Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026

Do you want to contribute to the sustainable development of your home country? Are you seeking new academic perspectives to strengthen your ability to lead societal change? The Swedish Institute awards academic scholarships for master’s studies in Sweden to global professionals from a selection of countries. Read through the call for applications carefully.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: February 25, 2026
2. Value: Fully Funded
3. Study Level: Masters
4. Sponsor: Swedish Institute
5. Country to Study: Sweden
6. School to Study: Swedish Institute

Eligibility Criteria for Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026

The scholarship is open for applications once every year, for master’s studies beginning in the autumn semester. In order to apply you must:

1. Be a citizen of one of the 33 eligible countries for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals;
2. Apply for a master’s programme that is eligible for the SI scholarship;
3. Be liable to pay tuition fees at University Admissions;
4. Have demonstrated work experience;
5. Have demonstrated leadership experience from a current or previous employer, or from civil society engagement.

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia

Benefits of Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026

The Scholarship for Global Professionals is a competitive fully-funded scholarship that includes:

1. Full tuition fee coverage. The fee is paid directly by SI to your Swedish university each semester.
2. A monthly allowance of SEK 12,000 to cover your living expenses throughout the study period.
3. A travel grant of SEK 15,000 (*10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). This is a one-time payment and does not apply for students already living in Sweden.
4. Membership in the SI Network for Global Professionals (NFGP) – a platform to help you grow professionally and build a network while in Sweden.
5. After your scholarship period has ended, you become a member of the Sweden Alumni Network. As a member, you get a unique opportunity for continued networking and professional development.

How to Apply

Take time to go through the requirements and be sure you meet the eligibility criteria first before following the step below to apply for your scholarship

First Step: Apply for a master's programme

The application process for Swedish universities is managed by University Admissions. It is a centralised process and, on their portal, you can apply for up to 4 master’s programmes.

1. Go to UniversityAdmissions.seand apply for your master’s programme(s) by 15 January 2026.The list of eligible programmes for the SI scholarships 2026/2027 can be found here in mid-November.
2. Once you have submitted your application for a master’s at University Admissions, you will get a personal application number consisting of eight digits. Save the number for your application to the SI Scholarship. Your SI scholarship application will be disqualified if you type in the wrong personal application number when applying for the scholarship.
3. If you miss the deadlines or fail to follow the application procedure of University Admissions, you will not be eligible for a scholarship.
4. Do you have any questions related to applications for master’s studies, admissions, the application fee or the application number? Please contact University Admissions.

Second Step: Apply for a Global Professionals Scholarship

To apply for the SI Scholarship, you must submit the documents listed below. Make sure to read through the instructions carefully. Failing to follow the instructions will result in disqualification.Templates for the listed documents will be published in mid-November.

1. Curriculum Vitae

You must use SI’s provided template for CV 2026/2027. The CV should not exceed three pages. It is up to you to decide which of your previous experiences are relevant for your application. Additional pages will not be considered during the evaluation.

1. Proof of work and leadership experience

You must use SI’s provided template for proof of work and leadership experience 2026/2027. The work and leadership form should be signed by the referee ad stamped with an official stamp of the referring organisation or a notary office. The form(s) should be typed, then printed, signed, stamped and uploaded as one single PDF-file. You can find instructions in the template form and our Frequently Asked Questions.

1. Two letters of references

You are required to submit two letters of reference from two different referees. One of the letters must be based on work experience. The second letter can be based on work experience or engagements outside of work. Note! It is a merit if the second letter is based on your involvement in networks or civil society organisations outside of work.

You must use SI’s provided template for the letter of reference 2026/2027. All letters of reference should first be typed, then printed, and lastly signed by the referee and stamped with an official stamp of the organization/company or notary office. Scan the letters and upload them to the application portal as one single PDF-file.

1. Photocopy of your valid passport/National ID card

You must submit a photocopy of your valid passport or National ID card with your scholarship application. It must clearly show your personal data, including your name, citizenship, and photograph. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submitted proof of identification is valid at the time of applying. You will be asked to upload the photocopy in the online application portal.

1. Motivation

In the application portal you will be asked to write your motivation for applying for the scholarship. You might also be randomly selected to record a short video presentation.

Note! You must complete your application in English. Your application will be disqualified should you not follow these instructions and fail to submit any of the abovementioned documents. We will not consider any other documents than the requested ones.

You should only submit one scholarship application in the application portal, regardless how many master’s programmes you’ve applied for at University Admissions

For more details, visit Swedish Institute Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

February 25, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026