Sweden-America Foundation - Scholarships at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois

Benefit

You will spend a full academic year at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, USA, at undergraduate level. The Sweden-America Foundation (Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen) awards two scholarships. One covers the full tuition fees, amounting to approximately $52,000 (around 48,000 EUR). The other is a partial scholarship. Even with the full scholarship, you will need to cover your living costs yourself – such as accommodation and meals – amounting to around $15,000 (approximately 14,000 EUR) per year.

Eligibility

• Nationality: You are a Swedish citizen.
• Your studies: You are in your final year of gymnasium (upper secondary school) or have recently finished it.
• Programme and grades: You come from a science, humanities or technical stream (or a similar one), or have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) with a grade point average of at least 18.0.
• University eligibility: From the autumn semester 2026 onwards, you will be admitted to a degree programme.
• Age: At the time of applying, you are 20 years old or younger.
• Field of study: You can study any subject offered at Augustana College.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by the end of October via the online form on the foundation’s website. You must submit an essay in English, two letters of recommendation, your most recent school reports and proof of your nationality. There is a non-refundable application fee of 300 SEK (approx. 27 EUR). Finalists will be invited to Stockholm in November for a face-to-face interview. Augustana College will make the final decision in February.

How realistic are your chances?

Only two scholarships are awarded each year, and as most applicants are outstanding Swedish school leavers, competition is fierce and the interview in Stockholm is crucial. The awards are strictly based on nationality, age and academic record, so the pool of eligible applicants is small – which is an advantage if you clearly meet the criteria. With excellent grades, plus an essay and an interview that demonstrate that a year abroad is the right fit for you, your prospects are good.