Basic Eligibility Requirements
Four core requirements. If any one of these doesn't apply to you, the scholarship isn't open to you.
1 Citizenship in one of 34 eligible countries
You must be a citizen of one of the countries below. Note that this is about citizenship, not where you currently live.
2 Work experience
Only employment, freelancing, and self-employment count. Internships are explicitly excluded. See the work experience guide for the full breakdown.
3 No prior Swedish education or long-term Sweden residency
You must not have previously studied at a Swedish university, and you must not have lived in Sweden for 2 or more years cumulatively before the scholarship period starts. The restriction is specific to Sweden, not to living abroad in general.
4 Not currently enrolled at a Swedish university
If you're already studying in Sweden, you're not eligible. You must be applying to begin a Swedish master's program, not already attending one.
Who Is Automatically Disqualified
Check this list before spending time on an application. Any single item below means you are not eligible.
The Dual Citizenship Question
This causes more confusion than almost any other eligibility issue. Here's how it actually works.
You are eligible. Pick one citizenship to apply with. Example: Nigerian + Kenyan citizenship — apply as either.
You are not eligible. Example: French + Nigerian citizenship — you cannot apply. Canadian + Brazilian citizenship — you cannot apply.
SI will disqualify all of your applications if they discover you submitted under more than one citizenship. Pick one and stick with it.
The reference list is the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) ODA recipient countries list. If your second citizenship is from a country on that list, you're likely fine. If it's not, you're not eligible regardless of your other citizenship.
Residency — Where You Live Doesn't Matter
A lot of people assume they need to be living in their home country to apply. They don't.
The only residency restriction is that you must not have lived in Sweden for 2 or more cumulative years before the scholarship period begins. That's it.
The Work Experience Requirement
This is covered in detail on a dedicated page. Here's the short version:
- ✗ Internships — explicitly excluded, even paid ones
- ✗ Volunteer work — doesn't count toward hours
- ✗ University research assistantships — classified as academic
- ! Must be documented with SI's official template, signed and stamped by each employer
- ! Eastern European countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) — any documented work experience qualifies
Field and Program Eligibility
Your intended master's program must appear on SI's published list of eligible programs. This list is released each November.
There are 750+ eligible programs across Swedish universities. But if the specific program you want isn't on SI's list, your application won't qualify — even if everything else is perfect. Check the current list before you apply.
Age Requirement
There is no age requirement for this scholarship. Students of any age can apply, as long as all other eligibility conditions are met.
Previous Scholarship Holders
If you have received any SI scholarship before — not just SISGP, but any Swedish Institute scholarship — you cannot apply again. This is a one-time opportunity per person, no exceptions.
What If You're on a University Waitlist?
This is a common source of confusion. Here's exactly how it works:
Quick Self-Check
Go through this before you start your application. All items should be checked.