7 Best Scholarships in Sweden for International Students (With Real-Life Examples)

Sweden is home to well-regarded universities and internationally active businesses. For citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, Swedish public university studies are generally free of application and tuition fees. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are usually required to pay tuition fees, but scholarships can help reduce these costs.

This article lists the top scholarships in Sweden for international students. However, you might be wondering why this list focuses mainly on bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Applying for doctoral studies in Sweden does not require application or tuition fees, and doctoral positions are usually treated as salaried employment. To pursue a PhD, check available doctoral positions directly on Swedish university job boards.

Top Scholarships in Sweden for International Students

1. SI Scholarships for Global Professionals (Swedish Institute)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full tuition, SEK 12,000 monthly allowance, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 for most eligible scholars
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency offering scholarships for full-time, one- or two-year master’s studies at Swedish universities. For 2026/2027, eligible applicants must be citizens of one of the eligible countries, apply to an eligible master’s program, be liable for tuition fees, and demonstrate work and leadership experience. Some applicants must show at least 3,000 hours of work experience accumulated from a maximum of three employers, while applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine must provide proof of work experience without a minimum-hour requirement.

Moreover, this scholarship is aimed at students from SI’s list of eligible countries. If accepted, SI pays your tuition directly to the Swedish university. Scholars receive SEK 12,000 per month for living expenses. The scholarship does not include insurance, does not cover the University Admissions application fee, and does not provide extra grants for family members. A one-time travel grant is available for scholars who are not already living in Sweden; for most eligible scholars, this grant is SEK 15,000.

Ulviyya Asgarzade’s path to the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals: Ulviyya Asgarzade applied three times before winning the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals; after each unsuccessful attempt, she strengthened her motivation letter and CV, and by the third she was using precise examples, clearer goals, and stronger supporting documents. Her six years of international-project experience helped her connect an engineering background with leadership, coordination, and community development, while she deliberately aligned her application with the scholarship’s emphasis on leadership, sustainability, and development. She went on to complete a master’s in Leadership and Organisation at Malmö University in 2025. View More SI Scholarship for Global Professionals recipients →

Recent recipient outcomes include: Lamin Saidy, who returned to The Gambia after his master’s and became Head of Internal Audit at Reliance Financial Services; Matheus Simon, who joined Ramboll in Sweden before returning to Brazil, where he is now a Partner and Architect at Koren Arquitetos; Tarikawit Fikadu, who returned to Ethiopia and moved into human-rights work at a local civil-society organization; Hatice Has, who continued at Lund University as a PhD candidate in Strategic Management; and Khadiza Binte Ahsan, who works as a Fundraising Officer for an international NGO in Sweden.

2. Global Scholarship (Lund University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Partial or full tuition fee grant
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, selected Bachelor’s programs

The Global Scholarship is a competitive, merit-based scholarship for outstanding tuition-fee-paying students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. To be eligible, applicants must apply to a degree program at Lund University and place the Lund program as their first choice at universityadmissions.se. The scholarship mainly applies to master’s programs; only a few bachelor’s programs are eligible, such as Development Studies, Mathematics, Physics, and Physical Geography. Applicants must also be able to fund living expenses according to Swedish Migration Agency requirements.

Once you have submitted a complete program application and paid the application fee, you can apply through Lund’s scholarship portal during the scholarship application period. The application requires a scholarship motivation letter of up to 600 words explaining why your academic achievements and reasons for applying to Lund University make you a strong candidate. Scholarship grants may cover part or all tuition fees, but they do not cover living expenses, and financial need is not considered.

One scholar’s journey: Marco Alonso was awarded the Lund University Global Scholarship after applying to the Master’s in Sociology of Law at Lund University, where he deliberately chose a program whose research focus matched his existing interest in the legal profession. His bachelor’s thesis helped demonstrate that academic fit, while for admission he overcame the TOEFL requirement by using online practice materials and rehearsing the speaking section with a friend. He received a scholarship covering about 90% of his tuition and ultimately chose the separately awarded SI Scholarship for Global Professionals because it also covered living and travel costs. View More Lund University Global Scholarship recipients →

3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships (European Union)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, with scholarship support covering participation costs and contributing to travel, visa, and living expenses
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships are funded by the European Union for international master’s programs jointly delivered by universities in several countries. Students from around the world can apply, and Sweden is represented in Erasmus Mundus programs through participating institutions such as Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. This makes Erasmus Mundus particularly relevant to international students looking for scholarships in Sweden while also gaining experience at partner universities in other countries.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or be in their final year and graduate before their Erasmus Mundus master’s program begins; an officially recognized equivalent level of learning may also qualify. Scholarship selection and additional admission requirements are determined by each Erasmus Mundus consortium. Applications are submitted directly to the institution or consortium running the chosen program, with most programs accepting applications between October and January for courses beginning the following academic year.

One scholar’s journey: Tuo Sern secured the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the WE-TEAM textile engineering programme after applying to three Erasmus Mundus programmes; just 15 applicants were shortlisted from 209 worldwide, and he ranked eighth among those selected. He built his application around a detailed Europass CV covering his academic record, three years of professional experience, extracurricular activities and international experience, which he believed helped demonstrate that he could adapt to studying across several countries. His programme took him from Belgium and France to a third semester at the University of Borås in Sweden, followed by his master’s thesis work in Germany. View More Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients in Sweden →

Recent Sweden-connected recipient outcomes include: Gizelle Jamero, who became a Fire Engineer at Arup in Ireland after completing her Erasmus Mundus master’s; Seunnla Adelusi, who progressed from Erasmus Mundus study including Luleå University of Technology to a PhD at Université de Sherbrooke; and Ralph Carlo Evidente, who followed his Erasmus Mundus master’s, including study at Uppsala University, with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral position at the Technical University of Denmark.

4. BTH Scholarships for Prospective International Students (Blekinge Institute of Technology)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Partial tuition fee reduction
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The Blekinge Institute of Technology conducts research in areas such as software engineering and strategic sustainable development. BTH states that its software engineering research is ranked second in the world and that its strategic sustainable development research is among the most cited globally. The BTH scholarship program is intended for tuition-fee-paying students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.

To be eligible for the prospective-student scholarship, you must apply for a campus-based BTH program, usually a master’s program through UniversityAdmissions.se, choose BTH as your first choice, and be required to pay tuition fees. Distance-education applicants are not eligible. Selection is based primarily on academic merit, not work experience or financial need.

The scholarship covers part of the tuition fee only and does not cover living expenses. The amount is deducted from the tuition cost and is not paid directly to the student.

5. Avancez Scholarships (Chalmers University of Technology)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: 75% tuition fee reduction
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The Chalmers University of Technology, one of Sweden’s best universities, awards scholarships to prospective master’s students who are liable to pay tuition fees. Chalmers conducts research and education in technology, natural sciences, maritime studies, and architecture.

Under the Avancez Scholarship Program, fee-paying prospective master’s students can apply for a scholarship after submitting a program application at universityadmissions.se. Chalmers-administered scholarships are only for prospective students and must be submitted before the start of the first academic year. Applicants need their University Admissions application number when applying. Financial status is not considered in the nomination process.

Awardees receive a 75% tuition fee reduction for the two-year program. Students with excellent results during their first year may receive an increased 85% tuition fee reduction for the second year. The scholarship is deducted from tuition and is not paid directly to recipients.

6. Scholarships for International Students (Dalarna University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: SEK 5,000 first-semester tuition reduction plus academic excellence awards
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

Dalarna University offers tuition scholarships to fee-paying master’s students. For students starting in 2026 or later, the current structure includes the Choose Dalarna First Scholarship and the Academic Excellence Scholarship. The previous 10% to 50% tuition fee reduction applied to students who started in 2025 or earlier.

The Choose Dalarna First Scholarship gives a SEK 5,000 first-semester tuition reduction to eligible applicants who rank a Dalarna University master’s program as their first choice and submit the scholarship application by the applicable deadline. The Academic Excellence Scholarship is awarded during the program to students who meet the academic criteria for their program.

Dalarna University scholarships are available only for master’s programs, including eligible online master’s programs starting in 2026. They are not based on financial need. Scholarship amounts vary by program and performance; semester awards and possible program distinctions can reduce tuition further for students who meet the criteria.

7. Global Scholarship (Karlstad University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: 50% tuition fee reduction
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

Karlstad University offers a Global Scholarship Program for outstanding tuition-fee-paying students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who are admitted to eligible master’s degree programs at Karlstad University. For 2026/2027, the scholarship applies only to listed eligible master’s programs and covers 50% of tuition fees. It does not cover living expenses, and applicants must show financial capability for the residence permit.

Selection is based on academic performance, relevance and motivation for the chosen program, commitment to studying at Karlstad University, and whether Karlstad University is listed as first choice at University Admissions. The scholarship is merit-based; financial need is not considered.

The scholarship is program-specific and initially granted for one semester. It can be extended for the full duration of the program if study results are satisfactory and scholarship rules are fulfilled. Deferment, switching programs, or certain residence or prior-study statuses can make the scholarship invalid.

The cost of studying and living in Sweden can be higher than in some European countries, but scholarships and tuition fee waivers can help reduce tuition costs for eligible students.

We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Sweden for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!