PRELUDIUM

PRELUDIUM 25

Supports early-career researchers before doctoral completion to run independent basic research projects in any discipline.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

PRELUDIUM 25 is the spring 2026 edition of the National Science Centre (NCN) competition designed exclusively for pre-doctoral researchers — applicants who have not yet obtained a doctoral degree at the submission deadline. The programme funds independent basic-research projects across all NCN disciplines: humanities and social sciences, sciences and technology, and life sciences. Per-project award caps are tiered by duration: 70,000 PLN for a 12-month project, 140,000 PLN for 24 months, and 210,000 PLN for 36 months. The total competition budget is 50,000,000 PLN. Results are expected by December 2026.

The defining eligibility rule is that the project leader must not hold a doctoral degree at the submission deadline — this is strictly enforced with no exceptions. Applications must be submitted through the applicant's Polish host institution via the OSF portal; direct individual submissions are not accepted. For-profit entities, non-profits, and universities applying on behalf of non-academic staff are ineligible; the applicant's host must be a university or recognised research organisation registered and operating in Poland.

Because PRELUDIUM funds a single independent project led by the pre-doctoral researcher, proposals must demonstrate genuine scientific independence rather than serving as support work within a supervisor's larger grant. Teams that are designing their proposals should note that the award cap at 36 months — 210,000 PLN — sets a firm ceiling on budget ambition, so the scientific scope must be calibrated accordingly. Applications are assessed on scientific quality, methodology, and the feasibility of completing the work within the chosen time frame.