International Scholarships

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Swedish Institute Master’s Scholarships

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Scholarship Overview

  • The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (SISS) target highly qualified students who have ambition, a strong professional background, and leadership experience.
  • These scholarships are intended for full-time master’s level studies in Sweden.
  • This Swedish Government international award scheme aims to develop global leaders. These future leaders get the opportunity to develop professionally and academically as well as experience Swedish society and culture.

Host School(s)

  • Study in Sweden

Field(s) of Study

  • Scholarships are intended for full-time one-year or two-year master’s programs in Sweden
  • These scholarships are only available for programs starting in the autumn semester. The Swedish universities/university colleges select the programs.
  • 648 Master’s programs taught in English beginning in autumn 2018 are eligible for the SISS.
  • Study fields include Business, Engineering, Information Technology, etc
  • Priority is given to applicants with a bias towards sustainable development, democracy, human rights, poverty eradication, and gender equality.

What does the scholarship cover?

The scholarship covers:

  • Tuition fees (paid directly to the Swedish university/university college by the Swedish Institute)
  • Living expenses of SEK 9,000 per month
  • Scholarship holders receive a travel grant in connection with their scholarship. The travel grant is a one-time payment of SEK 15,000.
  • Scholarship holders are insured by the Swedish State Group Insurance and Personal Insurance against illness and accidents during the scholarship period.
  • Membership of the SI Network for Future Global Leaders – a platform through which one can grow their network while in Sweden
  • Membership of the SI Alumni Network – a platform for further professional development and staying in touch

How many scholarships are given?

  • 180 scholarships
  • The scholarship is intended for full-time master’s level studies of one or two years and is only awarded for programs starting in the autumn semester.

Which countries are targeted?

The program is open to candidates from three different categories of countries (a total of 140 countries)

Category 1:

Citizens of the following countries can apply for the scholarship within this category:

  • Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Approximately 50 scholarships will be available for category 1.

Category 2:

  • Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, and Vietnam.
  • Approximately 60 scholarships will be available for category 2
  • A special initiative of up to 10 scholarships is in place for citizens of South Africa in connection with the Binational commission agreement between South Africa and Sweden. Citizens of South Africa who wish to apply for an SI scholarship should apply within the Swedish Institute Study Scholarships for South Africa, as the eligibility criteria and application process differs from the SISS.

Category 3:

  • Candidates with citizenship from countries on the DAC list (SEE BELOW) of ODA recipients (other than those mentioned in the lists above) can apply to this program.

DAC list of ODA recipients:

  1. a) Least Developed Countries
  • Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh. Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo DRC, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.
  1. b) Other Low-Income Countries
  • Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe
  1. c) Lower Middle-Income Countries and Territories
  • Armenia, Bolivia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt , El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tokelau, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza Strip
  1. d) Upper Middle-Income Countries and Territories
  • Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gabon, Grenada, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, St. Helena, Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Venezuela, Wallis and Futuna.
  • Approximately 60 scholarships will be available for category 3.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

  • Ideal candidates are ambitious young professionals with academic qualifications, demonstrated leadership experience and a clear idea of how a study program in Sweden would benefit their country.
  • Priority will be given to applicants choosing study programmes with an emphasis on gender equality, sustainable development, democracy, human rights or poverty reduction.

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

  • Have work experience of a minimum of 3000 hours. This should be demonstrated through full-time or part-time employment, paid or unpaid internship, voluntary work, or a position of trust.
  • Have leadership experience from employment, voluntary work, and/or internship after high school studies.
  • Not have resided in Sweden for two years or more (cumulatively) before the scholarship period
  • Not have Swedish or EU/EEA citizenship, a temporary work permit based on work, a Swedish permanent residence permit, or family ties with a citizen of Sweden or an EU/EEA country who is in possession of a temporary or permanent right of residence in Sweden
  • Not have received a Swedish Institute Scholarship for Master’s level studies or research at a Swedish university or university college
  • Not already have a degree from a Swedish university or university college
  • Not be currently enrolled in a study program at a Swedish university or university college
  • Not have dual citizenship from countries not listed on the DAC list of ODA recipients

How do I Apply – Next Steps

STEP #1 – Apply for a Master’s program at universityadmissions.se

  • You can apply for up to four Masters programs by 15th January 2018
  • Once you submit your application, a personal number with seven or eight digits will be issued to you
  • Note that only Master’s programs on the official list released by the Swedish Institute are eligible for SISS.
  • Send in your application fee and all supporting documents by 1st February 2018.

STEP #2 – Apply for an SISS Scholarship

  • The scholarship application consists of two steps, – the second step is a detailed second application for successful candidates due from February 2-9
  • Application for the scholarship is done after you complete the application to the Master’s program.
  • During the application period of 2-9 February, you are required to submit all required documents via the online application portal.
  • Note that the application portal will be open from 2 February 2018 to 24:00 CET on 9th February 2018.

STEP #3 – Notification from University Admissions

  • You will receive your notification of selection results from the University Admissions Office by 6th April 2018. The Swedish Institute receives the results directly.
  • Only applicants who have admission or conditional admission will be considered for the SI scholarship.

STEP #4 – Announcement of the 180 successful candidates

  • The SISS 2018/19 recipients will be announced on the SI website on 6th April 2018.
  • Next, each scholarship recipient will receive an official scholarship offer through email between 26th and 27th April 2018.
  • Only successful recipients will receive official communication from the Swedish Institute.

For the second step of the scholarship application you will be required to submit:

  1. A Motivation letter – the template will be available from January 2018. Fill it in and upload as a PDF file.
  2. A Europass CV – not more than three pages long.
  3. A passport copy – showing personal data including name, citizenship, and photograph. It should be valid and included with the CV as a fourth (last) page.
  4. Two different letters of reference – one should be based on work experience, and the other based on your involvement in networks or civil society organizations outside your regular work. The letters should be signed by the referee and stamped with a referred organization’s official stamp.
  5. One proof of work and leadership experience – signed by the referee and stamped with the referred organization’s official stamp.
  6. The documents must be in English. Letters of reference and proof of work experience should be typed, printed, signed, stamped and then uploaded as one PDF file. The template will be available at the end of December 2017.

Closing Date

  • 15 January 2018 for university applications
  • 9 February 2018 for scholarship applications

How do I get more information?

 

 

Comments

  1. Zanele says

    I am interested in studying masters degree in Social Work. Can i please get an application form or how do i apply?

The information listed here is provided for informational reasons only. Please verify all information with the scholarship host.