Estrid Ericson Foundation

Estrid Ericson Foundation grant

You will normally receive a grant of 3,000 to 10,000 SEK (about 270 to 900 EUR). Higher amounts in excess of 50,000 SEK (approx. 4,500 EUR) are only awarded in exceptional cases. Each grant is valid for a maximum of one year, and you may apply for funding for one semester or one project per application. The funding is intended to support design education, arts and crafts, and industrial design. It can cover course fees, study trips, participation in symposia, material costs during your studies, or courses in your field of specialisation that are not part of your regular study programme. They may also be used to fund conferences, published research papers and specialist literature. The foundation was established in 1975 by Estrid Ericson, the founder of the Swedish design house Svenskt Tenn.

Who can apply

• Field of study: Your field of work lies in the areas of design, arts and crafts, craftsmanship or industrial design. Medicine, natural sciences, economics, marketing, law, music and the visual arts are not eligible for funding.
• Study level: You are undertaking a post-secondary qualification, i.e. after completing your A-levels. Preparatory courses are not eligible for funding.
• Not covered by CSN: Your degree programme cannot be funded through CSN, the Swedish state student grant scheme. If CSN were to cover the costs, you would not be eligible for it.
• Where you study: You can study in Sweden or abroad.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.
• Who can apply: Individual students and researchers, as well as schools, museums, charitable organisations and groups. Companies, limited liability companies and self-employed individuals running a business are not eligible for funding.
• Timing: Your project or trip must not have started yet. For example, to apply for a study trip in March, you must apply by 1 October of the previous year.

How to apply

Applications are made via the Foundation’s online system, where you create an account and complete the application step by step. There are three application deadlines per year: 1 February, 1 May and 1 October, each at 23:59, with the application window opening approximately four weeks beforehand. You must include a certificate of admission or enrolment, samples of your work, grades in your field of study, a CV and a financial plan. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

How realistic are your chances?

The foundation states that only around 20 per cent of applicants receive funding; competition is therefore fierce, even though the field is narrowly defined. Your chances improve significantly if your work can be clearly categorised as design or arts and crafts, if your tuition fees cannot be covered by CSN, and if you enclose the necessary supporting documents and examples of your work. Many applications are rejected simply because of missing documents. Make sure you apply well in advance of the project starting, as work that has already begun is never eligible for funding.