Scholarship for PhD and post-doctoral studies in Sweden

Countries
The program is open to candidates from three different categories of countries that determine certain aspects of the program.

1. Category one

Candidates coming from all countries on the Development Assistance Committee list of recipients of Official Development Assistance, the so-called ODA recipients.

From the above DAC list some priority will be given to candidates coming from countries that Sweden have long-term development cooperation with. This means that a minimum of 50 % of the candidates will be chosen from the following countries: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The program is not open to candidates from Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey, in spite of them being on the DAC list of ODA recipients. These citizens should instead apply for scholarship through the Visby Program, or in the case of Turkey, the Swedish-Turkish Scholarship Program.

In category one we have the opportunity to offer approximately 50 scholarships. The final number of scholarships depend on how many candidates in the final selection that have applied for PhD studies or Postdoctoral research, and on how long these candidates plan to stay in Sweden — 6 or 12 months, or sandwich (several shorter research visits).

2. Category two

Candidates coming from the following countries: France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and the United States.

In category two we have the opportunity to offer approximately 5-10 scholarships. The final number of scholarships depend on how many candidates in the final selection that have applied for PhD studies or Postdoctoral research, and on how long these candidates plan to stay in Sweden — 6 or 12 months, or sandwich (several shorter research visits).

3. Category three

Candidates coming from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia.

In category three we have the opportunity to offer approximately 5-10 scholarships. The final number of scholarships depend on how many candidates in the final selection that have applied for PhD studies or Postdoctoral research, and on how long these candidates plan to stay in Sweden — 6 or 12 months, or sandwich (several shorter research visits).

Target groups
The program provides PhD students and researchers with an excellent opportunity to conduct a study or research visit to a Swedish university within all fields of study. As a Guest Scholarship Program candidate you can choose to apply for a study/research visit to Sweden according to the following models:

Post-doctoral research: a long-term postdoctoral research visit of 6 or 12 months.

PhD studies: a long-term PhD research visit of 6 or 12 months.

PhD-studies: PhD research visit according to a sandwich setup, i.e. several shorter research visits.

Scholarship benefits
The scholarship amounts to SEK 12,000 per month for PhD students andSEK 15,000

for postdoctoral researchers.

Who is eligible?

The scholarships are intended for guest students or researchers belonging to any of the above mentioned countries and target groups, applying for full-time temporary studies/research in Sweden. There is no age limit for the scholarship holders.

However, you are not eligible for this scholarship if any of the following is true:

You have already lived in Sweden for two years of more when the scholarship period is due to begin.

You have a Swedish permanent residence permit.

You have a Swedish work permit and you are not an EU citizen.

You are applying for a scholarship at PhD level but you are not enrolled in ongoing PhD studies at your home university.

You are applying for a scholarship at Postdoctoral level, but you do not hold any PhD degree.

New applicants will be given priority over applicants that have previously been awarded a scholarship from the SI for study or research at a Swedish university.

Travel grants

Scholarship holders from ODA countries will receive travel support in connection with the scholarship. The travel grant is a lump sum given only once. However, PhD students on a sandwich setup from ODA recipient countries will be given a travel grant in connection to every research visit to Sweden (maximum four visits divided over two years).

Candidates from the following countries receive SEK 5 000: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia.

Candidates from remaining ODA recipient countries receive SEK 10 000.

Insurance

Scholarship holders are insured by the Swedish State Group Insurance against illness and accident during the scholarship period. For citizens of EU member states and other Convention countries the insurance applies with certain limitations.

Scholarship limitations

Scholarship periods are fixed to 6 or 12 months, except for the PhD sandwich setup that entails a maximum of 12 months to be used between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2011, i.e. over a period of two years with maximum 2 research visits per year. The scholarship periods cannot be altered or prolonged.

The scholarship is designed to cover the cost of living for the scholarship holder only. There are no grants available for family members. No bench fee is provided.

How to apply
Read the application instructions here.

Application deadline
The deadline is February 1

Moreinfor: http://www.studyinsweden.se/Scholarships/SI-scholarships/Guest-Scholarship-Program/PhD-and-post-doctoral-studies/