Why these mistakes matter
SI receives thousands of applications for around 402 spots. Evaluators are not looking to reject you — but a single fatal flaw will end your application, even if everything else is strong.
Fatal Mistakes
Not meeting the work experience requirement
FatalSI requires at least one year of full-time, paid work experience after your bachelor's degree. Internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs do not count. If your employment dates don't clearly add up to 12 months, your application will be disqualified before evaluation begins.
Applying from a non-eligible country
FatalThe SI Scholarship is only open to nationals of 34 specific developing countries. Dual nationals where one country is not on the list are ineligible. Check the official list before spending time on your application.
Applying to a programme you are not admitted to
FatalYou must apply to both the master's programme at a Swedish university AND the SI Scholarship simultaneously. If you are not admitted to the programme, the scholarship lapses automatically. Applying to SI without a realistic chance at programme admission wastes your only scholarship application.
Serious Weaknesses
Vague leadership claims with no evidence
SeriousWriting "I have strong leadership skills" or "I led my team to success" means nothing to SI evaluators. Every applicant writes this. Leadership at SI means: you initiated something, built something, solved a specific problem, and can describe the before/after impact. If you cannot give a concrete example, the claim will be ignored.
Weak "return home" commitment
SeriousSI explicitly funds people who will return to their home country and contribute there. If your motivation letter is vague about how you will use your degree back home, evaluators will assume you are treating Sweden as an immigration route. Be specific: what problem will you solve, in what sector, using what you studied.
Generic motivation letter that could apply to any scholarship
SeriousIf you remove your name and the word "Sweden" from your letter and it still makes sense, it is not tailored enough. Evaluators can tell immediately when a letter is recycled. Reference specific Swedish universities, specific courses, specific faculty, or specific aspects of Swedish society that connect to your goals.
Application Weaknesses
CV that reads as a job application, not a scholarship application
WeakensYour CV for SI should highlight impact and leadership across your professional and community work — not just job responsibilities. Add a brief description of what you built or changed in each role, not just your title and employer name.
Applying to too many Swedish universities
WeakensSI sees which programmes you applied to at Swedish universities. Applying to 8 completely unrelated programmes makes it look like you are not serious about any specific field — it signals desperation for entry rather than genuine academic purpose.
Not explaining the gap between your bachelor's and now
WeakensIf there are unexplained gaps in your timeline — years where nothing is listed — evaluators will notice. Briefly account for any gap, even if it was unemployment or personal circumstances. Leaving a gap unexplained looks like you are hiding something.
Read the selection criteria before you write anything
SI's three evaluation criteria — leadership potential, academic excellence, and capacity to contribute to development — are not equally weighted. Leadership is the most differentiating factor because grades are often similar across finalists. Read the Selection Process guide to understand exactly what evaluators are looking for.