Sweden offers scholarship opportunities for international students seeking to pursue advanced education while developing the skills and networks needed to contribute to sustainable development. One of the major opportunities highlighted by the Swedish Institute is the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals, a competitive scholarship for master’s studies in Sweden.
SI Scholarship for Global Professionals
The Swedish Institute scholarship supports full-time, one- or two-year master’s programmes at Swedish universities. Eligible programmes are taught in English and cover a broad range of academic areas, including governance, public health, entrepreneurship and innovation, and STEM fields.
The programme is designed for professionals who want to gain new academic perspectives and strengthen their ability to contribute to sustainable development and positive change in their home countries.
What the Scholarship Covers
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is a fully funded scholarship. According to the Swedish Institute, the award includes:
- Full tuition fee coverage paid directly to the Swedish university
- A monthly allowance of SEK 12,000 for living expenses
- A one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000, with a reduced amount of SEK 10,000 for applicants from certain countries
- Membership in the SI Network for Global Professionals
- Continued membership in the Sweden Alumni Network after the scholarship period
However, the scholarship does not cover insurance, additional grants for family members, or the University Admissions application fee.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is available to citizens of 34 eligible countries. Applicants must apply for an eligible master’s programme and be liable to pay tuition fees at Swedish universities. They must also demonstrate both work experience and leadership experience.
Eligible countries listed by the Swedish Institute include:
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, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.
Applicants do not have to be residing in their country of citizenship at the time of application.
Work Experience Requirements
Work experience is an important part of the scholarship selection process.
For applicants from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and several others, the Swedish Institute requires at least 3,000 hours of work experience prior to February 2026. The hours can come from a maximum of three employers and do not have to be accumulated during one period of employment.
Applicants must also demonstrate leadership experience. This can come from employment, civil society organisations, or networks.
Eligible Areas of Study
The scholarship covers eligible English-taught master’s programmes in a variety of fields. The Swedish Institute specifically highlights areas such as:
- Governance
- Public Health
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Applicants should make sure that their chosen master’s programme appears on the official list of eligible programmes.
Important Application Requirements
Before applying for the scholarship, applicants must first apply for an eligible master’s programme through University Admissions in Sweden.
Applicants must:
- Apply for an eligible master’s programme.
- Pay the required University Admissions application fee on time if liable.
- Be admitted or conditionally admitted to an eligible programme.
- Submit the SI scholarship application during the designated scholarship application period.
The scholarship cannot be awarded for programmes where the applicant is only listed as a reserve, and there are no scholarships available for late admissions.
Application Timeline
For the 2026/2027 academic year, the Swedish Institute lists the following timeline:
- 15 October 2025 – 15 January 2026: Apply for Swedish master’s programmes
- 9 February – 25 February 2026: Apply for the SI Scholarship
- 25 February – 25 March 2026: SI screening and evaluation
- 26 March 2026: University Admissions announcement
- 26 March – 23 April 2026: Final scholarship evaluation and announcement
The source page currently states that the application period is closed.
Prospective applicants preparing for a future intake should therefore monitor the Swedish Institute and University Admissions for the next application cycle.
Who Should Consider This Scholarship?
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals can be particularly relevant to professionals who already have meaningful work experience and leadership involvement and want to use postgraduate education to contribute to development in their home country.
The Swedish Institute encourages applicants to clearly explain how their chosen programme can contribute to sustainable development in their home country and region.
Final Thoughts
For international professionals looking for a fully funded master’s opportunity in Europe, the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals provides a pathway combining tuition coverage, living support, travel assistance, professional networking and postgraduate education in Sweden.
Because the scholarship is highly competitive and has specific country, work experience, leadership, and programme requirements, prospective applicants should begin preparing well before the next application window opens.
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