SI Scholarship for Global Professionals 2027

Overview

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is funded by the Swedish government and run by the Swedish Institute. It supports full-time master’s study in Sweden for students from 34 countries who have work and leadership experience. The award covers tuition and living costs, and it is one of the few fully funded routes into Sweden, where non-European students otherwise pay tuition. Around 300 scholarships are awarded each year across all eligible countries.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be citizens of one of the 34 eligible countries. The 34 eligible countries are set by the Swedish Institute each year — check the official list on si.se before applying. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, proof of English, and at least 3,000 hours of work experience (this applies to 28 of the 34 eligible countries — applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine need proof of work experience with no hour minimum), plus leadership experience from work, volunteering or student organisations. The applicant must first be admitted to a Swedish master’s programme starting in autumn 2027 — the scholarship cannot be used for a programme that has not offered a place.

Available Fields

The scholarship covers English-taught Master’s programmes within Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and STEM, from the list of eligible programmes published by the Swedish Institute on 13 November 2026. The Swedish Institute publishes the list of eligible programmes each year, and only programmes on that list can be funded.

Scholarship Benefits

The award covers the full tuition fee, paid directly to the university, plus a monthly living allowance of 12,000 Swedish kronor. It also includes a travel grant of up to 15,000 kronor. The allowance is paid for the length of the master’s programme. Family members are not covered, and the award does not include a grant for dependents.

Required Documents

Applicants should expect to provide a CV in the Swedish Institute’s own format, two reference letters in the set format, proof of work experience and leadership experience, a motivation letter answering the set questions, and a valid passport copy. The CV and reference letters must use the official templates — other formats are not accepted.

Application Process

The application has two steps. First, apply for a Swedish master’s programme through University Admissions between 16 October 2026 and 15 January 2027 and pay the application fee of 900 kronor. Second, apply for the scholarship through the Swedish Institute’s portal, which opens on 8 February 2027 and closes on 24 February 2027 at 14:59 Central European Time. Only applicants who have been admitted to an eligible programme can be awarded the scholarship.

Important Dates

Master’s applications through University Admissions run from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027. The scholarship portal opens on 8 February 2027 and closes on 24 February 2027 at 14:59 CET. Results are announced on 22 April 2027, and study starts in late August or early September 2027.

FAQs

Which countries are eligible for the SI Scholarship? Citizens of the 34 eligible countries listed by the Swedish Institute can apply. Check the official list on si.se before applying — it is set by the Swedish Institute each year.

How much work experience is needed? At least 3,000 hours, plus leadership experience.

Does the scholarship cover tuition? Yes — full tuition, plus 12,000 kronor a month and a travel grant.

Can I apply for the scholarship before I am admitted? The scholarship application runs after the master’s application, and the award is only given to applicants who have been admitted to an eligible programme.