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. 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. Please note that photos, graphs, and literature citations are not included in the 500-word count.
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: Host Department, the visitor’s Visiting Scholar status, and dates of visit, purpose of the visit and/or what the visitor will be doing, resources available to the visitor (computer, office space, internet access, lab space, etc.).
Original letter must be signed with institutional letterhead, in PDF format.
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. If you do not have a passport you can upload a Polish ID (dowod osobisty).
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, no sunglasses
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. A certificate of employment or enrollment in doctoral studies can be issued in Polish and has to be issued after May 15th, 2025.
h) Additional documents:
Visual artists are required to submit catalogs, photographs, slides, or videos of their work. All submitted materials are nonreturnable.
Applicants for the Teaching Fellowship should attach a Teaching Plan (Course Syllabus).
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS:
Secure three recommendation letters. You need to enter names and email addresses of your recommenders in your application. Once you click SUBMIT Your recommenders will receive an email invitation to upload their recommendation letters into our scholarship platform. The deadline to submit recommendation letters is December 10, 2025.