Guest Scholarship Programme: Post-doctoral Research in Sweden

The Guest Scholarship Programme is funded by the Swedish Government and lets researchers who hold a PhD carry out full-time research at Swedish universities and research institutes. It exists to build research capacity and support work that fights poverty in the programme countries. Applicants who earned their PhD in 2009 or later are prioritised.

• Host: Accredited academic institutions and universities in Sweden
• Level: Post-doctoral research
• Study destination: Sweden
• Deadline: 2 February 2014 for 2014/2015
• Awards: About 20 scholarships for 2014/2015
• Value: SEK 18,000 per month, one travel grant of SEK 15,000 and insurance
• Target group: Candidates from ten selected countries

Accredited academic institutions and universities in Sweden.

For this call, only the following disciplines are eligible:

• Agricultural Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Technology
• Environmental Science related to Agricultural Sciences or Natural Sciences or Technology

The next call for applications for the academic year 2015/2016 will be open for the following disciplines only:

• Business and Social Sciences
• Health and Medicine
• Environmental Science related to Social Sciences

About 20 scholarships are offered for the academic year 2014/2015.

The programme is open to candidates from these countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The scholarship pays SEK 18,000 per month. It also includes one travel grant of SEK 15,000 and insurance coverage. The scholarship cannot be prolonged or extended.

The scholarships are for holders of a PhD degree in one of the disciplines eligible for 2014/2015, doing full-time research in Sweden. You are not eligible if any of the following applies:

• You have already lived in Sweden for two or more years when the scholarship period is due to begin.
• You already hold a Swedish permanent residence permit.

Applicants who have previously received a scholarship from SI for study or research at a Swedish university will not be given priority.

There will be no call for applications for scholarships within the Guest Scholarship Programme for the academic year 2015/2016.

For 2014/2015, the deadline for applications was 2 February 2014. Visit the official website (link below) for detailed information on how to apply.

This scholarship suits researchers who hold a PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, Technology, or Environmental Science tied to those fields, and who want to carry out full-time research at a Swedish institution. You should be a national of one of the ten listed programme countries and not already settled in Sweden with long-term residence.

• Who can apply for the Guest Scholarship Programme? Researchers with a PhD in an eligible discipline who come from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia.
• What does the scholarship cover? SEK 18,000 per month, one travel grant of SEK 15,000 and insurance coverage. It cannot be extended.
• What is the application deadline? For 2014/2015 the deadline was 2 February 2014. No call will be held for 2015/2016.
• How many scholarships are awarded? About 20 for the academic year 2014/2015.
• Which fields are eligible? For 2014/2015: Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, Technology, and Environmental Science related to those areas. The next call will cover Business and Social Sciences, Health and Medicine, and Environmental Science related to Social Sciences.

• Read the official guidelines carefully before you start, and check that your PhD field matches the disciplines open in the current call.
• Prepare your documents early, including proof of your PhD and a research plan, so you are not rushed near the deadline.
• Check whether the host institution asks for a language test or other requirements, and book any test in good time.
• Contact a potential supervisor or department in Sweden before applying to confirm they can host your research.
• Submit your application through the official portal and keep a copy of everything you send.