Top 21 Swedish Scholarships for International Students to Study in Sweden

Sweden is a top destination for international students seeking high-quality education, innovation-driven research, and a globally recognized degree. While tuition fees apply to non-EU/EEA students, numerous scholarships are available to help cover costs. These scholarships, funded by the Swedish government and universities, offer partial to full tuition waivers and, in some cases, living stipends.

This guide lists the top 25 Swedish scholarships for international students to study in Sweden. Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, these scholarships provide excellent opportunities to study in one of Europe’s most advanced and student-friendly countries.

Sweden Government Scholarships for International Students

#1. Pioneering Women in STEM:

The SI Scholarship Pioneering Women in STEM is an academic scholarship for full-time, one- or two-year master’s studies in designated programmes in Sweden.

Sweden offers a unique blend of world-class education and cutting-edge innovation, with sustainability at its core. The scholarship covers a wide range of English-taught master’s programmes focusing on one or more core areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Through the scholarship, the Swedish Institute (SI) aims to create a more diverse and equal STEM field as well as develop a network of future global leaders that will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and drive the development of their home countries forward.

The scholarship is open to female citizens from eligible countries and applies to designated master’s programs starting in the autumn semester.

#2. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP):

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is an academic scholarship provided for full-time, one- or two-year master’s studies at several universities in Sweden.

The scholarship covers a wide range of study fields and over 700 of the around 1000 English-taught master’s programmes in Sweden.

Through the scholarship, the Swedish Institute (SI) aims to develop a network of global leaders committed to advancing Sustainable Development Goals and driving the development of their home countries forward.

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

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

Sweden University Scholarships for International Students

#3. BTH Scholarships:

The BTH scholarship programme for prospective students is available for citizens from non-EU/EEA countries who are required to pay tuition fees for Swedish university education. Students can only apply for this scholarship before commencing a programme. Applicants to distance education at BTH are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

#4. Dalarna University scholarships:

Every year, Dalarna University (DU) awards partial scholarships to a number of its new international, fee-paying Master’s students who have proven themselves to be outstanding in their educational endeavors.

These scholarships go directly towards a reduction in your tuition fees and will cover between 10 and 50 percent of your total tuition fees. The amount that you are awarded is automatically deducted in set amounts each semester throughout your programme.

Additionally, tuition fee waivers are only available for studying a Master’s degree programme that is offered on campus. You only need to apply once for your scholarship and you do this before the start of your programme.

#5. Halmstad University scholarships:

Each year, Halmstad University offers several scholarships to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland with the requirement to pay tuition fees. These scholarships may be granted to students within any field of study applying to our Master’s programmes at Halmstad University.

Furthermore, the Halmstad University Scholarship covers 25% or 50% of the tuition fee and will be deducted from the tuition fee. The scholarship holder must pay the required remaining amount of the fee before the deadline shown in the invoice. The scholarship will not cover living costs and there are no grants for family members.

#6. Jönköping University scholarships:

Jönköping University offers scholarships on behalf of the Swedish government. The scholarships, intended for students who pay tuition fees, will cover a percentage of the fee for the duration of the programme. The scholarship application is open from when the programme application opens in October until 2 May.

#7. Karlstad University scholarships:

The Karlstad University Global Scholarship is designed to support students from countries outside the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland who are required to pay tuition fees for their studies. The scholarship is available for students enrolled in our Master’s programmes.

Furthermore, this scholarship can cover 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 100% of tuition fees, but it does not include living expenses. It is important to note that applicants must demonstrate financial capability to cover living expenses when applying for a residence permit.

#8. Karolinska Institutet scholarships:

Karolinska Institutet offers around 10 scholarships per year to excellent students who have been admitted to one of our global master’s programmes. The scholarship is distributed across all the global master’s programmes. The competition is high with approximately 1,500 international students applying for the scholarship annually.

#9. Kristianstad University scholarships:

Each year, Kristianstad University offers several scholarships to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland with the requirement to pay tuition fees. The scholarship normally covers 50% to 100% of the tuition fee and will be deducted from the tuition fee. The scholarship will not cover living costs and there are no grants for family members.

#10. Linköping University scholarships:

Linköping University (LiU) offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding international students. For some programmes and nationalities, it is also possible to apply for a scholarship through the Swedish Institute. There are also other funding opportunities for studies in Sweden.

The LiU International Scholarship is aimed at supporting international master’s degree students with significant academic potential who are required to pay tuition fees. The tuition fees for a student awarded a LiU International Scholarship are normally reduced by 50%. We offer a limited number of these scholarships to new students.

Am I eligible to apply?

Students who have applied for a master’s programme at Linköping University and who meet all the following conditions are eligible to apply for a scholarship:

you applied by the deadline for the first admission round
you submitted all the required documents by the deadline
you chose a master’s programme at Linköping University as your priority (ranked as number 1 of 4)
you have been admitted to your first choice in the First Notification of Selection Results (usually end of March)
you are required to pay tuition fees.

#11. Linnaeus University scholarships:

Each year, Linnaeus University offers three different scholarship programmes for the moment: the Linnaeus University Scholarship, the Linnaeus University Scholarship for Current Students, and the IKEA and Södra Scholarship.

#12. Lund University scholarships:

The Lund University Global Scholarship is an academic excellence award targeting top students from all countries outside the EU/EEA. Students who have made a complete application for a Master’s programme, or, in exceptional cases, for one of a few selected Bachelor’s programmes, are invited to apply for this tuition scholarship after the admissions application period has closed.

#13. Malmö University scholarships:

Each year, Malmö University offers a limited number of scholarships to qualified master’s students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who are required to pay tuition fees. These scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, experience, and motivation. They cover partial or up to the full tuition fee but do not cover other expenses, such as living expenses.

Students admitted to two-year programmes retain the scholarship for the second year if they complete the first year of study and meet the progression criteria (minimum 22.5 credits a semester, minimum 45 credits an academic year).

The scholarship application round for the next academic year opens in April.

#14. Mid-Sweden University scholarships:

For students applying to a master’s programme at Mid Sweden University, there are several options to apply for a scholarship or financial support from the university or other organizations.

For high-performing fee-paying students applying to an international master’s programme at Mid Sweden University, they are offering a limited number of scholarships which will result in a 75% tuition fee waiver.

#15. Mälardalen University scholarships:

Every year Mälardalen University offers a limited number of scholarships to students applying for a Master’s programme with us as their first choice.

The scholarship will cover 100% of the tuition fee of the programme as long as you follow the normal study plan (minimum 22.5 credits per semester, minimum 45 credits per academic year). The scholarship does not cover living expenses. If your status from being a fee-paying student to a non-paying student is changed during the study period of the programme you will no longer be granted the scholarship.

#16. Södertörn University scholarships:

Södertörn University offers a tuition fee waiver for Master’s programme studies.

#17. Umeå University scholarships:

Umeå University offers scholarships each year, in conjunction with the autumn semester admission, to academically talented and high-achieving students. Scholarships offered are in the form of tuition waivers. Selected candidates receive a full or partial waiver of the tuition fee.

The selections are based on the applicant’s academic merit. A committee within each respective faculty is tasked with selecting candidates for scholarships.

#18. University West scholarships:

Every year, University West offers some scholarships to fee-paying master’s students. The scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence.

The University West scholarship covers 25 percent of the tuition fee. The recipients of these scholarships will have their tuition fee waived by 25% for the whole programme length, provided that the study results during the first semester and/ or the first year are satisfactory.

Eligibility criteria

Citizens of a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who pay tuition fees
Admitted to an on-campus master’s programme at University West
Motivation letter submitted with programme application
The application fee and supporting documents received before the deadline
The scholarship is only available for on-campus programmes. The scholarship is not available for distance learning programmes

The scholarship committee is overall responsible for the principles of the scholarships and decides every year how to distribute the funds available, the structure of the scholarships, and which students will be awarded.

#19. University of Gävle scholarships:

The University of Gävle offers scholarships to high-performing international students who are required to pay tuition fees. The scholarship offers a reduction of 75 % of the tuition fee.

#20. The University of Skövde scholarships:

There are several scholarships for qualified students who will attend an international master’s programme at the university and who are required to pay tuition fees. There are also scholarships and grants for students currently studying at the University of Skövde.

#21. Örebro University scholarships:

Örebro University offers several scholarship programmes for qualified students who are admitted to one of our international master’s programmes and are required to pay tuition fees.

FAQs on Swedish Scholarships for International Students

Does Sweden offer full scholarships for international students?

Yes, Sweden offers fully funded scholarships for international students, primarily through the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) and some university-specific scholarships. These scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, and insurance.

How much CGPA is required for a scholarship in Sweden?

The required CGPA varies depending on the university and scholarship. Generally, a minimum CGPA of 3.0–3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) is recommended for competitive scholarships. However, higher CGPAs improve your chances of securing funding.

Which countries are eligible for the Swedish Institute scholarship?

The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) are open to students from 42+ countries across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Some of the eligible countries include:

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa (Africa)
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia (Asia)
Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia (Eastern Europe)
Brazil, Colombia, Peru (Latin America)

Check the Swedish Institute’s official website for the complete list of eligible countries.

Which country is the easiest to get a scholarship for international students?

Some of the easiest countries to get scholarships for international students include:

Germany (DAAD Scholarships, tuition-free universities)
Sweden (Swedish Institute Scholarships, university scholarships)
Norway (Tuition-free education for international students)
Netherlands (Orange Knowledge Programme, Holland Scholarships)
Canada (Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Lester B. Pearson Scholarship)

Which country gives a full, free scholarship?

Countries that provide full scholarships for international students include:

Sweden (Swedish Institute Scholarships, university-specific scholarships)
Germany (DAAD Scholarships, tuition-free education)
Norway (Tuition-free universities)
Finland (Fully funded scholarships for master’s and PhD)
Netherlands (Orange Knowledge Programme)

Which country pays the most to international students?

Countries that offer the highest financial support for international students include:

Sweden (SISGP covers tuition, living expenses, and travel grants)
Germany (DAAD offers stipends and tuition waivers)
USA (Fulbright and university-specific full scholarships)
UK (Chevening, Commonwealth, and Rhodes scholarships)
Canada (Vanier and Trudeau Foundation scholarships)

What are some fully funded Swedish scholarships for international students?

Fully funded scholarships in Sweden include:

Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)
Sweden Government Scholarships
Mälardalen University Scholarships (100% tuition fee covered)
Lund University Global Scholarships (Up to 100% tuition waiver)
Uppsala University Global Scholarships (Full tuition waiver)

Are there fully funded scholarships in Sweden for international students in 2025?

Yes! The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) and several university-specific scholarships will be available for the 2025 academic year. Application periods usually open in late 2024 or early 2025.

Are there Sweden undergraduate scholarships for international students?

Yes, but Sweden primarily offers scholarships for master’s and PhD programs. Most undergraduate scholarships are partial tuition waivers offered by Swedish universities.

What is the Swedish Institute scholarship?

The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) is a fully funded scholarship for master’s students from eligible countries. It covers:

Full tuition fees
Monthly stipend (approx. SEK 11,000)
Travel grant
Insurance coverage

What is the Sweden Government scholarship?

The Swedish Government Scholarship refers to the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP), which is funded by the Swedish government and supports outstanding students from developing countries.

Is there a Swedish Institute scholarship for undergraduate students?

No, the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) is only available for master’s students. Undergraduate students may apply for university-specific scholarships that offer tuition fee waivers.

What are the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals?

This is Sweden’s flagship fully funded scholarship for master’s students from eligible countries. It aims to develop future global leaders by covering tuition, living expenses, and travel costs.

How to win the Swedish Institute scholarship?

To increase your chances of winning the Swedish Institute Scholarship:

Have a strong academic record (high CGPA).
Show leadership experience in work, internships, or volunteer roles.
Provide a compelling motivation letter that aligns with Sweden’s development goals.
Obtain strong recommendation letters.
Apply early and follow all guidelines carefully.