Sweden funds a few hundred master's students from around the world every year — full tuition, a monthly living allowance and a travel grant, for one or two years. The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) is one of the best fully funded scholarships in Europe, and the 2027/28 cycle is open now. But there is one fact Pakistani applicants must know first: Pakistan is not on the list of eligible countries for the 2027/28 call. This guide gives the full, honest picture — the money, the dates, the requirements — and the alternatives that do work for Pakistani passport holders.
What the scholarship pays
- Full tuition — the Swedish Institute pays your university directly at the start of each semester. You never see a tuition bill.
- Monthly allowance of SEK 12,000 (about €1,050) for living costs, for the whole study period.
- Travel grant — a one-time payment of SEK 15,000. Scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine receive SEK 10,000 instead.
- Insurance against illness and accident.
- Membership of the SI Network for Future Global Professionals, which continues after graduation.
The scholarship covers one-year or two-year full-time master's programmes beginning in autumn 2027. It cannot be extended, and it does not cover bachelor's degrees or PhDs.
The 2027/28 timeline — the dates that matter
| Step | Date (2027/28 cycle) |
|---|---|
| Apply to Swedish master's programmes (University Admissions) | 16 October 2026 – 15 January 2027 |
| SI publishes scholarship documents and eligible programmes | 13 November 2026 |
| SI Scholarship portal open | 8 – 24 February 2027 (closes 14:59 CET on the final day) |
| University admission results | By 30 March 2027 (admission to an eligible programme is required) |
| SI Scholarship results announced | 22 April 2027 |
| Studies begin | Autumn 2027 |
The two-step structure catches people out: you must first apply to a Swedish master's programme through universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2027, and only then apply for the scholarship itself in February, quoting your university application number. Missing the January deadline means the February portal is useless to you.
Who can apply — and the Pakistan question
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is open only to citizens of 34 named countries. The published 2027/28 list is: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. Pakistan is not on that list for the 2027/28 call, so a Pakistani passport holder cannot apply for this scholarship this cycle, however strong their profile is.
That is disappointing, and it is better to know it now than in February. Two things are worth doing anyway: first, the list is reviewed every year, so check the official page again for the 2028/29 call — countries have been added before. Second, Bangladeshi readers of Pakunii are eligible, and the rest of this guide applies to them in full.
What the Swedish Institute looks for
This is not a grades-only scholarship. The selection is built around three things:
- Work experience — you must have documented work experience, and the official page states the minimum. Full-time and part-time work both count; internships and voluntary work can count if they are documented properly.
- Leadership experience — evidence that you have led a team, a project, a society or a community initiative. This is scored, not decorative: the application asks for specific examples with dates and outcomes.
- A clear study plan — your chosen master's programme must fit one of the eligible programmes published on 13 November 2026, and your motivation letter must explain how the degree connects to development in your home country.
You must be liable to pay tuition fees in Sweden (EU/EEA citizens are not, and are therefore not eligible) and you must be admitted to an eligible programme by 30 March 2027. There is no age limit, but the work and leadership requirements mean most successful applicants are professionals, not fresh graduates.
Alternatives for Pakistani students who want Sweden
- University scholarships in Sweden — Swedish universities offer their own tuition waivers to international master's students. Lund, Uppsala, KTH and Chalmers all run merit scholarships; apply through the same universityadmissions.se application, and tick the scholarship box when you apply by 15 January 2027.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — fully funded, open to Pakistanis, and several programmes are based partly in Sweden. The Erasmus Mundus guide on Pakunii gives the 2027 deadlines.
- DAAD (Germany) — the German equivalent, fully funded and open to Pakistanis. The DAAD guide on Pakunii covers it.
- Swedish tuition itself — without a scholarship, a master's in Sweden costs roughly SEK 100,000–180,000 a year in tuition, plus living costs of about SEK 10,000–12,000 a month. That is cheaper than the USA or the UK, and the post-study work route is straightforward.
FAQ
Can a Pakistani student apply for the SI Scholarship 2027? No — Pakistan is not among the 34 eligible countries published for the 2027/28 call. Check the official list again for 2028/29; the countries are reviewed annually.
How much does the SI Scholarship pay? Full tuition, SEK 12,000 a month for living costs, a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000, and insurance, for one or two years of master's study.
When does the SI Scholarship portal open? 8–24 February 2027, closing at 14:59 CET on 24 February. But you must have applied to a Swedish master's programme by 15 January 2027 first.
Is work experience really required? Yes. The SI Scholarship is designed for working professionals with leadership experience, not for fresh graduates. The official page states the minimum hours — read it before you spend time on the application.
Figures checked 2026-11-06: monthly allowance SEK 12,000, travel grant SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for the six named countries), university application window 16 October 2026 – 15 January 2027, SI documents and eligible programmes published 13 November 2026, SI portal 8–24 February 2027, results 22 April 2027, admission required by 30 March 2027, and the 34 eligible countries as published by the Swedish Institute for 2027/28. Pakistan is not on that published list. Scholarship details are reviewed annually — confirm the current call on the official Swedish Institute page (si.se) before applying.
Related guides on Pakunii
Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · Canada Study Permit Guide 2027 · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · UCAS Application Guide 2027
Sources and verification: Swedish Institute (si.se) SISGP 2027/28 timeline and country list; University Admissions Sweden application dates.