Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) 2026

The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) pays for a full-time master's degree at a Swedish university, starting in the autumn semester. It replaces the Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (SISS).

The award is built to help future global leaders who will work toward the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support positive, sustainable change in their home countries and region.

The scholarship supports full-time, one- or two-year master's studies at Swedish universities within the following study fields: Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Swedish Higher Education Institutions and Swedish Universities

Full-time one or two year Masters Programmes offered by Swedish Universities and Higher Education Institutions.

About 700 English-taught master's programmes are eligible for the SI scholarship for Global Professionals, covering programmes in the fields of humanities, agricultural science, medicine and public health, natural science, social science, and technology. You'll find the list here.

The programmes eligible for the SI scholarship for Global Professionals are English-taught master's programmes within Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and STEM. The list of eligible programmes is published on 13 November.

About 350 scholarships

Students from the following 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, Zambia

You must be a citizen of one of the 34 eligible countries to be eligible to apply. You do not need to reside in the country at the time of the application.

If you have dual citizenships that are both eligible for the SI scholarship, you should choose only one citizenship when applying for the scholarship. Applicants who use their dual citizenship to submit more than one application will have all applications disqualified.

Public sector employees in Georgia and Belarus are not eligible to apply.

The scholarship covers full tuition fees, living expenses of SEK 12,000 per month, insurance, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 10,000-15,000 (only for scholarship holders living outside Sweden).

The scholarship is intended for full-time one-year or two-year master's programmes, and is only awarded for programmes starting in the autumn semester.

There are no additional grants for family members. It also doesn't cover the application fee to University Admissions.

Full tuition fee coverage: the fee is paid directly by SI to your Swedish university each semester. The monthly allowance of SEK 12,000 covers your living expenses throughout the study period. The travel grant is SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine); it is a one-time payment and does not apply for students already living in Sweden.

The scholarship does not include an insurance. SI recommends checking with your university to learn more about what insurance coverage they provide for international students. The scholarship does not allow changes to the study programme, and does not allow extensions or changes to the awarded scholarship period.

To be eligible for SISGP, you must:

• Be a citizen of one of the 34 eligible countries (see above) for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals;
• Apply for a master's programme that is eligible for the SI scholarship;
• Be liable to pay tuition fees at University Admissions;
• Have demonstrated work experience;
• Have demonstrated leadership experience from a current or previous employer, entrepreneurship or from civil society engagement.

You must also have followed the steps of University Admissions, have paid the application fee for master's programmes on time, and be admitted (or conditionally admitted) to one of the eligible master's programmes on the day of admissions announcements. You can only be awarded a scholarship for the master's programme you are admitted to on the first admissions day. Master's programmes to which you are listed as a reserve cannot be considered. There are no scholarships available for late admissions.

Work experience: valid work experience includes full-time or part-time employment, freelancing or entrepreneurship. You do not have to be employed at the time of application. Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine must be able to provide proof of work experience; there is no requirement of number of hours, however applicants with more experience will be prioritised. Applicants from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia must have at least 3,000 hours of work experience prior to February 2027, accumulated from a maximum of three employers. Work experience in line with your chosen field of study will be prioritised.

Leadership experience involves the experience to lead other colleagues/organisations, mandate to influence the development strategy for the organisation you work at, allocate tasks to colleagues and/or have familiarity with decision-making processes. There is no requirement regarding a minimum number of hours; priority will be given to applicants with demonstrated strong and relevant leadership experience from employment.

You are not eligible for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals if you:

• are currently enrolled in or hold a degree from a Swedish university/university college;
• have already resided in Sweden for cumulatively two years or more, prior to the scholarship period (starting August 2027);
• have previously been awarded a Swedish Institute scholarship for studies in Sweden;
• have a Swedish or EU/EEA citizenship, a Swedish permanent residence permit or a temporary work- and residence permit based on work or on family ties with a citizen of Sweden/EU/EEA country who has a temporary or permanent right of residence in Sweden;
• have dual citizenship in countries not listed on the latest update of the DAC list of ODA recipients.

Exceptions: Ukrainian applicants who reside in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive are still eligible to apply. Moldovan applicants with dual citizenship in Romania may apply for a scholarship even though they are EU citizens and must state the citizenship that is eligible for the scholarship when applying.

Applications are currently closed.

1. To begin with, apply for a master's programme at universityadmissions.se, by 15 January 2026. Once you have submitted your application for master's programme(s) at universityadmissions.se, you will get a personal application number consisting of eight digits. Save the number as you will need it when applying to the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals. Your SI scholarship application will be disqualified if you type in the wrong personal application number. Applicants for Stockholm School of Economics and Konstfack are part of separate intakes and admissions processes and will not receive an application number.
2. After you have completed your application to a master's programme, you can apply for an SI scholarship. You must submit the required documents digitally through the online application portal from 9 February-25 February 2026.

It is important to visit the official website for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

• Host: Swedish Higher Education Institutions and Swedish Universities
• Level: Full-time one or two year Masters Programmes
• Study destination: Sweden
• Number of awards: About 350 scholarships
• What is covered: Full tuition fees, living expenses of SEK 12,000 per month, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine)
• Application deadlines: 15 January 2026 (master's programme) and 9 February-25 February 2026 (SI scholarship)
• Starts: Course starts August 2026

This scholarship suits students from the 34 eligible countries who are applying for an eligible English-taught master's programme in Sweden and who are liable to pay tuition fees. If you have work experience and a record of leadership, whether from an employer, entrepreneurship or civil society engagement, you are the kind of applicant the programme is looking for.

It is a good fit if you plan to study full-time for one or two years starting in the autumn semester and want tuition, living costs, and a travel grant covered.

• Who can apply for the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals? Citizens of the 34 eligible countries listed above who apply for an eligible master's programme, are liable to pay tuition fees, and have demonstrated work and leadership experience.
• What does the scholarship cover? Full tuition fees, living expenses of SEK 12,000 per month, and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) for holders living outside Sweden.
• When is the deadline? Apply for a master's programme at universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2026, then submit the SI scholarship application from 9 February-25 February 2026.
• How many scholarships are awarded? About 350 scholarships.
• Does the scholarship cover family members? No, there are no additional grants for family members, and it does not cover the University Admissions application fee.
• How do I apply? First apply for a master's programme at universityadmissions.se and save your eight-digit application number, then apply for the SI scholarship through the online application portal.

• Read the official guidelines and the complete eligibility criteria before you start.
• Prepare your documents early, including proof of work and leadership experience.
• Check the English language requirements for your chosen programme.
• Save your eight-digit application number from universityadmissions.se.
• Submit your SI scholarship application through the online portal within the window.