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The SI Women in STEM scholarship application opens on 9 February 2027. University applications close on 15 January 2027 scholarship is closed to you for the year, no matter how strong you are.
The award itself pays full tuition plus SEK 12,000 per month. It is open to women from ten countries only, and it asks for 3,000 hours of work experience. Both of those rule out more readers than any other condition, so check them before you spend time on this.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| University application deadline | 15 January 2027 — the one that really matters |
| Scholarship application window | 9 to 25 February 2027 (expected; confirm on si.se) |
| Admission results | 1 April 2027 |
| Scholarship results | 23 April 2027 (expected) |
| Monthly allowance | SEK 12,000 |
| Tuition | Paid in full, direct to your university |
| Travel grant | SEK 15,000, one time |
| Who can apply | Women from 10 countries, for a STEM master's taught in English |
| Work experience needed | 3,000 hours, from no more than 3 employers |
| Study level | Full-time master's, one or two years, autumn start |
| Places available | Not published |
| Run by | The Swedish Institute (SI) |
What is the SI Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship?
This Swedish government scholarship helps women from ten countries study a master’s in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in Sweden.SI pays your tuition straight to your university.
SI wants women who will go back home and lead technical work for development in their country. That is why you need work experience.
Winners also join the SI Network for Global Professionals and, later, the Sweden Alumni Network. These contacts can really help your career after you graduate.
Eligibility for SI Women in STEM Scholarship
Who should apply
- You are a woman and a citizen of one of the ten eligible countries
- You have at least 3,000 hours of work experience, from no more than three employers
- You can show leadership experience, from a job or from civil society work
- You want a STEM master’s taught in English, and you can say how it helps your home
country or region - You can submit your university application by 15 January 2027
Who should not apply
If any point below fits you, SI will reject your application before anyone reads your motivation letter.
- You are from Pakistan or India. Neither country is on the list.
- You are a man.
- You will have less than 3,000 hours of work experience (about 18 months full-time) by February 2027. Part-time and freelance work also count.
- Your hours come from more than three employers.
- You want a Bachelor’s, a PhD or a part-time master’s.
- You have a degree from a Swedish university, or you study at one now.
- You have lived in Sweden for two years or more before August 2027.
- You have won an SI scholarship before. SI summer courses and SISU do not count.
- You are an EU, EEA or Swedish citizen, or you have Swedish permanent residence.
- You send two applications using two citizenships. SI will reject both.
If this is you, look at the two other scholarships in the comparison below.
Countries that are Eligible
Africa
- Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa
Asia
- Bangladesh,Indonesia , Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Dual citizens:
You can apply using one eligible citizenship. If you hold two eligible
citizenships and submit more than one application, SI disqualifies all of them.
Not on the list:
Pakistan, India, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Nepal.
If your country is not listed above, this scholarship is not open to you this cycle.
Important Regulation Explained
1. 3,000 hours of work experience
This condition applies to most applications.
- You need 3,000 hours of work experience ( 18 months full-time) before February 2027.
- Full-time, part-time, freelance and self-employed work all count.
Download SI’s form as soon as SI publishes it, and send it to your employers early.
2. Leadership experience
You must show leadership experience too. SI sets no minimum number of hours here, and it accepts leadership from employment or from civil society work.
It does say that strong, relevant leadership from employment is prioritised.
3. Your degree level and programme
- Full-time master’s only, one or two years, starting in the autumn semester.
- The programme must be in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and taught in English.
- Only programmes on SI’s eligible list qualify. SI publishes that list in mid-November 2026.
- You must be liable to pay tuition fees. If you are not, you cannot hold this scholarship.
4. Sweden residence rules
- You must not be enrolled at a Swedish university now, or already hold a Swedish degree.
- You must not have lived in Sweden for a combined two years or more, counted up to August 2027.
- You must not be a Swedish, EU or EEA citizen, and you must not hold Swedish permanent residence or a qualifying temporary permit.
Scholarship Benefits
It is a strong package, but it does not cover everything. The applicant will spend SEK 2,400 of their own money on the two fees before any scholarship money reaches them.
Undermentioned are details of the benefits of SI Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship
Covered in full
- Tuition fees, which SI pays directly to your university each semester
- A monthly living allowance of SEK 12,000 (USD~1,208).
- A one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000. (USD ~1,510).
- Membership of the SI Network for Global Professionals & the Sweden Alumni Network
Not covered
- Insurance.
- The University Admissions application fee is SEK 900 (USD~90).
- The residence permit fee is SEK 1,500 for adults, paid to the Swedish Migration Agency.
- SI gives no money for a spouse or children.
Conditional
- SI does not pay the travel grant if you already live in Sweden.
- SI does not pay for a change of study programme or scholarship period.
Scholar Cost of Living in Sweden
The Swedish Institute’s own student portal publishes this breakdown:
| Monthly Cost | SEK |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 4,900 |
| Food | 2,770 |
| Local travel | 550 |
| Phone and internet | 400 |
| Total | 10,584 |
| Left from SEK 12,000 | 1,416 |
To get a Swedish student residence permit, you must show at least SEK 10,656 a month if you apply in 2026. Your SI scholarship meets this rule.
Money you need before the scholarship starts
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| UniversityAdmissions application fee | SEK 900 | By 1 February 2027 |
| Residence permit fee | SEK 1,500 | After you accept the scholarship |
| Insurance | Varies | Ask your university |
| Total you pay yourself | From SEK 2,400 | Before any allowance arrives |
The SEK 15,000 travel grant helps with flights and setup, but it is a one-time payment and it is not paid at all if you already live in Sweden.
Required Documents
Two separate applications mean two separate document sets. Keep them apart in your folders.
For University Admissions (by 1 February 2027)
- Your Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Full academic transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency, as your chosen programme requires
- Passport copy or proof of citizenship
- Certified translations, where your documents are not in English
- Proof that you paid the SEK 900 application fee
For the SI scholarship (9 to 25 February 2027)
- CV, on SI’s template
- Proof of work experience, on SI’s template forms, not your employer’s own letter
- Evidence of leadership experience
- Motivation letter explaining how your programme supports sustainable development in your country or region.
- Letters of reference, as the call requires
- Proof of admission or conditional admission to an eligible programme
SI publishes the exact document list and all templates in mid-November 2026, at the same time as the eligible programme list.
Download everything that day.
How to Apply for the SI Women in STEM Scholarship
The order matters more than anything else here. University first, scholarship second.
- Check that you are eligible using the two lists above. Country, gender, 3,000 hours.
- Wait for SI’s eligible programme list in mid-November 2026. Do not pick a programme before it appears.
- Shortlist eligible STEM master’s programmes taught in English, and check each one’s own entry requirements.
- Apply through UniversityAdmissions at universityadmissions.se. Applications open 16 October 2026 and close 15 January 2027.
- Pay the SEK 900 application fee and upload your documents by 1 February 2027.
- Download SI’s work experience template the day it is published, and send it to your
employers. - Submit your SI scholarship application between 9 and 25 February 2027, in the SI Scholarship Portal.
- Check your admission result on 1 April 2027. You must be admitted or conditionally admitted to an eligible programme.
- Scholarship results arrive on 23 April 2027.
- Apply for your residence permit immediately after you accept.
- Apply for student housing the same week.
Application Timeline for 2027/28
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 16 October 2026 | UniversityAdmissions opens |
| Mid-November 2026 | SI publishes the eligible programme list and all templates |
| 15 January 2027 | University application deadline — the real one |
| 1 February 2027 | Deadline for the SEK 900 fee and your documents |
| 9 to 25 February 2027 | SI scholarship portal open (expected) |
| 1 April 2027 | Admission results published |
| 23 April 2027 | SI scholarship results (expected) |
| August 2027 | Scholarship period begins |
SI Women in STEM vs Two Alternatives Scholarships
If you do not qualify for this one, or you want a second application running, these two are the realistic comparisons.
All three fund a master’s and cover tuition.
| Comparison | SI Pioneering Women in STEM | Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | DAAD EPOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly money | SEK 12,000 | EUR 1,400 | EUR 992 |
| Tuition covered | Yes, paid directly to the university | Yes | Varies by course |
| Country | Sweden | Two or more European countries | Germany |
| Who can apply | Women from 10 eligible countries only | Any nationality | Depends on the course |
| Work experience needed | 3,000 hours, strictly documented | Usually none | Often required |
| Subject | STEM only | Any subject, depending on the programme | Development-related fields |
| Must you be admitted first? | Yes — by 15 January 2027 | No, you apply to the consortium | No, you apply through the course |
| Deadline | SI application window, February 2027 | Varies, mostly October to January | Varies by course |
| Hardest part | Proving 3,000 hours on SI's forms | Competing in a global pool with one application | Meeting work-experience and degree requirements |
- Pick SI Pioneering Women in STEM if you are a woman from one of the ten countries and have real work experience.
- Choose Erasmus Mundus if you have little or no work experience, or if your country isn’t on SI’s list.
- Pick DAAD EPOS if your work experience is your strongest point and your field relates to development. It pays the least each month, but living costs in smaller German cities are lower than in Sweden.
Five Mistakes to Avoid
- Working toward the February deadline.
The scholarship window is 9 to 25 February 2027, but you need admission first, and university applications close on 15 January 2027.
Fix: treat 15 January as your real deadline. - Using your employer’s own letter.
SI accepts only its own forms, and each employer must complete them. A company letter, however detailed, is not enough.
Fix: download SI’s forms in mid-November 2026 and send them out right away. - Hours from more than three employers.
SI counts hours from three employers at most, so five short jobs will not work.
Fix: pick your three strongest employers early. If their hours add up to less than 3,000, you cannot apply this year. - Choosing a programme before SI publishes its list.
SI accepts only programmes on its list, and every year people apply to ones that are not on it.
Fix: wait until mid-November 2026, then choose. - Counting on a reserve-list place.
You need an admission or conditional admission on results day. SI gives nothing for a reserve place or a late admission.
Fix: apply to more than one eligible programme, including one you feel sure you will get into.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can men apply for the SI Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship?
No. It is open to women only.
Can Pakistani or Indian students apply?
No. Neither country is on the eligible list. The ten eligible countries are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand ,and Vietnam.
What is the SI Pioneering Women in STEM deadline for 2027/28?
The scholarship window is expected to be 9 to 25 February 2027. But your university application through University Admissions closes on 15 January 2027, and without admission, you cannot apply for the scholarship at all.
How much does the scholarship pay?
Full tuition, paid directly to your university, plus SEK 12,000 per month and a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000.
Do I need work experience?
Yes. At least 3,000 hours completed before February 2027, from no more than three employers, documented on SI’s own template forms. That is roughly 18 months of full-time work.
Can I apply straight after my Bachelor's degree?
Only if you already have 3,000 hours of work experience. Most students finishing a Bachelor’s do not, so this scholarship is usually not the right one for them.
Does the scholarship cover insurance and the application fee?
No. SI does not cover insurance, the SEK 900 University Admissions fee, or grants for family members. Budget at least SEK 2,400 of your own for the two application fees.
Is SEK 12,000 enough to live on in Sweden?
It clears the Swedish Migration Agency’s minimum of SEK 10,656 per month and covers the national student budget of SEK 10,584.
In a private apartment in a city like Gothenburg, costs can reach SEK 17,525 a month, which the allowance does not cover. Student housing is what makes it work.
