The Foundation Blanceflor scholarship

The Foundation Blanceflor scholarship

You get money to cover your living costs during a research stay abroad. The Long-Term Scholarship gives full funding of up to 400,000 SEK per year (about 36,000 EUR) for up to 12 months. You can apply for a second year, but not a third. The Short-Term Scholarship is a smaller grant for a stay of up to 6 months. You can combine it with other funding, which the long-term grant usually does not allow. The money is paid in Swedish kronor and is tax-free in Sweden. It covers only your personal living expenses, not tuition or other costs charged by your institution. The grant comes from the Swedish Foundation Blanceflor, which hands out around 2 million SEK (about 180,000 EUR) each year. In October 2025 it funded twelve people.

Who can apply

• Academic level: You are a PhD candidate admitted to a doctoral programme, or a postdoc within 5 years of finishing your doctorate. Bachelor's and master's students cannot apply, and a medical degree without a PhD does not qualify you.
• Field of study: You work in medicine or life sciences, natural sciences, or technology. Arts, business, law, marketing, design, theatre and dance do not qualify.
• Nationality: You are an Italian or Swedish citizen.
• Age: You are 33 or younger. Exceptions are possible, for example after childcare periods or illness.
• Where you go: You go abroad to Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the USA.
• Invitation: You have an invitation letter from your host institution, signed by your supervisor. Without it your application will not be considered.

How to apply

You apply online in English through the form for your scholarship type. The Long-Term deadline (including a second year) is 1 February each year. The Short-Term has two deadlines, 1 February and 1 September. The next deadline for both types is 1 February 2027, and the window opens in November 2026. The board reviews applications in April and October and emails the result to every applicant.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly. Only Italian or Swedish PhD candidates and young postdocs in the sciences or technology qualify, and you must already have a host institution abroad lined up with a signed invitation. That keeps the applicant pool small, so a well-matched candidate has solid prospects. The recent round drew more than 30 applications for twelve grants, so a strong project plan and a convincing invitation letter make the difference.