Swedish Institute SI Scholarship for Global Professionals 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 24
If you are a mid-career professional who wants to build the skills and networks to lead sustainable development in your country, then it is time to prepare for the Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarships for Global Professionals 2026. This fully-funded opportunity supports one- or two-year English-taught master’s programmes in Sweden and links scholarship holders to the SI Network for Global Professionals (NFGP) — a platform of learning, leadership training and lifelong collaboration. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Scholarship summary
Location: Sweden.
Host institution: Swedish universities (the scholarship covers tuition at the university you are admitted to).
Study level: Master’s (one- or two-year programmes).
Target group: Mid-career/global professionals from the 33 eligible countries (see list below). Applicants must demonstrate work and leadership experience.
Fields of study: Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, STEM and other eligible English-taught master’s programmes.
Award value & coverage:
Full tuition fees paid directly to the university.
Monthly living allowance: SEK 12,000.
Travel grant: SEK 15,000 (reduced to SEK 10,000 for applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).
Membership in SI Network for Global Professionals and later Sweden Alumni Network.
Duration: Matches the length of the admitted master’s programme (one or two years).
Application window (SI portal): 9–25 February 2026 (two weeks).
University admissions window (University Admissions): 16 Oct 2025 – 15 Jan 2026 (apply to master’s programmes).
University admissions result date: 26 March 2026.
SI scholarship announcement: 23 April 2026 (final scholarship recipients announced).
Eligible to apply: Citizens of the 33 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, Vietnam, Zambia)
🧭 Scholarship overview
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is designed to develop leaders who can contribute to sustainable development in their home countries. Scholarship holders join a peer network (NFGP) where SI organises workshops, leadership seminars, professional development activities and opportunities for collaboration. The scholarship is competitive — SI evaluates academic merit, professional experience, leadership demonstrated and the applicant’s potential to drive change at home. Final selection requires admission to an eligible master’s programme on the University Admissions selection date.
📚 Structure, curriculum and activities
You study the full master’s curriculum at your Swedish university (same courses and credits as fee-paying students).
SI organises networking and professional development activities through the SI Network for Global Professionals: leadership workshops, peer learning sessions, alumni events and thematic seminars aimed at strengthening leadership, project implementation and cross-sector collaboration.
After your scholarship period you join the Sweden Alumni Network for continued professional development and networking.
💲 Scholarship benefits — what SI covers
Tuition fees: Fully covered and paid directly to the university each semester.
Monthly stipend: SEK 12,000 for living expenses.
Travel grant: SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for certain Eastern European applicants — see SI). One-time payment; not applicable if you already live in Sweden.
Network & alumni access: Membership in NFGP and the Sweden Alumni Network.
❌ What it does not cover: Insurance (arrange separately or check your university), family members, application fee to University Admissions, programme changes or extensions.
✅ Eligibility criteria
Citizenship: Must be a citizen of one of the 33 eligible countries mentioned above (you do not have to live in the country when applying).
Tuition liability: Must be liable to pay tuition fees to Swedish universities (i.e., non-EU/EEA in most cases). Check University Admissions rules.
University admission: You must be admitted (or conditionally admitted) to one of the eligible master’s programmes on 26 March 2026 (the University Admissions announcement date). Reserve/waitlist status is not eligible.
Work experience: Applicants from most eligible countries must have at least 3,000 hours of documented work experience prior to February 2026 (hours may be accumulated across up to three employers). Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have other documentation requirements (no fixed hour minimum but experience is prioritised). Work experience in line with your chosen field of study is prioritised.
Leadership experience: Demonstrated leadership (no strict hour minimum). Priority to applicants with strong and relevant leadership roles. Leadership can be through employment or civil society engagement.
Ineligible if: You hold Swedish/EU citizenship, permanent Swedish residence, have lived in Sweden 2+ years before the scholarship start, already hold an SI scholarship, or hold a Swedish degree (with limited exceptions). Read SI’s exceptions (e.g., Ukrainian applicants under Temporary Protection).
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ℹ️ Earns Commission
📝 Application procedure
Two separate application tracks — both required to be considered:
University Admissions (for master’s programmes) — 16 Oct 2025 – 15 Jan 2026
Apply (up to 4 master’s programmes) via UniversityAdmissions.se and pay the application fee. Save your personal application number (eight digits) — you need this when submitting the SI scholarship application. Missing or wrong number disqualifies your SI application.
SI Scholarship application (SI portal) — 9–25 February 2026
Create and submit one scholarship application (you may include up to four eligible master’s programmes in the SI application). Submit only one SI application — multiple applications will lead to disqualification.
🗂️ Documents to prepare (templates published by SI mid-November):
SI CV (use SI’s template, max 3 pages).
Proof of work and leadership experience (SI template): typed, printed, signed, stamped by referee or notarised; uploaded as one PDF.
Two letters of reference (SI template) from two different referees — one must be work-based; the second may be work or civil society/network-based; typed, printed, signed, stamped and scanned as one PDF.
Photocopy of valid passport or national ID (showing name, citizenship, photo).
Motivation statement (written in the application portal). You may be randomly selected to record a short video presentation.
IMPORTANT: All forms must follow SI instructions (signed & stamped where required). Incorrect forms or missing stamps will cause disqualification.
📅 Timeline & how the application works
Prepare (Oct–Nov 2025):
Research eligible master’s programmes (SI publishes the eligible programme list mid-November). Save the SI templates (CV, reference, work/leadership proof) and read instructions carefully. Gather referee signatures and official stamps.
Apply to master’s programmes (University Admissions): 16 Oct 2025 – 15 Jan 2026
Submit applications to up to four master’s programmes at UniversityAdmissions.se and pay the application fee. Save your personal application number (eight digits) — required for SI application. Applicants to Stockholm School of Economics and Konstfack follow separate processes (no application number). Missing the University Admissions deadline makes you ineligible for SI.
Prepare SI documents (mid-Nov – Feb):
Complete SI CV template, obtain signed & stamped proof of work/leadership, request two referees to sign SI reference templates, scan passport/ID. Double-check formatting and stamps — SI disqualifies incorrectly prepared files.
Submit SI Scholarship application (SI portal): 9–25 Feb 2026
Use the official SI application portal to submit one application (can include up to four eligible programmes). Enter your University Admissions personal application number correctly. Upload documents as required. The portal is only open for two weeks — submit early to avoid heavy traffic.
SI screening & initial evaluation (25 Feb – 25 Mar 2026):
SI screens for eligibility and disqualifies incomplete/incorrect applications. Eligible applications are evaluated and scored against programme aims and SI priorities (leadership potential, relevance to sustainable development, professional platform).
University Admissions results (26 Mar 2026):
SI receives your admission status from University Admissions. You must be admitted (or conditionally admitted) to an eligible programme on this date to remain in the scholarship selection. If you decline or change your admission result after this date, you become ineligible. Waitlisted/reserved applicants are not considered.
Final evaluation and scholarship announcement (26 Mar – 23 Apr 2026):
SI conducts final evaluations and publishes scholarship results (announcement target 23 Apr 2026). Selected scholars are notified and later invited to participate in NFGP activities.
ℹ️ Practical tips & extra information
Start early: Templates, signed/stamped references and notary requirements take time. SI disqualifies incorrect paperwork.
Match work experience to study plans: SI prioritises work experience related to your chosen field and clear motivation on how you will contribute to sustainable development back home.
Keep your personal application number safe — a small typo disqualifies your SI application.
Check eligible programme list (published mid-November) and plan which programmes to apply to at University Admissions. The eligible programmes list (PDF) shows course codes and credits for each institution. Check on this page once published