The Fulbright Commission Sweden - The Fulbright Commissions Swedish Graduate Student Program

What you get

You will receive a cash award of SEK 100,000 (about 8,900 EUR) if you are aiming to obtain a Master’s or PhD in the USA, or SEK 50,000 (about 4,450 EUR) if you wish to conduct research exclusively at PhD level. The scholarship covers a stay of at least 10 months (one academic year) for students on a degree programme, or from 4 to 12 months for research stays. In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Commission will cover your application fees for US universities, your visa fees (SEVIS and J-1) and the costs of any required tests (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT). You will also be provided with accident and health insurance for the duration of the grant. The Institute of International Education (IIE) will assist you with your application and placement at a US university, and you will have access to Fulbright seminars and events in the USA. The scholarship is awarded by the Swedish-American Fulbright Commission and is supported by the Swedish and US governments.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Swedish national. If you also hold US citizenship, you are not eligible to apply.
• Degree: You must hold a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent qualification) from a Swedish, EU or UK higher education institution prior to your departure for the USA.
• What you study in the US: A US Master’s degree, a US PhD programme or a PhD in the USA. To undertake research, you must already be enrolled on a PhD programme in Sweden.
• Field of study: All fields are open, except general medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Public health and medical research are allowed.
• Not already in the US system: You have not yet started a degree or a course of study at a US university.
• English: You can study in English.
• Grades: You have a track record of outstanding academic achievement.
• Recent US time (preference): You will have an advantage if, over the last 3 to 5 years, you have not spent more than 9 months at a US university.

Please note: All scholarship holders travel on a J-1 visa, to which the ‘two-year rule’ applies. Following your stay, you must spend two years in Sweden before you can apply for a permanent residence permit in the USA.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the IIE portal. The application period begins in mid-January; the deadline for applications is 27 April at 23:59 CEST. You should start the process around 18 months before your planned start date of studies in the USA. If you are shortlisted, you will be required to attend a face-to-face interview in Stockholm in May or June.

How realistic are your chances?

The Fulbright is a well-known, highly prestigious scholarship open to all Swedish university graduates in almost all disciplines; as such, it attracts top-calibre applicants and competition is fierce. The selection process emphasises academic excellence and leadership potential, and the committee gives preference to early-career professionals who are expected to take on leadership roles in Sweden in the future. A clear plan and a compelling ‘ambassador’ story are just as important as good grades. As the process begins 18 months in advance and includes a compulsory interview, you should start early and prepare thoroughly.