Application procedure

How to Apply: 

Step #1: Secure three recommendation letters and have your recommenders send them directly to the exchangetotheus@thekf.org.  

Requirements of a Recommendation letter:

  • The authors should be the three individuals who can best speak to your ability to carry out the project being proposed; they should discuss your intellectual and professional preparation.
  • At least two of the letters must be from individuals with academic rank of Professor (i.e. Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Profesor Uczelni), while one letter can be from an individual who does not have an academic rank of Professor but has a Ph.D. degree. 

  • At least one author must be from outside of your home institution.

  • Recommenders (not applicants) must send their letters directly to the Kosciuszko Foundation at exchangetotheus@thekf.org from institutional email addresses. Recommendations sent by the applicant will not be considered.

  • Letters should be addressed to the Kosciuszko Foundation Academic Advisory Committee.
  • Recommendations should evaluate your professional work and your proposed project.
  • Recommendation letters should be in English,  issued on institutional letterhead and signed.
  • Anyone who serves as a recommender may not also provide the applicant with an invitation letter.
  • References from relatives are not permitted.
  • The KF does not accept recommendation letters after the application deadline, which is November 15th, 2022
  • The letter should be submitted as a PDF file. 

Step #2: Fill out an online application and attach all required supporting documents.

Link to the application form: HERE

Supporting Documents: As part of the application, you must upload the following required documents from (a) to (g), additional documents (h) are only for those applying for teaching fellowships, visual art projects, literary writers, journalists, and critics.

a) A well-defined proposal (no more than 500 words) with a specific study/research plan.  The proposals exceeding 500 words by more than 15% will not be considered. There is no template for a successful project proposal as each project is unique. Applicants are encouraged to have someone outside of their area of specialization read their project proposal for clarity, formatting, and specificity as well as general proofreading. (Teaching fellowship applicants unless they want to conduct simultaneously research and teaching projects they do not need to submit a research proposal.)

b) A current invitation from a U.S. educational institution (a host letter) where the applicant plans to conduct research/studies. You must secure your placement or affiliation. The KF does not assist in establishing contacts. You can only submit one host letter unless your research involves conducting it in more than one institution. The letter can include as much information as the department or faculty host wishes to include. However, certain information is required.

 Required Information:

  • Host Department, the visitor's Visiting Scholar status, and dates of visit. For example: It is my pleasure to invite you to visit the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as a Visiting Scholar for the period July 1, 2020 – October 31, 2020.

  • Purpose of the visit and/or what the visitor will be doing. For example: The purpose of your visit is to collaborate with Dr. Smith on research in the area of Physics. You will be conducting research in the area of XYZ. You will be teaching a course in Polish entitled "XYZ."

  • Resources available to the visitor (computer, office space, internet access, lab space, etc.). For example: Though we cannot at this time guarantee any office space for you, you will have a workspace in the XYZ Lab. Also, we cannot provide a computer for you, but we can provide you with internet access if you bring your own machine.

  • Original letter must be signed and on official letterhead.

c) Curriculum Vitae, including a list of relevant and recent publications of which the applicant is the principal author. The Curriculum Vitae describes academic credentials and demonstrates a record of scholarly achievements. When composing a Curriculum Vitae, it is essential to include:

  • Education (universities attended, degrees earned, and dates received)
  • Professional positions held
  • Courses taught and other services provided to students and the home institution
  • Publications (provide full citations and list them starting with the most recent)
  • Other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars and consultations
  • Membership and activities in professional associations
  • Professional honors, awards and fellowships
  • Please do not include a photo on your CV.

d) A scan of the applicant's highest degree diploma. 

e) A scan of the applicant's passport ID page.

f) A current photograph of yourself. Your photo isn't used to determine eligibility but is vital for donor relations. If awarded, your photo will be an important part of your scholarship profile. Provide a photo that is at least 500KB and the highest resolution possible (300 dpi preferred).

All photos must meet the following requirements:

  • At least 500KB
  • High resolution
  • A clear face shot
  • Suitable for the KF publications to include: our website, newsletters, donor communications, and/or event materials.

g) A certificate of employment or enrollment in doctoral studies issued by a Polish institution.

h) Additional documents:

Literary writers, journalists, and critics must support their research proposal with significant samples of their work. 

Visual artists are required to submit catalogs, photographs, slides, or videos of their work. All submitted materials are nonreturnable. These may also be mailed.

Applicants for the Teaching Fellowship should attach a Teaching Plan (Course Syllabus).

Step # 3: In-person interviews in Poland, Warsaw

Each application is initially assessed by the Kosciuszko Foundation's Academic Advisory Committee.

The KF Exchange Program Officer contacts the short-listed applicants to arrange an interview. All interviews must be attended in person by the applicant. Those who are unable to attend an interview will be advised to reapply the following year. Interviews will be scheduled as early as possible and will be conducted between 14 to 25, February 2023.

February 13 to 16, 2023 –  Humanities

February 17, 2023 - Law and Economy

February 20 to 24, 2023 - Sciences 

Interviews are held back-to-back, over several days. The Kosciuszko Foundation Scholarship Commission panel members interview dozens of applicants, which means that once you have been assigned a date and time of your interview, any rescheduling will be impossible.

The purpose of the interviews is to confirm that the candidate can communicate effectively, can demonstrate the skills described in the application materials, and has the potential for contributing to the chosen area of study or research. We are looking for someone who can convince the committee that he or she 1) presents a valuable project and will implement it successfully, 2) will have positive effects on their areas of specialization, and 3) will represent Poland and the Kosciuszko Foundation positively.

Scholarship Commission

The Kosciuszko Foundation Scholarship Commission comprises representatives from relevant professional fields, senior academics, The KF alumni and The KF staff. We make sure that at least one scholar representing your discipline is always present.

Interview structure:

Interviews are conducted only in English

Each candidate will be interviewed individually for approximately 30 minutes. The general structure of the interview consists of:

  • 15-minute Project Presentation:  During this 15 minute you should shortly introduce yourself and then present your project/research proposal. You can prepare a PowerPoint presentation. A computer with Windows will be available, but you can bring your own (we are not responsible for any connection failures of your equipment). Do not exceed the 15-minute time limit.
  • 15-minute Q&A session

After the interviews are completed, all applicants are ranked in order of preference by the Commission to determine the nominations for Fellowships/Grants that will be forwarded to the Kosciuszko Foundation Board.

Step #4: Award announcements

The KF Selection Committee submits the nominations for Fellowships/Grant to the Kosciuszko Foundation Board for approval. The number of Fellowships on offer varies from year to year, depending on available funds.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome by Exchange Program Officer by the end of March.

The Kosciuszko Foundation will not make any comments on individual applications or give any explanations regarding the final result.

RE-APPLICATION            

Applications of unsuccessful candidates are valid for two years only. To be reconsidered for grant/fellowship in the next academic year, you need to submit to ExchangeToTheUs@thekf.org:

(1) a letter requesting reconsideration

(2) a letter confirming the applicant's continued institutional academic affiliation in Poland

(3) an updated invitation from a United States academic institution.

D

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