The Guest Scholarship Program for PhD and post-doctoral studies in Sweden

Due to technical issues we still have not yet been able to open the electronic application form. Meanwhile, we recommend you to prepare your application so that once the form goes online you will just have to submit all the documents.

Application deadline has been postponed until 24:00 CET, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Countries

The program is open to candidates from two different categories of countries that determine certain aspects of the program. Therefore you must first find out which category that could be relevant for you.
1. Category one:
Candidates coming from countries on the Development Assistance Committee list of recipients of Official Development Assistance, the so-called ODA recipients.
The program is not open to candidates from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Belarus, in spite of them being on the DAC list of ODA recipients. These citizens should instead apply for scholarship through The Swedish Institute Baltic Sea Region Program/Visby Program.
In category one the Swedish Institute has the opportunity to offer approximately 20 scholarships. The final number of scholarships depends on how many candidates in the final selection that have applied for a PhD or Postdoctoral stay in Sweden, and for how long.
2. Category two:
Candidates coming from the following countries:  Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
In category two the Swedish Institute has the opportunity to offer approximately 5-10 scholarships. The final number of scholarships depends on how many candidates in the final selection that have applied for a PhD or Postdoctoral stay in Sweden, and for how long.

Target groups

The program provides PhD candidates and Postdoctoral researchers with an excellent opportunity to conduct a study or research visit to a Swedish university within all academic fields. As a Guest Scholarship Program candidate you can choose to apply for a study/research visit to Sweden according to the following models:
1. Post-doctoral research: a long-term postdoctoral research visit of 6, 12 or 18 months.
2. PhD studies: a long-term PhD research visit of 6 or 12 months.

Scholarship benefits

The scholarship amounts to SEK 12,000 per month for PhD students and SEK 15,000 for postdoctoral researchers.

SI Network for Future Global Leaders

All Swedish Institute scholarship holders are invited to become members of the SI Network for Future Global Leaders – a network that offers unique opportunities during and after the stay in Sweden. Together with other talented people from all around the world, the scholarship holder is able to take part in a variety of events, exchange ideas and create networks that benefit both to career and personal development.

Eligibility

The scholarships are intended for guest students or researchers belonging to any of the above mentioned countries and target groups, applying for full-time studies/research in Sweden. There is no age limit for the scholarship holders.
Please note that to be eligible for a scholarship at PhD level you must be enrolled in ongoing PhD studies at a university outside Sweden.
Please also note that to be eligible for a scholarship at Postdoctoral level you must be holder of a PhD degree, preferably from 2007 or later. You can still apply if you expect to get your PhD degree shortly. However, you must be able to show that you successfully defended your PhD thesis no later than April 15, 2012.
However, you are not eligible for this scholarship if any of the following is true:

• You have already lived in Sweden for two years of more when the scholarship period is due to begin.
• You have a Swedish permanent residence permit.
• You have a Swedish work permit and you are not an EU citizen.
• You are applying for a scholarship at Postdoctoral level, but you do not hold any PhD degree, and will not be able to defend your PhD thesis before April 15, 2012.
• You are applying for a scholarship at PhD level, but you are not enrolled in ongoing PhD studies at a university outside Sweden.

Applicants previously awarded a scholarship from the SI for study or research at a Swedish university are most welcome to apply, but will not be given priority.

Travel grants

Scholarship holders from ODA countries will receive travel support in connection with the scholarship. The travel grant is a lump sum given only once.
Candidates from the following countries will receive a lump-sum of SEK 5,000: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia.
Candidates from remaining ODA recipient countries receive a lump-sum of SEK 10,000.

Insurance

Scholarship holders are insured by the Swedish State Group Insurance against illness and accident during the scholarship period. For citizens of EU member states and other Convention countries the insurance applies with certain limitations.

Scholarship limitations

Scholarship periods are fixed to 6, 12 or 18 months. The scholarship periods cannot be altered or extended. If you wish to apply for subsequent funding you must apply within a new Call for Applications.
The scholarship is designed to cover the cost of living for the scholarship holder only. There are no grants available for family members. No bench fee is provided.

How to apply

Read the application instructions here.

Application deadline

NEW Application deadline
The deadline is 24:00 CET, Thursday, March 1, 2012.