Beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year, the Swedish Institute and the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) are introducing a new range of scholarships for master’s level studies at Swedish universities. You are eligible for these scholarships if you are a university graduate, citizen of a developing country and have several years of relevant work experience.

The purpose of these scholarships is to help grow special competencies in targeted countries. Eligibility is thus restricted to candidates from specific countries seeking admittance to approved programmes at Swedish universities. Because Sida has identified different developmental needs in different countries, your citizenship determines which programmes are available for scholarship support.

These scholarships are financed by Sida and administered by the Swedish Institute, a public agency promoting cultural and educational exchange between Sweden and the world.

GENERAL CRITERIA

Priority
In the scholarship selection process, your application is given priority if you can secure a leave of absence from your job which allows you to return upon completion of your studies. If not enough applicants meet this criterion, your application will be considered if you have at least five years of relevant work experience.

Citizenship, study level and study areas
Eligible countries are listed by programme. Below each approved master’s programme you’ll find a list of countries whose citizens are eligible for scholarship support under that programme.

Eligible programmes are also listed by country. Below each eligible country you’ll find a list of master's programmes approved for scholarship support for citizens of that country.

Study period
The master’s level programmes are between one and two academic years in duration. They usually start at the end of August or early September.

Language
You need to have a good knowledge of English. All approved master’s level programmes are taught in English.

Scholarship benefits
Currently, a scholarship pays SEK 8,000 per month, plus travel costs to and from Sweden. These scholarships are designed to cover living expenses for one person only. Tuition for the eligible programmes is free.

Scholarship holders are insured by the Swedish Institute against illness and accidents in Sweden during the scholarship period.

HOW TO APPLY

Application
You can apply for this scholarship when you apply for admission to one of the approved master's programmes at a Swedish university.

There is no application form for this scholarship. Do not send any master's scholarship requests or applications to the Swedish Institute. Instead, you apply directly to the university for the master’s programme and at the same time inform them that you would like to be considered for this scholarship.

Some universities let you indicate this on their admission application forms. In other cases, you will need to attach a letter to your admission application spelling out your request for this scholarship explicitly.

Important
You also need to attach a letter from your employer confirming that you are able to take a leave of absence for the duration of your studies, and that you will be able to return to your position when you have finished studying. If you cannot provide such a letter, please provide proof of employment of at least five years in a relevant field.

Send your completed application for admission to the programme – including a request for this scholarship and the letter regarding your employment situation – to the university you would like to study at. They will process your scholarship request.

The application deadline for this scholarship is thus the same as the application deadline for the master's programme you'd like to apply to.

How is my scholarship application processed?
The university you have applied to first chooses whom to admit to their master's programme. From this group of successful applicants, it then considers those who have requested a scholarship. It makes a shortlist of recommended candidates and sends this to the Swedish Institute.

The Swedish Institute collects these recommendations from all Swedish universities, and then makes the final selection of scholarship recipients.

If you have been selected for a scholarship for a programme that begins with the fall semester, you will be informed by the Swedish Institute in May or early June.

Reference:
www.studyinsweden.se