Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme

The Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme is a tuition-fee scholarship programme aimed at international students who are required to pay tuition fees and who have applied for a master’s programme at Stockholm University. Awards normally cover part or all of the tuition fee, are granted mainly on academic merit, and are applied for separately from the programme application itself. This guide explains who can apply, what the scholarship does and does not cover, how the selection process works, and how to prepare an application that stands a real chance.

What the Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme Covers

Most awards connected to this scheme are tuition-fee scholarships. That means the money is applied directly to what you owe the university for teaching, not paid into your bank account.

The exact value of an award varies by scheme, faculty, and programme. Some students receive a full tuition waiver, while others receive a partial reduction of a fixed percentage.

• Tuition fees for the programme you are admitted to, either in full or in part.
• Standard programme duration in many cases, although some awards cover only the first year and may be extended based on performance.
• No living costs. Rent, food, transport, phone bills, and course literature are your own responsibility.
• No travel or relocation costs. Flights, insurance, residence permit fees, and arrival expenses are not included.
• No application fees. The fee you pay to the national admissions platform is separate and is not refunded.

Because the award is applied to tuition, it is most valuable for students on programmes with high fee levels, such as two-year master’s degrees in engineering, business, or data science.

Think of the scholarship as a reduction on your tuition bill, not as a budget for living. Plan your finances as if the award covers only one part of the total cost.

Who Can Apply for the Scholarship

The scheme is designed for students who are actually charged tuition fees. In Sweden, that generally means citizens of countries outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.

Applicants from EU or EEA countries usually pay no tuition, so there is nothing for the scholarship to cover. They are normally not eligible for this particular funding route.

• Fee-paying status. You must be required to pay tuition fees for the programme you applied to.
• An eligible programme. Your chosen master’s programme must be on the list of programmes covered by the scheme.
• A submitted programme application. You must have applied through the national admissions platform before the programme deadline.
• A paid application fee. The admissions fee must be paid on time, otherwise your programme application is not considered complete.
• Academic merit. Strong grades and a relevant bachelor’s degree are the main baseline.
• Possible regional limits. Some individual scholarships are open only to applicants from specific countries, regions, or partner universities.

Some awards are also restricted to first-time master’s students at Stockholm University, so read the description of each specific scholarship rather than assuming the rules are identical across the board.

How the Selection Process Works

Admission and scholarship selection are two separate evaluations, even though they are linked. Being admitted to a programme does not automatically mean you will receive funding.

The scholarship committee reviews eligible applicants after programme admissions are processed, then ranks them according to the criteria of each individual scheme.

• Eligibility screening. Applications that fail a basic requirement, such as an unpaid fee or an ineligible programme, are removed first.
• Academic performance. Grades, the strength of your previous university, and the relevance of your degree carry the most weight.
• Motivation and fit. A clear explanation of why this specific programme matches your goals helps distinguish similar candidates.
• Relevant experience. Work, research, internships, or volunteering in a related field can strengthen a borderline case.
• Distribution across programmes. Committees often try to spread awards across faculties rather than concentrate them in one department.

Selection is competitive, and the number of applications usually exceeds the number of awards by a wide margin. A strong applicant who is not selected is not necessarily a weak applicant.

How to Apply, Step by Step

The process involves two separate submissions: one for the programme itself and one for the scholarship. Mixing up the order is one of the most common reasons students lose the chance to be considered.

1. Shortlist your programmes. Confirm that each one is covered by the scholarship scheme before you invest time in the application.
2. Submit your programme application. Use the national admissions platform and rank your choices carefully.
3. Pay the application fee. Do this early. An unpaid fee means your programme application is incomplete.
4. Keep your application number. You will need it for the scholarship form.
5. Open the scholarship application. Stockholm University runs its own scholarship form, separate from the admissions platform.
6. Upload your documents. Typically this includes a motivation statement, your CV, and proof of academic achievement.
7. Submit before the scholarship deadline. Late submissions are generally not reviewed, regardless of how strong they are.
8. Track your email. All updates, including requests for clarification, usually arrive by email.

Keep copies of everything you submit. If a document fails to upload correctly, having a saved version makes it far easier to resolve quickly.

Key Facts at a Glance

How to Strengthen Your Application and Avoid Common Mistakes

Most applicants who reach the eligibility stage have decent grades. What separates them is preparation, clarity, and attention to detail.

Treat the scholarship application as a document that must stand on its own, because the reviewers may not read your programme application in full.

• Write a specific motivation statement. Name courses, research areas, or professors that connect to your goals instead of praising the city or the university in general terms.
• Show evidence, not adjectives. Replace “I am highly motivated” with a concrete example such as a thesis project, a job, or a published piece of work.
• Quantify where possible. Class rank, grade point average, competition results, or the scale of a project you managed all add credibility.
• Tailor each statement. Copying one letter across several scholarships is usually obvious and weakens every version.
• Proofread carefully. Spelling errors and inconsistent names or dates suggest carelessness.
• Submit early. Portals slow down near deadlines, and technical problems are not usually accepted as an excuse.

On the other side, avoid these recurring mistakes:

• Forgetting to pay the admissions application fee, which invalidates the whole process.
• Applying for a programme that is not covered by the scheme.
• Assuming the scholarship pays for rent and food.
• Missing the scholarship deadline because you were waiting for admission results.
• Uploading an incomplete document set or unreadable scans.
• Applying to only one funding source and having no backup plan.

Funding rewards preparation. If your grades put you in the running, it is the quality of your motivation and paperwork that separates the shortlisted names from the rest.

Other Funding Options Worth Combining

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