The Helge Axelsson Johnson Foundation - The Helge Axelsson Johnson Foundation Grants

What you get

You will receive a one-off scholarship of SEK 250,000 (about EUR 22,000) for a stay abroad lasting at least 6 months as part of your Master’s or PhD studies. The money can cover both your living expenses and your study costs, and you may use it for yourself and your family. The foundation awards up to 12 of these scholarships annually and pays them out once a year around 22 June. This Swedish foundation is administered by Handelsbanken in Stockholm. It distributes the scholarships evenly across six academic departments, with two scholarships per department.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Swedish citizen.
• Degree so far: You hold a Swedish bachelor’s degree. A few years’ professional experience would be an advantage, but is not a requirement.
• What you study: You are going abroad to undertake a Master’s or PhD programme in one of the following six subject areas: agricultural and forestry sciences, biology, social sciences and humanities, musicology, art history or literary studies.
• Where you go: You are studying at a foreign higher education institution for at least 6 consecutive months. Study periods in Sweden, work placements and study trips do not count towards this.
• Timing: You must not have started your studies yet. Studies that are currently underway or have already been completed are not eligible for funding, and studies must not begin before 22 June of the year in which you submit your application.
• Admission: You have already received an invitation or a certificate of admission from the host institution. If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree, your supervisor will confirm your graduation date in writing.

How to apply

You must apply online via the Foundation’s application system, which is accessible via its website, between 1 December and 1 February. Paper applications will not be accepted. Please apply in Swedish or English and enclose a description of your planned course of study, your admission certificate, your CV, your degree certificate, a letter of recommendation and a financial plan.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is awarded on a highly selective basis. You must be a Swedish citizen with a Bachelor’s degree and intend to undertake a Master’s or PhD programme abroad in one of six specified subject areas, with only two scholarships awarded per subject area. As a result, the number of applicants per subject area remains low, meaning that a well-suited candidate has a genuine chance of success. A clear study plan and a firm offer of admission, submitted in good time within the specified window, will strengthen your application.