Application instructions — PhD, post-doc and Swedish language students
Here is the application procedure for PhD students, post-doc researchers and Swedish language and literature students.
The first step in applying for this scholarship is to obtain a letter of invitation from a Swedish university department willing to accept you. In addition your application must be supported by a contact person at your home university. Applications must be submitted online with enclosures as digital documents.
Scholarship categories
You must register as one of the following categories in your application:
• Post-doc researchers, holders of a PhD degree from 2003 or later.
• PhD students applying for a part of PhD-studies to be carried out in Sweden. You must be enrolled as a PhD student at your home university.
• PhD-students applying for a PhD with a sandwich-setup (maximum 12 months preferably divided into 3 years).
• Final year university students of the Swedish language and literature.
You must also choose the scholarship period you are applying for from one of the following:
6 months (1 September 2008 – 28 February 2009)
12 months (1 September 2008 - 31 August 2009)
18 months (1 September 2008– 28 February 2010)
Please note that the 3 first types only apply to the PhD students and post-doc researchers, who are applying for a consecutive visit, in accordance with the specified dates.
Sandwich PhD ONLY (a total of maximum 12 months to be used before the end of 2010). This type is only intended for PhD students, who apply for a sandwich set-up. This set-up must be confirmed in the letter of invitation where also the preliminary dates for the visits must be stated.
Short-term scholarships for university students/researchers of Swedish language and literature ONLY.
A total of 2 months scholarship intended for final year university students or PhD students/researchers within the Swedish language and literature only. No other applicants are eligible for this scholarship period. To be used during the period September 1, 2008 – May 31, 2009). The preliminary dates for the visit must be stated in the letter of invitation.
Supporting documents
Please note that the supporting documents may not exceed the prescribed number of pages stated below. As a Swedish authority, The Swedish Institute (SI) serve under The Swedish Principle of Public Access to Information. This implies that any data registered in our systems will be treated as a public document. In accordance with this, information about your application and qualifications will be accessible to the public on request.
Letter of invitation. Mandatory.
— Signed by a professor or head of department at the inviting Swedish university, stating that you are invited as a student/researcher as well as informing on ongoing or planned cooperation between the host institution and your home institution.
Maximum 2 pages.
Two letters of recommendation. Mandatory.
— From professors/academic supervisors, describing the interest of cooperation and long term impact of a study/research visit to Sweden as well as confirming the applicant’s status (holder of a PhD-degree, registered PhD-student or year Swedish language/literature student. The letter should also evaluate the applicant’s English language proficiency. The letters of recommendation are mandatory. We prefer that the letters of recommendations are submitted with this online application. If that is not possible, they can be sent in a sealed envelope instead. The envelope must have reached the Swedish Institute (Box 7434, 103 91 Stockholm) on February 8, 2008, at the latest. In this case all documents or the envelope should be marked with the reference number of your confirmed application.
Maximum 2 pages.
Copies of university degrees. Mandatory.
— Copies of the highest obtained degree, translated into English and certified by the university.
Research proposal. Mandatory. (Not applicable for undergraduate studies in the Swedish language.)
— A research proposal describing the scientific quality of the project as well as its originality, methodological approach and relevance.
Maximum 5 pages.
CV of the applicant. Mandatory.
— Outlining your previous studies, degrees and English language proficiency.
Maximum 2 pages.
CV of the intended supervisor/contact person in Sweden. Mandatory.
Maximum 2 pages.
List of publications. Optional.
— Maximum 2 pages.
Personal motivation. Mandatory.
— Expected long term impact and goals, choice of Sweden as your study/research destination and reasons for seeking financial support.
Maximum 1 page.
Application form
Please use the online application form. The deadline for 2008 has passed. Information about next year's application deadline will be available by the end of the year.
How are the applications processed?
Once the application is completed and submitted on-line, it will be registered in the Swedish Institute online application system. Please be patient as this procedure may take some time (only submit the application once) until a confirmation with your reference number appears on the screen. An e-mail will also be sent to you with a copy to the contact person at the Swedish university.
Applications are evaluated by an academic board. The primary evaluation of the application takes into account the applicant's academic background and personal motivation, the research quality and expertise in the project field of the host department and the strength of the research proposal; its scientific quality, originality, methodological approach and relevance. In the final selection of candidates, academic fields, study levels, countries and gender will also be considered.
Decisions are finalized during May/June 2008 and a confirmation is sent to the appointed scholarship holder and to the supervisor/contact person at the Swedish University. Please note that all decisions are sent by e-mail only.
