International Education Programme - SPINAKER
Call for Applications – SPINAKER International Education Programme
Artificial Intelligence in Business and Finance
in cooperation of the University of Warsaw with the Business School, University of Sussex
About the Programme
We invite international students to apply for an intensive education programme (IMPK) implemented under the SPINAKER – FERS 2021–2027 initiative, co-financed by the European Social Fund. The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Business and Finance project is a joint initiative between the University of Warsaw and the University of Sussex Business School. At its core is the creation and delivery of three editions of an intensive, two-week educational programme, which will introduce participants to the practical applications of artificial intelligence in financial analysis, investment and business processes. As part of the project, a comprehensive curriculum will be developed, covering modules on programming in R and Python, machine learning, spatial and text data analysis, model interpretability and the use of AI tools in project management.
The programme is aimed at international students, as well as undergraduates and PhD students at the University of Warsaw. A total of 75 participants will take part in the course; they will be selected through a recruitment process and trained to work with advanced analytical tools.
The aim of the project is to develop participants’ skills in modern methods of data analysis and finance, as well as to internationalise the University of Warsaw’s teaching programme and strengthen academic and teaching cooperation between the two universities. The project responds to the growing demand in the labour market for specialists who combine economic knowledge with technological skills.
The outcome of these activities will be not only to enhance the skills of at least 60 participants, but also to consolidate international cooperation, create a high-quality programme that can be continued in subsequent years, and raise the profile of Polish education within the international community. The programme will conclude with the award of micro-credentials confirming the skills acquired.
Download the project summary in English (link opens in a new tab)
Download the project card - condensed information about the project (link opens in a new tab)
Who can apply?
The programme is open to:
- undergraduate students in their 2nd year or later, including exclusively:
- international students* (from outside the University of Warsaw), including participants in international mobility schemes such as Erasmus+ and CEEPUS;
- students of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
- master’s students, including exclusively:
- international students* (from outside the University of Warsaw), including participants in international mobility schemes such as Erasmus+ and CEEPUS;
- students of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
- students in long-cycle Master’s degree programmes, in their 2nd year or later, including exclusively:
- international students* (from outside the University of Warsaw), including participants in international mobility schemes such as Erasmus+ and CEEPUS;
- students of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
- doctoral students from the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw only.
* A foreign student is a person who holds student status at a foreign (non-Polish) higher education institution.
What do we offer?
- an innovative programme in the field of AI and finance,
- participation in a summer school (in 2025 or 2026),
- classes with experts from leading academic institutions,
- a certificate of completion (micro-credential),
- financial support for foreign students from outside the University of Warsaw; details are available in the programme regulations (link opens in a new tab).
Programme focus areas
- Machine learning and AI fundamentals
- AI applications in financial and geospatial data analysis
- Explainable AI (XAI) techniques
- Automation of business processes
- Ethical and legal aspects of AI
- Programming and data science tools
Class schedule
- Spinaker 2026 – edition I (8 June to 21 June) (link opens in a new tab)
- Spinaker 2026 – edition II (15 June to 28 June) (link opens in a new tab)
- Spinaker 2026 – edition III (22 June to 5 July) (link opens in a new tab)
Classes will be held on site in the buildings of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
The course will also include an introductory and levelling asynchronous component delivered via an online platform before the start of the in-person classes.
Recruitment timeline
- Application opens: 27 February 2026
- Deadline for submissions: 19 April 2026 (end of day)
- Results will be announced on 22 April 2026 (selected candidates will be contacted individually)
How to apply?
To apply for the programme, candidates must:
- Read the project documentation:
- Programme regulations (link opens in a new tab)
- Information clause (link opens in a new tab)
- Scholarship payment regulations (link opens in a new tab)
- Write a cover letter in English.
- Obtain a certificate or confirmation from the Dean’s Office of your university confirming the name of the university, your student status, field of study, type of programme, and degree level (required for all applicants).
- Complete the declaration of participation:
- Declaration of participation (DOCX) (link opens in a new tab)
- Declaration of participation (PDF) (link opens in a new tab)
- Complete the registration form and upload the documents listed above via the form only:
- Registration form (link opens in a new tab)
Please do not send application documents by email.
If you experience any technical problems with the form, please contact us at .
Formalities
What you need to do now
- Download and complete the Declaration of Participation (link opens in a new tab).
- Write a cover letter.
- Obtain a current confirmation letter from your university, issued in 2026, confirming that you are currently enrolled and will remain enrolled throughout the summer school. The letter must include the name of the university, field of study, year of study, degree level, and the exact period of your current study programme (from–to), or explicitly confirm that you will remain a student until the end of the Spinaker programme (specific date).
- Download and review the attachments to the Declaration of Participation: Information Clause (link opens in a new tab) and Spinaker Programme Regulations (link opens in a new tab).
- Submit the documents listed in points 1–3 via the registration form (link opens in a new tab) by the end of 8 April 2026.
What you will need to do after acceptance
After being accepted to the Spinaker Programme, you will be asked to complete the following formalities:
- Complete an online form provided by the institution funding the project, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, for record-keeping purposes.
- Sign an agreement with the University of Warsaw regarding participation in the project. After acceptance to the Spinaker Programme, a sample agreement will be sent to you in advance for review.
- Complete the guest application form, which applies to all persons visiting the University of Warsaw for educational or professional purposes.
Thank you!
Dear Participants,
We would like to express our deep gratitude for your presence, commitment and the energy you have brought to the SPINAKER programme. Your commitment has enriched the programme, giving it true meaning and vitality.
We send you our warmest wishes for success and fulfilment in your future educational and professional journeys, in the hope that the experience gained through the SPINAKER programme will remain a lasting source of strength and inspiration for you!
The project Application of Artificial Intelligence in Business and Finance (no. BPI/SPI/2024/1/00078) is implemented by the University of Warsaw as part of the Spinaker programme, organised by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, under the project “Wsparcie tworzenia i realizacji międzynarodowych programów kształcenia” with a total value of PLN 98,934,944.42 (FERS 2021-2027).
- Project value: PLN 1,042,831.15
- Contribution from European Funds: PLN 1,042,831.15
- Project implementation period: 1 June 2025 – 31 July 2026
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