Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)

The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) is a fully funded master's award from the Swedish Institute, a Swedish government agency, for English-taught master's studies at Swedish universities such as Umeå University in Sweden.

It is open to international students from selected countries in fields like governance, public health, entrepreneurship and STEM. It covers full tuition, a monthly allowance of SEK 12,000, a travel grant and network membership. The deadline was 18 February 2021. Read on for eligibility, benefits and how to apply.

• Full tuition fee coverage, paid directly by SI to your Swedish university each semester.
• A monthly allowance of SEK 12,000 to cover living expenses throughout the study period.
• A one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000, or SEK 10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The travel grant does not apply to students already living in Sweden.
• Membership in the SI Network for Global Professionals (NFGP), a platform for professional growth and networking while in Sweden.
• After the scholarship period, membership in the Sweden Alumni Network for continued networking and professional development.
• The scholarship does not include insurance, so check with your university about the insurance coverage it provides for international students.
• The scholarship does not provide additional grants for family members.
• The scholarship does not cover the University Admissions application fee.
• The scholarship does not allow changes to the study programme, extensions or changes to the awarded scholarship period.

The scholarship supports full-time one-year or two-year master's studies at Swedish universities, beginning in the autumn semester.

Eligible programmes are English-taught master's programmes at Swedish universities, covering fields such as governance, public health, entrepreneurship and innovation, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Open to citizens of 34 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.

• You must be a citizen of one of the 34 eligible countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.
• You do not need to reside in the eligible country at the time of application.
• If you hold dual citizenship and both countries are eligible, you must choose only one citizenship when applying. Using dual citizenship to submit more than one application disqualifies all applications.
• You must apply for a master's programme that is eligible for the SI scholarship. The list of eligible programmes is published in mid-November 2025.
• You must be liable to pay tuition fees at University Admissions.
• You must have paid the University Admissions application fee on time.
• You must be admitted, or conditionally admitted, to one of the eligible master's programmes on the day of admissions announcements. Reserve-list places and late admissions cannot be considered.
• You must have demonstrated work experience. Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine must provide proof of work experience, with no fixed number of hours but more experience prioritised. Applicants from the other eligible countries must have at least 3,000 hours of work experience before February 2026, accumulated from a maximum of three employers.
• You must have demonstrated leadership experience from a current or previous employer, or from civil society engagement. Leadership means leading colleagues or organisations, having a mandate to influence organisational strategy, allocating tasks, or familiarity with decision-making processes. There is no minimum number of hours, but priority goes to strong, relevant leadership experience from employment.
• You are not eligible if you are currently enrolled in or hold a degree from a Swedish university or university college.
• You are not eligible if you have already resided in Sweden for cumulatively two years or more before the scholarship period starting August 2026.
• You are not eligible if you have previously been awarded a Swedish Institute scholarship for studies.

1. Apply to Swedish master's programmes through University Admissions between 16 October 2025 and 15 January 2026. This is the national admissions portal run by the Swedish Council for Higher Education.
2. Pay the University Admissions application fee on time. The payment is made to University Admissions, and the scholarship does not cover this fee.
3. Check the SI website in mid-November 2025, when the SI scholarship application documents and the list of eligible master's programmes are published.
4. Prepare your proof of work experience using the template forms provided by SI under the application section. You must be able to certify your work experience with these forms.
5. Prepare evidence of your leadership experience, which may come from previous work or from involvement in civil society organisations or networks.
6. Submit your SI scholarship application through the SI portal between 9 and 25 February 2026. The portal closes at 14:59 CET on the final day.
7. In your application, explain clearly how your chosen programme relates to relevant sustainability goals and how your education will contribute to the sustainable development of your home country and region.
8. Wait for the University Admissions announcement on 26 March 2026. You can only be awarded a scholarship for the master's programme you are admitted to on the first admissions day.
9. Check the SI scholarship announcement on 23 April 2026 for the outcome.
10. If you are currently employed, discuss your application with your employer. It is your responsibility to secure leave of absence and be released from work in time for the start of your studies, as SI will not intervene in this matter.