Women from Africa and Asia can study a STEM master’s degree in Sweden with the tuition fee paid and a monthly allowance. The Swedish Institute Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship supports women who want to lead innovation and solve hard problems. But many applicants get one thing wrong. The scholarship needs two separate applications with two different deadlines. Read this guide before you start.
Quick Facts
Last Information checked: 24 October 2026
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | SI Scholarship Pioneering Women in STEM |
| Funder | Swedish Institute |
| Study level | Full time master’s of one or two years in Sweden |
| Fields | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics |
| Who can apply | Women who are citizens of 10 countries in Africa and Asia |
| Start | Autumn semester 2027 |
| Monthly allowance | SEK 12000 |
| Travel grant | SEK 15000 one time |
| University Admissions deadline | 15 January 2027 |
| SI scholarship portal | 8 to 24 February 2027 |
What the Scholarship Is
The Swedish Institute gives master’s scholarships to women who want to lead change through STEM. Sweden says that diversity drives innovation and that hard problems need lasting solutions. The scholarship backs women who are ready to grow as professionals and shape the future of STEM through knowledge, leadership and action.
It covers English taught STEM master’s programmes at Swedish universities. The scholarship opens once a year for studies that begin in the autumn semester.
Scholarship Benefits
- Tuition. Full tuition fee coverage.
- Monthly allowance. SEK 12000 every month for living costs during your studies
- Travel grant. A one time payment of SEK 15000
- SI Network for Global Professionals. Membership in a platform to help you grow professionally and build a network while you are in Sweden
- Sweden Alumni Network. Membership after your scholarship ends for more networking and professional development
- Full time study at a Swedish university
The 10 Eligible Countries
Only female citizens from one of these countries are eligible to apply:
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- South Africa
- Thailand
- Vietnam
You do not need to live in your country when you apply. If you have dual citizenship pick only one when you apply. Applicants who use dual citizenship to send more than one application are disqualified.
Who Can Apply
You must meet all of these.
- You apply to an eligible STEM master’s program
- You are a woman with citizenship of one of the 10 countries
- You have documented work experience and leadership experience from an employer or from entrepreneurship or from civil society work
- You have not received an SI scholarship before
- You are liable to pay tuition fees at University Admissions. SI covers the fee if you win
- You do not hold a Swedish degree
The SI page also lists these rules from the last round. Confirm them in the 2027 call document.
- You must have paid the master’s application fee to University Admissions on time
- You must be admitted or conditionally admitted to an eligible programme on the day the admissions results come out. Reserve list places do not count and there are no scholarships for late admissions
- The last call asked for at least 3000 hours of work experience from no more than three employers
- You must not have lived in Sweden for two years or more before the scholarship period
- You must not hold Swedish or EU or EEA citizenship or a Swedish permanent residence permit
The list of eligible programmes and the application documents are published on the SI page on 13 November 2026.
The Two Applications You Need
| Application | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Master’s application | UniversityAdmissions.se | By 15 January 2027 |
| 2. Scholarship application | SI scholarship portal | 8 to 24 February 2027 |
The January date is not the scholarship deadline. It is the date for your university application. Without a master’s application there is no scholarship application.
Key Dates
- 15 October 2026 to 15 January 2027: Apply to Swedish master’s programmes through University Admissions
- 13 November 2026: SI publishes the eligible programmes and the application documents
- 8 to 24 February 2027: SI scholarship portal is open
- Spring 2027: University admissions results and the SI scholarship announcement.
How To Apply Step By Step
- Check that you are a woman with citizenship of one of the 10 countries.
- Wait for the list of eligible STEM programmes on 13 November 2026 and choose your programmes.
- Go to UniversityAdmissions.se and apply for your master’s programmes. You can apply for up to four programmes.
- Pay the application fee to University Admissions on time.
- Save your personal application number. It has eight digits.
- Prepare your scholarship documents. This includes proof of your work and leadership experience.
- Open the SI scholarship portal between 8 and 24 February 2027.
- Type your eight digit application number with care. A wrong number means your scholarship application is disqualified.
- Submit before the portal closes.
- Wait for your university result and then your scholarship result.
How To Make Your Application Stronger
- Show how your studies will help your home country. Explain how your master’s connects to sustainable development in your country and region
- Link your programme to the sustainability goals. SI says it is up to you to explain this in your application
- Prove your leadership. Leadership means leading colleagues or organisations or having a say in plans or knowing how decisions are made. Strong leadership from employment gets priority
- Show work in your field. Work experience in line with your chosen field is prioritised
- Talk to your employer early. If you work now you must get leave and be released in time for your studies
