Swedish Institute Scholarship 2026: Global Professionals (SISGP) Guide

What is the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals?

SISGP is the Swedish Institute's flagship scholarship for master's study in Sweden. It replaced the Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (SISS) and is built for future global leaders who will work toward the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support positive change in their home countries and region.

The award funds full-time, one- or two-year master's programmes at Swedish universities and higher education institutions, in Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and STEM. It is only awarded for programmes starting in the autumn semester. The full listing is on our Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals page.

What the SI scholarship covers and what it does not

The award is generous but specific. Read the inclusions and exclusions before you plan your budget.

Who qualifies for the Swedish Institute Scholarship?

Eligibility rests on citizenship, the programme you apply to, your fee status and your experience record. You must:

• Be a citizen of one of the 34 eligible countries. You do not need to live there at the time of application.
• 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 civil society engagement.
• Have paid the University Admissions application fee on time and be admitted or conditionally admitted to an eligible programme on the day of admissions announcements.

The 34 eligible countries are 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 and Zambia. Public sector employees in Georgia and Belarus are not eligible.

Work experience rules by country group

Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine must provide proof of work experience, with no set number of hours, though more experience is prioritised. Applicants from the other eligible countries must have at least 3,000 hours of work experience prior to February 2027, accumulated from a maximum of three employers. Valid experience includes full-time or part-time employment, freelancing and entrepreneurship, and you do not have to be employed when you apply.

Deadlines and timeline for 2026 entry

There are two deadlines, and missing the first one ends your chances. The master's application at universityadmissions.se closes on 15 January 2026. The SI scholarship application window is 9 February to 25 February 2026, and studies start in August 2026.

How to apply for the SI scholarship, step by step

1. Check the list of eligible programmes, published on 13 November, and shortlist master's programmes in Governance, Public Health, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or STEM.
2. Apply for your master's programme at universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2026 and pay the application fee on time.
3. Save your personal application number, an eight-digit code you receive after submitting. You need it for the SI application, and a wrong number disqualifies you.
4. Prepare proof of work experience and evidence of leadership experience.
5. Check the English language requirements for your chosen programme.
6. Submit your SI scholarship application through the online application portal between 9 February and 25 February 2026.
7. Wait for admissions announcements, then check your scholarship result. Only the programme you are admitted to on the first admissions day can be funded.

Applicants to Stockholm School of Economics and Konstfack go through separate intakes and admissions processes and will not receive an application number. Always confirm details on the official SI page before submitting.

Documents and evidence to prepare

Your file stands or falls on evidence, so gather it early.

• Proof of work experience: employment records, contracts, or evidence of freelancing or entrepreneurship.
• Evidence of leadership experience from an employer, your own venture or civil society engagement.
• Your eight-digit application number from universityadmissions.se.
• Proof that you meet the English language requirements of your chosen programme.
• Your passport or citizenship record for one eligible country only.

Submit everything digitally through the online application portal within the window. Late documents cannot rescue an incomplete application.

How selection works

SI assesses your application against the eligibility criteria and the strength of your work and leadership record. Applicants with more work experience are prioritised, and experience in line with your chosen field of study counts. The scholarship is only awarded for the programme you are admitted to on the first admissions day, so a reserve place cannot be funded, and there are no scholarships for late admissions. The official page has the current selection guidance.

Who it suits and who should look elsewhere

This scholarship suits students from the 34 eligible countries who are applying for an eligible English-taught master's programme, are liable to pay tuition fees, and can show work and leadership experience. It fits if you plan a full-time one- or two-year degree starting in the autumn semester and want tuition, living costs and a travel grant covered.

Look elsewhere if your country is not on the list, if you plan a bachelor's degree or a PhD, if you cannot show work experience, or if you need funding for family members. Students targeting a spring start or a reserve place should also consider other options. Browse the Scholarships in Sweden page and the filtered list for this page for current openings.

Common mistakes that cost applicants the scholarship

• Typing the wrong eight-digit application number, which disqualifies the SI application.
• Using dual citizenship to submit more than one application, which disqualifies all of them.
• Applying to a master's programme that is not on the eligible list.
• Missing the 15 January 2026 master's deadline or the 9 February to 25 February 2026 SI window.
• Assuming a reserve place or a late admission can be funded.
• Leaving proof of work and leadership experience until the last week.
• Budgeting for family costs or the University Admissions fee, which the award does not cover.

Alternatives if SISGP is not the right fit

If you are not from one of the 34 countries, or your field is outside the four SISGP areas, widen your search. Country guides cover Scholarships in Germany, Scholarships in the Netherlands, Scholarships in United Kingdom and Scholarships in Canada.

Field lists help if your subject is fixed: Engineering Scholarships, Health Scholarships, Law and Public Policy Scholarships, Science and Technology Scholarships and Development Studies Scholarships. The Scholarship finder and All guides pages are good starting points, and Scholarship tips covers application writing.