Deadline: February 13, 2016

The Swedish Institute is offering scholarships through the Visby Programme for the 2016/2017 academic year. The aim of the Visby Programme is to build an integrated, knowledge-based and research-intense region, centred on the Baltic Sea while also including EU Eastern Partnership countries and Russia.

The scholarships are intended for full-time master’s level studies in Sweden and cover both living costs and tuition fees. About 55 scholarships will be offered for the academic year 2016/2017.

• The scholarship covers both the tuition fee (which is paid directly to the Swedish university/university college by the Swedish Institute) and living expenses to the amount of SEK 9,000 per month.
• The scholarship is awarded for programmes starting in the autumn semester (August/September) and covers the whole duration of the master’s programme (one or two academic years). There are no grants for family members.
• The scholarship cannot be transferred to another degree programme or university, nor can the scholarship period be altered or extended beyond the period of study for the degree programme. However, scholarship holders within the Visby Programme enrolled in one-year master’s programmes (60 credits) may apply for an extension of the scholarship to pursue an unpaid internship in Sweden lasting for a period of up to 5 months beyond the ordinary programme period.
• Travel grants: Scholarship holders receive a travel grant in connection with their scholarship.
  • Belarus, Ukraine and Russia: SEK 4,000.
  • Georgia and Moldova: SEK 5,000.
• Insurance: Scholarship holders are insured by the Swedish State Group Insurance against illness and accident during the scholarship period.
• SI Network for Future Global Leaders: All Swedish Institute scholarship holders are invited to become members of the SI Network for Future Global Leaders (NFGL) – a network that offers unique opportunities during and after the stay in Sweden.

Eligible Programmes

A list of eligible master programmes for the academic year 2016/2017 is available here. The programmes have been selected by the Swedish Institute on the basis of thematic relevance for the SI Baltic Sea Region Cooperation.

Eligibility

• The programme is open to citizens of Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
• The scholarships are only intended for students who are required to pay tuition fees according to the information at University Admissions.
• There is no age limit for scholarship holders.

A scholarship cannot be granted for a student who:

• has already lived in Sweden for two years or more previous to the scholarship period.
• has a Swedish or EU/EES citizenship, permanent residence permit or a work permit in Sweden.
• has previously been awarded a Swedish Institute scholarship for master’s level studies or research at a Swedish university/university college. Former participants of the SI Summer Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP), and students who have attended SI summer courses in the Swedish language, or the Swedish Institute Summer University (SISU) may still apply.
• has already been awarded three or more scholarships/grants from SI.
• already holds a degree from a Swedish university/university college.
• is currently enrolled in a study programme at a Swedish university/university college.

Application Procedure

Scholarship application period: 1–13 February 2016.

• The scholarship application is separate from the application to the master’s programmes at Swedish universities. Make sure to complete your application to the master’s programmes that you wish to apply to before the deadline 15 January 2016. You apply through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Pay your application fee to University Admissions before the fee deadline 1 February 2016.
• Once submitted, your application to the master’s programme will be assigned a personal application number consisting of six digits. You must use this application number when applying for a Swedish Institute scholarship (scholarship application period 1–13 February 2016). You will be required to submit a motivation letter, a letter of reference and a Europass style CV with your scholarship application.

The Swedish Institute is looking for applicants who display both intellectual ability and leadership potential and welcome applicants regardless of age, gender and religious beliefs. The scholarship programme aims for diversity among the scholarship holders.

Key dates and deadlines for applications

• 1 December 2015–15 January 2016: Apply online to master’s programmes at universityadmissions.se and pay the application fee
• 1 February 2016: Deadline to submit supporting documents and payment of application fee. For detailed information see universityadmissions.se
• 1–13 February 2016: Apply for a Swedish Institute scholarship through the online application service (application opens 1 February 2016)
• 29 March 2016: Notification of selection results published on universityadmissions.se
• 12 April 2016: List of successful candidates for Swedish Institute scholarships is published at si.se
• 14 April 2016: Deadline for accepting your study place
• 13-17 April 2016: Swedish Institute formal scholarship offer to successful candidates by email
• 30 April 2016: Deadline for accepting the Swedish Institute scholarship.

If you are now from an eligible country, you may apply for other SI Study Scholarships here.

For more information, visit Visby Programme Scholarships.