Swedish Institute Master’s Scholarships Announced 2024-25

The Swedish Institute is excited to announce the availability of academic scholarships for master’s studies, designed for global professionals hailing from 41 countries. This initiative aims to empower individuals who aspire to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their home countries and regions while gaining a valuable international educational experience.

The online application portal for the SI Scholarships for Global Professionals will open on February 12 for the academic year 2024/2025. You can access open call for applications now and start assembling required documents.

Overview: What’s Included, Criteria, How to Apply, FAQ

Overview

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is an academic scholarship tailored for full-time, one- or two-year master’s programs in Sweden. This scholarship covers a wide range of study fields and supports over 700 of the 1000 English-taught master’s programs in Sweden. Through this initiative, the Swedish Institute (SI) aims to cultivate a network of future global leaders who will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and propel the development of their respective home countries.

The scholarship application is open once a year for master’s studies beginning in the autumn semester. To be eligible, you must:

Be a citizen of one of the 41 eligible countries for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals.
Apply for a master’s program that qualifies for the SI scholarship.
Be responsible for paying tuition fees at University Admissions.
Demonstrate work experience.
Demonstrate leadership experience from your current or previous employer, or from civil society engagement.

Key Dates:

October 16 – January 15: Apply to Swedish master’s programs through University Admissions.
November: SI Scholarship application documents are published.
February 12 – February 28: Application portal for the SI Scholarship is open.
March 21: University admissions announcement day.
April 25: SI Scholarship announcement day.

Our call for applications is available below, and we strongly advise you to carefully read through the instructions and criteria to prepare your application. The application portal will be open from February 12 to February 28, 2024.

What’s Included

The Scholarship for Global Professionals is a highly competitive fully-funded scholarship that covers the following:

Full tuition fee coverage, paid directly by SI to your Swedish university at the beginning of each semester.
A monthly payment to cover your living expenses throughout the study period.
Insurance against illness and accidents.
A travel grant (amount) for eligible scholars. This is a one-time payment and does not apply to students already living in Sweden.
Membership in the SI Network for Future Global Professionals (NFGP) – a platform to support your professional growth and networking while in Sweden.
After your scholarship period concludes, you become a member of the SI Alumni Network, offering unique opportunities for continued networking and professional development.

The scholarship does not cover:

Additional grants for family members.
The application fee to University Admissions.
Changes to the study program. Support is provided only for the awarded master’s program.
Extensions or changes to the awarded scholarship period.

Criteria

Country of Citizenship To be eligible for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals, you must be a citizen of a country that is eligible for SI scholarships. However, residency in the country at the time of application is not a requirement.

Master’s Programs The master’s programs you apply for must be eligible for SI scholarships. Prioritization may be given to programs within specific subject areas, depending on your country of citizenship.

University Admission To qualify, you must be liable to pay tuition fees to Swedish universities, follow the steps of University Admissions, and gain admission to one of the eligible master’s programs by March 30, 2023.

Previous Experience You must have demonstrated work experience, with varying conditions for specific regions. Additionally, you should be able to demonstrate leadership experience from your current or previous employer or from civil society engagement.

Eligible Programs Approximately 700 English-taught master’s programs qualify for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals. These programs span various fields, including humanities, agricultural science, medicine and public health, natural science, social science, and technology. To increase your chances of a successful application, emphasize how your education will contribute to the sustainable development of your home country and region, aligning it with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

University Admissions For inquiries related to your university application, tuition fees, or admittance, please contact University Admissions. To be eligible for the SI scholarship, you must:

Be liable to pay tuition fees to Swedish universities.
Pay the application fee for master’s programs on time to University Admissions.
Be admitted (or conditionally admitted) to one of the eligible master’s programs by March 21, 2024. Scholarships are awarded only for the master’s program you are admitted to on this date. Master’s programs for which you are listed as a reserve cannot be considered, and no scholarships are available for late admissions.

Previous Experience

Work Experience To qualify for the SI Scholarship, you must have work experience. You do not have to be employed at the time of application. Work experience includes full-time and part-time employment, whether as an employee, freelancer, or employer. Certification for work experience is required, utilizing template forms available in the ‘How to Apply – Applying for the SI Scholarship’ section. Emphasis is placed on work experience aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with varying requirements for different regions.

Leadership Experience Leadership experience entails leading colleagues/organizations, influencing organizational development strategies, allocating tasks, and being familiar with decision-making processes. Leadership experience can be demonstrated through previous work experience or involvement in civil society organizations or networks. There is no minimum-hour requirement for leadership experience, but strong and relevant leadership experience from employment is prioritized.

Ineligible Applicants:

Individuals currently enrolled in or holding a degree from a Swedish university/university college.
Those who have resided in Sweden for a cumulative total of two years or more before the scholarship period starting in August 2024.
Previous recipients of a Swedish Institute scholarship. However, participants in the SI Summer Academy for Young Professionals, SI summer language courses, or the Swedish Institute Summer University (SISU) may still apply.
Applicants with Swedish or EU/EEA citizenship, Swedish permanent residence permits, or temporary work- and residence permits based on work or family ties with a Swedish/EU/EEA citizen with temporary or permanent right of residence in Sweden.
Individuals with dual citizenship from countries not listed on the DAC list of ODA recipients 2022-2023.

Eligible Countries:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

For further details, application forms, and to stay updated, please visit the Swedish Institute’s Official Website. Prepare to embark on an inspiring academic journey with the SI Scholarship.