Karolinska Institute is one of the world’s top medical universities and the largest center of medical research in Sweden. Founded in 1810, KI started as an academy for the training of skilled army surgeons and over time, has evolved into a well-known Swedish school offering bachelor’s, graduate, and free-standing programs.

Their research initiatives span through the entire medical field and are conducted in two campuses (Slona and Flemingsberg) as well as a number of hospitals. Their vision, “to advance knowledge about life and strive for better health for all”, is truly a continuous evolvement as they provide quality education, outreach activities, and exchange programs to future great world doctors. Karolinska Institute was also appointed by Alfred Nobel to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. In this article, we will be looking at the Karolinska Institute scholarships for international students.

International Students at Karolinska Institute

Karolinska Institute has a total population of around 8,000 students, almost 2,000 of which are internationals coming from countries outside Europe, the European Economic Area, and Sweden. With one-fourth of their community as non-domestic students, KI has been ranked as #1 in Best Global Universities in Sweden.

The institute offers only one undergraduate program in English— the Bachelor’s program in Biomedicine while all other programs are taught in Swedish. However, this provides a solid foundation for those who are also keen to take their global Master’s degree in KI, where they can continue their education in either Biomedicine, Bioentrepreneurship, and Toxicology.

To promote intercultural engagements and to break language barriers, the institution also offers a three-day intensive Swedish language class to all new international students.

Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students

Tuition Fee for International Students

The annual tuition fee for the undergraduate program in Biomedicine is roughly $21,000. For graduate international programs, the estimated tuition is $23,000. The fees are paid in installments prior to the start of each semester. Note that only limited programs are offered by KI in English. The complete list of programs and fees in SEK can be viewed here.

Learn More: Cost of Living and Studying in Sweden for International Students

International Admissions Guide

The admissions process in Sweden is significantly simpler and more convenient, as they have a centralized system where students can apply to different courses and universities with just one application. The entire admissions process is electronic— applicants just have to create an account on University Admissions, and here they can submit their application, upload their documents, as well as receive their notice of acceptance.

But before application, students must make sure that they’ve already checked and met all of Karolinska Institute’s general entry requirements, program-specific requirements, and the English proficiency requirement. Once all criteria have been met and the application has been sent, the review and selection will take place in two levels, where all the best-fitting candidates will be chosen.

Application Fee

The application fee for applicants from outside EU/EEA is 900 SEK (around $103).

Admissions Requirements at Karolinska Institute for International Students

The requirements for admission at Karolinska Institute are divided into three— general entry, program-specific, and English language requirements. The general entry requirement is a completed secondary education (post-16), while program-specific are those needed only by the program you are applying to. For the undergraduate program in Biomedicine, the applicant must have completed courses equivalent to the Swedish curriculum for the following subjects: Biology 2, Chemistry 2, and Mathematics 4. Students must also provide proof of their English proficiency, which is equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6. Go to KI’s Admissions to Global Bachelor’s Programs for more information.

Admissions requirements for graduate programs in Karolinska Institute follow the same division. The general requirement is a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of 180 ECTS from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are dependent on the chosen program of the student, and the proof of English literacy is the same as those for undergraduates, which is an English 6 equivalent. Here’s a detailed guide on global master’s admissions.

Once the applicant has checked their eligibility, they may proceed to send their application to University Admissions. All documents must also be submitted here and not directly to KI.

Rankings

Karolinska Institute has been very appreciative of its student body and faculty who have helped mold the institute into being a world-class, top-chosen school for students wanting to go into the field of medicine. In 2020, the Academic Ranking of World Universities placed KI at number 45 in the world and number 12 in Europe. Times Higher Education also ranked them as a top 36 university worldwide and 9 in Europe. Their medical courses have also been acknowledged by different organizations, such as their fields of Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at number 6, Clinical and Health at the 10th spot, and Life Sciences at 24.

Check Also: Best Universities in Sweden for International Students

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Karolinska Institute is around 4% annually. A relatively low number, since the institute is one of the top medical schools in Europe and among the highest-ranked institutions in Sweden, their admissions process is tight and heavily based on applicants’ academic standing.

See Also: Universities in Sweden with the Highest Acceptance Rates

Karolinska Institute Scholarships for International Students

Undergraduate Scholarships

There are no scholarships offered by Karolinska Institute for international students applying to the bachelor’s program in Biomedicine.

Graduate Scholarships

1. The Karolinska Institute Global Master’s Scholarship

The Karolinska Institute Global Master’s Scholarship is offered to a maximum of ten students each year, from a total of roughly 1,500 international scholarship applicants. This Karolinska Institute scholarship covers the tuition fee of the grantees. Other expenses such as those for travel and housing are not inclusive. The selection will be based on the applicant’s CV and other academic credentials.

2. KI-DIS Fellowship

The KI-DIS Fellowship is awarded to one student each year who is currently enrolled as a first-year in one of the institute’s Global Master’s Programs. They must also be a DIS alumnus who studied in either Stockholm or Copenhagen. This Karolinska Institute scholarships for international students may cover up to SEK 200,000 (roughly $23,400) of tuition fees, excluding travel and living expenses.

To view the full list of scholarships and financial aids offered by Karolinska Institute, check out this page.

3. Swedish Institute’s Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Tuition and Living Stipend of 10,000 SEK per month

Master’s students who are applying to Karolinska Institute may be eligible for Swedish Institute’s Scholarship, which covers full tuition and gives a monthly living stipend. To be eligible, you should be an international student, coming from countries outside EU/EEA.

Karolinska Institute is surely one of the places to consider if you’re looking for affordable education in Sweden. As a world-renowned medical university, it offers top-notch education and research opportunities, as well as meaningful life experiences. Besides this institute, you can also check out other universities that offer scholarships for international students in Sweden. With these, you don’t need to worry about finances and just focus on your studies.

I hope that this article on Karolinska Institute scholarships for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!