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)
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.
Here is what SI Scholarship for Global Professionals Scholars Say:
“Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) – Fully Funded (tuition, SEK 12,000 monthly stipend, SEK 10,000 travel grant, insurance)”
Aydan Mammadova
“I was honored to receive the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) in 2024, a highly competitive and prestigious award with an acceptance rate of 4%.”
Narmin Abbasova
“Applicants from Bangladesh must show at least 3,000 hours of work experience before the cutoff (roughly ~2 years full-time), and you also need to demonstrate leadership.”
Ariful Amin
2. Global Scholarship (Lund University)
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.
Here is what Lund University Global Scholarship Scholars Say:
“I was also awarded the Lund University Global Scholarship, which amounted to 225,000 SEK and was directly deducted from the tuition fees.”
Marco Alonso
“It’s important to note that the percentage awarded varies and may be lower in some cases.”
Marco Alonso
“Additionally, I found the scholarship information directly on the program’s website; I hadn’t known about it before.”
Marco Alonso
3. Scholarships for International Students (Halmstad University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: 25% or 50% tuition fee waiver
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Halmstad University‘s Scholarship for International Students is awarded to tuition-paying students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. It may be granted to applicants in any field of study applying to bachelor’s or master’s programs at Halmstad University. To be eligible, applicants must apply by the University Admissions deadline, make a Halmstad University bachelor’s or master’s program their first priority, and pay the application fee.
The scholarship covers 25% or 50% of tuition fees and does not include living expenses or grants for family members. It is initially granted for one semester and is automatically extended for the regular duration of the program if study results are satisfactory: two or four semesters for master’s programs and six semesters for bachelor’s programs. Scholarship holders must complete 75% of the credits each semester, equal to 22.5 out of 30 credits.
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. Make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe and Study in Sweden!
