Svenska kyrkans utbildningsinstitut - Svenska kyrkan education scholarship

Svenska kyrkan education scholarship

You get up to 48,600 SEK per semester (about 4,300 EUR) for full-time study, or up to 24,300 SEK per semester (about 2,150 EUR) for half-time study. The money comes as a single lump sum, paid at the earliest two weeks after the semester starts. It is tax-free, unless the Church of Sweden's central office in Uppsala employs you during that period. The Church of Sweden's education institute (Svenska kyrkans utbildningsinstitut) awards it. If you still have a few weeks of state study funding left, that amount is deducted from the scholarship.

Who can apply

• Programme: You are in the final pastoral-theology year at the Church of Sweden's education institute, the closing stage of training to become a priest, deacon, parish educator or church musician.
• No state study support left: You have a rejection from CSN, the Swedish state study-support agency, because you have used up your 240 weeks of loans and grants for university and vocational study.
• No retraining support: You have not been granted omställningsstudiestöd, CSN's support for people retraining for a new career.
• Income: If your income during the semester is above the CSN income threshold, you must document it.

How to apply

You apply online for each semester separately. The deadline is 15 September for the autumn semester and 5 February for the spring semester. Late applications are not processed. If your CSN decision has not arrived yet, tick this on the form and send it in afterwards. If you meet the criteria, you are guaranteed the scholarship.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competition. If you meet every criterion, the award is guaranteed, which is rare. The catch is how narrow the eligibility is: you must be in the final pastoral-theology year at this one institute and have already used up your state study support. If that describes you, apply on time, because payment is made in the order that complete applications arrive.