Scholarships at Top 10 Universities in Sweden

Sweden is one of Europe’s overlooked study abroad destination that offers high quality and unconventional education. Studying in Sweden is different from studying in other countries because the Swedish education system focuses more on the students’ academic interests than pushing them to achieve a grade. In addition, international students from a country within the European Union or the European Economic Area are not required to pay tuitions. Tuition fees at Swedish universities are free except to those from countries outside the EU/EEA. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be a problem because both the Swedish government and universities offer scholarships to international students for their studies at a Swedish university. In some cases, scholarships are also offered by foundations or other organizations through the Swedish university.

1. Lund University

Lund University is a public university located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden. It is one of the top 100 universities in the world. It arguably traces its roots back to 1425, when a Franciscan stadium generale was founded in Lund next to the Lund Cathedral. After Sweden won Scania from Denmark in the 1658 Treaty of Roskilde, the University was founded in 1666 on the location of the old stadium generale next to Lund Cathedral.

Lund University has 8 faculties with additional campuses in the cities of Malmö and Helsingborg, with approximately 42,000 students in 302 different programs and around 2,000 freestanding courses. The University has some 600 partner universities in over 70 countries and it belongs to the League of European Research Universities as well as the global Universities 21 network.

There are various scholarship programs that support students’ study at Lund University. Most of the scholarships require applicants to have studied at least two semesters at Lund University in order to be eligible to receive a scholarship.

• Global Scholarship for current students: merit-based scholarships for current students with top academic results.
• University and student nation scholarships: the University scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and Master’s students. The nation scholarships are awarded to undergraduate, Master’s and research students.
• Travel scholarships: awarded to current Lund University students for study abroad or travel in connection with degree projects.
• Scholarships from Swedish foundations: awarded annually to Lund University students from specific backgrounds.

For prospective students, the offered scholarships and awards are:

• Lund University Global Scholarship: for top students from all countries outside the EU/EEA.
• Program-specific scholarships: for the Master’s program in Industrial Design, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Management.
• Swedish Institute scholarships: for international students studying at Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and post-doctoral levels.
• Country-specific scholarships: for students from Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, and Russia.
• European joint Master’s program: for Master’s students at Lund University.

For more information, visit Scholarships and Awards or Scholarships for Current Students at www.lunduniversity.lu.se.

2. KTH Royal Institute of Technology

KTH Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden, specialized in Engineering and Technology. It is the institution of higher learning in Sweden from which most of the CEOs found on the Stockholm Stock Exchange have graduated, which makes KTH “Sweden’s best plant school for chief executive officers (CEO)” at its Stockholm Stock Exchange. Founded in 1697, KTH Royal Institute of Technology is ranked amongst the best universities both countrywide and worldwide. It is ranked 104^th on the QS World University Rankings 2019.

Every year a number of scholarships are awarded to international fee-paying master’s students, based on academic excellence and in some cases scholarship specific requirements.

• KTH Scholarship: tuition fee waiver for the first and the second academic year.
• KTH One-Year Scholarship: tuition fee waiver for the second academic year of study at KTH.
• KTH India Scholarship: tuition fee waiver for the total length of the study program. Also includes monthly allowance during the academic year (10 months) and is initially granted for one academic year and can be extended.
• KTH Joint Program Scholarship: tuition fee waiver for the study period taken at KTH.
• External scholarships:
• Swedish Institute
• KTH associated scholarship organizations
• Scholarship portals: IEFA database, Studyportals, Scholars4dev

For more information, visit Scholarship Opportunities. Learn more about KTH Royal Institute of Technology at www.kth.se.

3. Uppsala University

Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest university in the country and all of the Nordic countries still in operation. The University ranks amongst the world’s best universities in several high-profile international rankings. It currently sits in #117 on the QS World University Rankings 2019.

Each year, Uppsala University awards a number of scholarships to fee-paying international students who are applying to a Master’s or Bachelor’s program. These scholarships include:

• Uppsala University IPK Scholarships
• Uppsala University President’s Club Scholarship
• Anders Wall Scholarship Foundation for Studies at Uppsala University
• The Scholarship Foundation of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York
• The King Carl Gustaf Scholarship

A number of external scholarships are also offered to support the students’ studies:

• Swedish Institute Scholarships
• Rotary World Peace Fellowship

Current students and researchers at Uppsala University also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships each semester. The available scholarship opportunities can be found on the Find Scholarships portal.

Visit Scholarships for Prospective Students or Scholarships for Current Students for further details. Learn more about Uppsala University at www.uu.se.

4. Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology (often shortened to Chalmers) is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg. It focuses on research and education in technology, natural science, architecture, maritime and other management areas. Chalmers was founded in 1829. It was run as a private institution until 1937, when the institute became a state-owned university. It has 13 departments, and is home to 8 Areas of Advance and 6 national competence centers in key fields such as materials, mathematical modeling, environmental science, and vehicle safety.

Chalmers offers numerous scholarship opportunities for Master’s students who are liable to pay tuition fees. Some of these scholarships are administered by the University itself and other by external institutions.

• Scholarships administered by Chalmers
• The Avancez Scholarships
• The IPOET (International Program Office for Education and Training Scholarships)
• The Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund (within Friends of Chalmers)
• The Volvo Car Corporation Scholarships
• The Volvo Group Scholarship Program
• The Chalmers MasterCard Scholarship
• The US Friends of Chalmers Scholarship
• Adlerbet Study Scholarships
• Scholarships for Estonian students
• Alfred Ots Scholarship Fund
• Scholarships for enrolled students at Chalmers
• Adlerbert Foreign Student Hospitality Foundation
• Energy Scholarship Energiförbättring Väst AB
• Naval Architecture Scholarships
• RISH – Rotary International Student House Scholarship Fund
• External scholarships, administered by other organizations
• The Swedish Institute scholarships
• The Global Study Awards
• Scholars4dev

For more information, visit the Scholarships webpage at www.chalmers.se.

5. Stockholm University

Stockholm University is a public university in Stockholm, Sweden, founded as a college in 1878. Its status changed into “university” in 1960. Stockholm University has two scientific fields: the natural sciences and the humanities / social sciences. With over 34,000 students studying at 4 different faculties: law, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, it is one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The University is regarded as one of the top 200 universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2019.

Stockholm University offers many scholarships to support the students’ studies. Some of these scholarships are provided by the University itself, others are provided by the Swedish Institute and other organizations.

The Stockholm University Scholarship Scheme is aimed at especially qualified students coming from countries outside of EU/EAA/Switzerland and who are required to pay tuition fees. Stockholm University scholarships cover tuition fees only, which means that students will need to cover their own living costs.

The Swedish Institute Scholarships target highly-qualified students from certain countries. The scholarships will be awarded for master’s studies in Sweden, starting in autumn and covers both living costs ad tuition fees.

For more information, visit the Scholarships page at www.su.se.

6. University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg is a university in Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg. Established in 1891, the University is the third-oldest of the current Swedish universities, and with approximately 37,000 students and 6,000 staff members, it is one of the largest universities in the Nordic countries. The University of Gothenburg is also one of the best universities in Sweden, as it is ranked amongst the top 300 universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2019. With its 8 faculties and 38 departments, the University of Gothenburg is one of the most wide-ranging and versatile universities in the country.

The University of Gothenburg offers a wide range of scholarships to fee-paying students who are wishing to pursue a Master’s degree program at the University of Gothenburg. This scholarship is offered through the University of Gothenburg Study Scholarships (UGSS) Program.

Another scholarship program that offers fee-paying students the opportunity to receive a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree program is called the University of Gothenburg Study Scholarships Syria (UGSS Syria) Program. This scholarship program is designed for students with Syrian citizenship.

Other scholarships that are offered for current and prospective students at the University of Gothenburg are:

• Swedish Institute’s Scholarships
• The Volvo Group Scholarship
• The Richard C. Malmsten Memorial Foundation Scholarship

For more information, visit Scholarships. Learn more about the University of Gothenburg at www.gu.se.

7. Linköping University

Linköping University is a state university in Linköping, Sweden. Founded in 1969, Linköping University was granted full university status in 1975 and is now one of Sweden’s largest academic institutions. Education, research and PhD training are the mission of 4 faculties: Arts and Sciences, Educational Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Institute of Technology. In order to facilitate interdisciplinary work, there are 14 large departments combining knowledge from several disciplines and often belonging under more than one faculty. Linköping University emphases dialogue with the surrounding business sphere and the community at large, both in terms of research and education. the University is home to approximately 32,000 students and 4,000 employees.

Linköping University offers scholarships to eligible new students with excellent academic results, representing a tuition fee waiver of 25-100%. The LiU International Scholarships are aimed at supporting international master’s degree students with significant academic potential from countries outside the European Union / European Economic Area (and Switzerland) who are required to pay tuition fees.

For some programs and nationalities, it is also possible to apply for a scholarship through the Swedish Institute (SI). There are also other funding opportunities for studies in Sweden.

For more information, visit the Scholarships page on the Linköping University website: https://liu.se/en.

8. Umeå University

Umeå University is a university in Umeå in the mid-northern region of Sweden. The University was founded in 1965 and is the fifth-oldest within Sweden’s present borders. Umeå University has approximately 31,000 students with around 16,000 of them being full-time students, including those at the postgraduate and doctoral level. It has more than 4,000 employees, half of which are teachers / researchers, including over 350 professors. Internationally, the University is known for research relating to the genome of the Populus tree and the Norway Spruce, and its highly ranked Institute of (industrial) Design.

Umeå University offers scholarships to talented and high-achieving students from outside the EU/EEU. The Umeå University Scholarship for International Students is awarded annually in conjunction with the Autumn term admission. The scholarships are offered in the form of tuition fee waivers. The selected candidates will receive a full or partial waiver of the tuition fee.

Other scholarships are offered by the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers scholarship programs each year that cover tuition fees, as well as living costs, for selected non-EU/EEA students.

For further details, visit the Scholarships page on the Umeå University website: www.umu.se.

9. Örebro University

Örebro University is a state university located in Örebro, Sweden. University-level education in Örebro started in the 1960s, when Uppsala University started to offer some courses in Örebro. On the basis of these activities, an independent högskola (university college) was created in 1977 under the name Högskolan i Örebro (Örebro University College). This university college also incorporated three other existing educational institutions in Örebro: the teaching seminar, the sports college (founded in 1966) and the social work college (founded in 1967). Örebro University College was granted the privileges of a university by the Government of Sweden in 1999, becoming the 12^th university in Sweden. As of 2019, Örebro University ranks amongst the top 400 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE).

The University offers the Örebro University Scholarship to Master’s students who have academically proved that they deserve to be awarded a scholarship. Another scholarship program that can help students fund their studies at Örebro University is called the Swedish Institute Scholarship. Every year, the Swedish Institute offers 500 scholarships to students and researchers from many countries, to support their studies in Sweden.

For further details, visit the Scholarships page on the Örebro University website: www.oru.se.

10. Luleå University of Technology

Luleå University of Technology of Sweden is Scandinavia’s northernmost university of technology. It has four campuses, located in Luleå (the main campus), Kiruna (space science), Skellefteå (wood technology and computer game engineering) and Piteå (department of music and media). Luleå University of Technology was founded in 1971 at Porsön in Luleå as Högskoleenheten i Luleå. The name was later changed to Högskolan i Luleå (Luleå University College). In 1997, it was granted university status by the Swedish government, and is since known as Luleå University of Technology. The University is ranked amongst the best universities in the country, and is ranked 778^th by the Best Global Universities Rankings 2019.

Luleå University of Technology does not provide scholarship to its students. However, it does not mean students who wish to study at the University cannot receive any financial support. Financial support can be obtained from other institutions and organizations such as the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Institute support students at Luleå University of Technology to study and achieve their academic goals without having the need to worry about financial matters. Through the University’s website, the Swedish Institute promotes and announces scholarship opportunities. The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships target highly-qualified students from many different countries. The scholarship covers both living costs and tuition fees.

For more information, visit Scholarships and Tuition Waivers on Luleå University of Technology’s website: www.ltu.se.