Karolinska Institutet - Karolinska Institutet's scholarships

KI scholarships for master's students

The Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden offers two scholarships, each worth cover your full tuition fees, for a global Master’s programme. Both are aimed at international students who pay tuition fees. KI awards around 10 scholarships annually for all its Master’s programmes, and approximately 700 students apply each year. The two options are the KI Global Master's Scholarship, which is open to all applicants required to pay tuition fees, and the KI-DIS Fellowship, a co-funded scholarship for students who have previously studied in Stockholm or Copenhagen through DIS (an organisation for study abroad). Neither scholarship covers living costs, accommodation or travel expenses, so you will need to cover these yourself.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are applying for an international Master’s programme at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
• Field of study: Most Master’s programmes are eligible for this. The Master’s programme in ‘Molecular Techniques in the Life Sciences’ and the Master’s programme in ‘Biostatistics and Data Science’ are excluded; separate KTH scholarships are available for these programmes.
• Fee status: You must pay tuition fees for the duration of your degree programme. If you are not required to pay fees (e.g. as an EU citizen), you cannot apply.
• First choice: You must list an AI Master’s programme as your first choice.
• Admission: Only students who have been admitted to an AI degree programme will be shortlisted.
• DIS Fellowship only: To be eligible for the KI-DIS scholarship, you must also have studied at DIS in Stockholm or Copenhagen.

How to apply

First, apply for a Master’s programme at KI via universityadmissions.se. You should then submit a separate scholarship application directly to KI during the application period in February. The academic staff will assess the CV form you have completed, and in the event of a tie between two applicants, the decision will be made by drawing lots. The results will be published at the end of April, and you must accept your offer by the deadline at the end of April.

How realistic are your chances?

With around 10 scholarships spread across all degree programmes and approximately 700 applicants per year, the KI Global Master’s Scholarship is highly competitive, and your CV is what sets you apart from the rest. The KI-DIS Scholarship has a significantly smaller pool of applicants, as only former DIS students are eligible to apply. So if you have this background, your chances are considerably better. In any case, outstanding academic achievements and a well-completed application form are what count most.