We run a scholarship program for young people from rural areas and small towns. We accelerate development and engagement, and strengthen self-confidence.
Development, commitment, sense of security (including financial), social responsibility, quality and professionalism, openness and faith in one’s own abilities.
Bridge Scholarships is a prestigious program that has been supporting talented young people from small towns in their studies for over 20 years. Its primary goal is to support high school graduates who wish to continue their studies at universities by awarding them a scholarship for their first year of studies.
Currently, the Bridge Scholarship Program (PSP) is one of the largest non-governmental scholarship programs in Poland. Students who receive scholarships in their first year and achieve good academic results can receive scholarships for subsequent years of academic education. In addition to financial support, students have the opportunity to participate in training courses, workshops, and academic conferences, as well as apply for internships abroad.
The Bridge Scholarship Program offers 4 different types of scholarships to students.
First-year scholarships provide a gateway to funding for subsequent years of study. High-achieving students can receive scholarships for the second, third, and fourth years of study, language scholarships, and funding for an internship in the US.
The scholarship for the first year of studies is
PLN 10,000 and is paid in installments over 10 months of the academic year. For later years, the scholarship amount depends on the period of receipt.
The period of study is not only a time of learning, but also a space for multiplying interests, passions and acquiring new competences.
The Bridge Scholarship Program’s development offerings include a range of training sessions, workshops, and courses. These support scholarship recipients in preparing for the job market and developing their professional careers.
In addition to its training offerings, the Program also organizes an annual scientific conference, “Scientific Start.” This conference provides an opportunity to hone self-presentation skills, establish new contacts, and share interests and the results of initial research.
The Bridge Scholarships Program promotes pro-social attitudes among young people.
Through social engagement, students become more sensitive to the problems of the modern world, develop empathy, and deepen their interpersonal skills. By helping others, they learn to build healthy relationships and broaden their horizons.
The program encourages social activism and provides young people with the tools to do so. It provides an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and practical skills that prepare them to contribute to the world.
Under the Bridge Scholarship Program, 28,632 scholarships of various types were awarded, including 19,631 for first-year students . Partners have allocated PLN 157 million for this purpose.
Since 2002, 24 editions of the program have been implemented.
In the twenty-fourth edition of the Bridge Scholarships Program (2025/2026) we awarded:
The latest survey of first- and second-year scholarship recipients shows that the bridge scholarship improved the financial situation of 94% of those surveyed in their first year. This figure increases to 97% in their second year .
Over 80% of first-year scholarship recipients believe that the scholarship helped them develop their interests to a great or moderate degree. This figure rises to 88% in the second year.
In 2023, we conducted a career survey of Bridge Scholarship Program graduates. Nearly 90% of graduates said the Bridge Scholarship gave them a sense of greater financial security, and 70% said it boosted their self-confidence .
99% of graduates completed their studies with a master’s degree or higher, and 95% of them obtained good or very good grades.
The Bridge Scholarship Program (PSP) was established in 2002 at the initiative of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF) in response to the significant disparity in access to higher education between rural and urban youth. The program aims to help talented young people make the decision to continue their education at a higher education institution.
Because many talented individuals were unable to attend university primarily for financial reasons, the Program has provided financial support for the first year of studies since its inception . Thanks to it, ambitious high school graduates could begin their studies in their desired fields and, for achieving good results, receive scholarships for further academic years.
The structure of the Program has changed over the years. New target groups have been added to the applicant profile for the first-year scholarship. Previously , a segment targeted youth from families in which at least one parent or legal guardian had worked at a state-owned farm for at least two years. Currently, there are three segments : finalists of high school subject competitions; individuals from large families, foster families, or residents of state-owned orphanages; and individuals recommended by a local non-governmental organization participating in the Program.
Over time, the Bridge Scholarship Program evolved into an increasingly comprehensive scholarship system, extending beyond just the first year of study. Currently, scholarship recipients also have the opportunity to receive support in subsequent years of study: in their second year of studies through the PRYMUS competition , and in their third and fourth years through corporate scholarships. Additionally, they can apply for a language scholarship .
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