Your Complete Guide to Scholarships in Sweden for International Students

Dreaming of studying in Sweden, a country known for its innovation, progressive values, and stunning natural landscapes? You’re not alone. For many international students, financing this dream is the biggest hurdle. This guide provides a clear and complete overview of scholarships in Sweden, explaining what’s available and how the process works.

Understanding the Swedish Scholarship System

Before diving into specific scholarships, it’s important to understand the basics. In Sweden, higher education is free for citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Students from all other countries are generally required to pay application and tuition fees.

This is where scholarships become essential. They are primarily designed to help talented, non-EU/EEA students manage these costs. Funding for these scholarships comes from two main sources:

  1. The Swedish Government: Through organizations like the Swedish Institute (SI).
  2. Individual Swedish Universities: Most universities offer their own scholarship programs to attract top international students.

It’s crucial to remember that scholarship competition is very high. A strong academic record, relevant professional experience, and a compelling motivation letter are key to standing out.

Major Government-Funded Scholarships

The Swedish government offers prestigious, comprehensive scholarships that are highly sought after. The main program is administered by the Swedish Institute (SI), a government agency.

The Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarship for Global Professionals

This is the most well-known scholarship program for international students in Sweden. It is a highly competitive, fully-funded award aimed at future leaders who want to contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

  • What It Covers: This scholarship is extremely generous. It covers full tuition fees, living expenses of SEK 12,000 per month (about $1,150 USD), travel grants, and insurance. It also includes membership in the SI Network for Future Global Leaders, which provides unique opportunities for professional development and networking.
  • Who Is Eligible: The program is open to citizens of specific countries (the list can change annually, so always check the official SI website). Applicants must also have a minimum of 3,000 hours of demonstrated work experience. The scholarship is only for full-time, one or two-year master’s programs.
  • How to Apply: The application process is multi-stepped. First, you must apply for your master’s program through the central Swedish application portal, Universityadmissions.se. After you’ve submitted your university application, a separate portal opens for the SI scholarship application. This requires specific documents, including a detailed CV, letters of reference, and a motivation letter tailored to the scholarship’s goals.

University-Specific Scholarships

Beyond the government programs, nearly every major Swedish university offers its own scholarships. These are a fantastic option and often have a slightly larger number of available awards, though they may not be as comprehensive as the SI scholarship.

These scholarships typically come in the form of a partial or full tuition fee waiver. This means you would still be responsible for your own living costs. Here are some examples from top Swedish universities:

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme

Lund University, one of Northern Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities, offers scholarships based on academic merit. These are targeted at top students from outside the EU/EEA. The scholarships can cover 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the tuition fee.

Uppsala University Global Scholarship

Uppsala University provides several scholarships for international students. The main one is the Uppsala University Global Scholarship, which is aimed at students applying for master’s programs and covers the full cost of tuition.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology Scholarships

KTH in Stockholm offers a few key scholarships. The KTH Scholarship covers the full tuition fee for a one or two-year master’s program. There is also the KTH One-Year Scholarship, which covers the tuition for the first year of study. Selection is based on academic excellence.

Chalmers University of Technology Scholarships

Chalmers in Gothenburg offers several awards, many of which are funded by external foundations and companies. The Avancez Scholarships and the Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund are two prominent examples. These typically offer a 75% reduction in tuition fees.

Important Note: This is just a small sample. Always check the specific university you are interested in. Look for a section on their website called “Scholarships,” “International Students,” or “Fees and Funding.”

How It Works: A Step-by-Step Application Guide

Navigating the application process can seem complicated, but it follows a logical sequence. Here is the typical timeline and procedure for applying to both a university program and a scholarship for the autumn semester.

  1. Research and Choose Your Program (June - October): Start early. Research universities and the master’s programs that fit your academic and career goals. During this time, also research the specific scholarships offered by those universities and the Swedish Institute.
  2. Apply to a Swedish University (October - January): The central application portal, Universityadmissions.se, opens in mid-October for the following autumn semester. You must complete your application for bachelor’s or master’s programs and submit all required documents by the mid-January deadline.
  3. Pay the University Application Fee (by February): For non-EU/EEA students, there is an application fee (usually SEK 900) that must be paid. If you do not pay this fee, your application will not be processed, and you will be ineligible for any scholarships.
  4. Apply for Scholarships (January - February): This is a separate step.
    • For University Scholarships: Most universities automatically consider you for their scholarships if you are a fee-paying student who applied on time. Others may require a separate application. Check each university’s website for its specific process.
    • For the SI Scholarship: A separate application portal opens in February. You will need to submit a new set of documents specifically for the scholarship.
  5. Receive Admissions Results (March/April): You will be notified about whether you have been accepted into the university programs you applied for.
  6. Receive Scholarship Results (April/May): Scholarship notifications are sent out after the admissions results. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive an official offer that you must accept by a certain deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a scholarship for a bachelor’s degree? It is much less common. The vast majority of scholarships in Sweden, especially the major ones from the Swedish Institute and universities, are for master’s level studies. Some universities may offer limited scholarships for bachelor’s programs, but you need to check directly with them.

Do scholarships cover living expenses? The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is one of the few that provides a monthly stipend for living costs. Most university-specific scholarships are tuition waivers only. This means you must still prove to the Swedish Migration Agency that you have sufficient funds to support yourself (around SEK 10,314 per month) when you apply for your residence permit.

Can I work while studying on a scholarship in Sweden? Yes. As an international student with a residence permit for studies in Sweden, you are legally allowed to work alongside your studies without any hourly restrictions. Many students find part-time jobs to help cover their living expenses.