmes may also apply after completing their third year when the programme lasts no more than 11 semesters, or after completing their fourth year when it lasts at least 12 semesters.
Applicants must continue their studies and be affiliated with the university submitting the proposal. They must also demonstrate at least one significant academic achievement. The criteria include authorship or co-authorship of a scholarly monograph or article, participation in an innovative university research project, delivery of a paper at a major national or international conference, recognition in a prestigious competition, or the practical application of research through a patent, patent application or implementation.
The programme excludes previous winners of the Diamentowy Grant, Perły Nauki and Perły Nauki II schemes. Applicants must also not already hold a master’s-level qualification in the discipline in which they plan to carry out the project.
Project scale and funding
Funding limits depend on the field of study. Projects in natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, veterinary sciences and agricultural sciences may receive up to 240,000 złoty. Projects in the humanities, social sciences, theology, family studies and the arts may receive up to 200,000 złoty.
Projects may run for a maximum of 36 months. University guidance published by the Medical University of Lublin gives a more detailed picture of the cost structure for medical and health-related proposals: the project leader may receive up to 3,000 złoty per month, while the academic supervisor’s remuneration may amount to up to five per cent of direct costs. Scientific equipment and information infrastructure may account for up to 50,000 złoty, and indirect costs may reach ten per cent of direct costs.
These rules mean the programme can support more than conference travel or a short student placement. A successful proposal could cover a sustained research plan, specialised equipment, data collection and the early development of work that may later become a doctoral project, publication or practical innovation.
Universities become the gateway
Students cannot submit independently outside the university process. The institution must review and approve the proposal before sending it through OSF. Universities are therefore responsible for checking formal requirements, confirming the student’s academic affiliation and ensuring that the proposed project has suitable supervision.
That structure also gives institutions a role in identifying talent that may not yet have entered a doctoral school. Guidance issued by the University of Life Sciences in Poznań sets an internal deadline of 23 November for applicants who need institutional approval, while the Medical University of Lublin has asked interested students to submit preliminary project information by 30 October. Such earlier deadlines vary between institutions and are separate from the national deadline.
An investment in the next research generation
The launch comes at the beginning of Poland’s 2026/27 academic year, when universities are setting research priorities and recruiting students into laboratories, studios and research groups. By placing students at the centre of funded projects, Perły Nauki III connects education with practical research experience and gives supervisors a structured way to develop emerging talent.
The programme’s effect will become clearer after the selection process and the publication of funded projects. For now, its immediate significance is practical: students with a record of serious academic work have a defined application window, universities have a national funding mechanism to support them, and the next generation of Polish researchers has been given a concrete opportunity to propose work of its own.
Comments