The Lund University Global Scholarship is a merit-based tuition award for students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who start a master’s programme, or one of four bachelor’s programmes, at Lund University in Sweden. It can cover part or all of your tuition fee, depending on your programme’s budget, and Lund shares about SEK 26 million a year among its winners. It pays nothing toward rent or food.
To be considered for autumn 2027, apply to a Lund programme on universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2027 and rank it as your first choice. Then complete Lund’s separate scholarship form, which usually opens in early February. The Deadline is 16 February 2027.
What the Lund University Global Scholarship pays
The award is a tuition reduction. Lund deducts it automatically from your tuition invoice, and you pay whatever is left. The university does not publish fixed tiers. The share each winner gets depends on how much money the programme or faculty has, not on whether you were the top or tenth-ranked candidate. Many websites quote 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels; those are not official Lund categories, so treat them as rough examples only.
Here is what different award levels would mean on a real fee. For students starting in autumn 2027, Lund’s two-year Master of Arts in European Studies costs SEK 270,000 in total, with a first payment of SEK 67,500.
| If your award covers | Lund pays (two years) | You pay (two years) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% of tuition | SEK 67,500 | SEK 202,500 |
| 50% of tuition | SEK 135,000 | SEK 135,000 |
| 75% of tuition | SEK 202,500 | SEK 67,500 |
| 100% of tuition | SEK 270,000 | SEK 0 |
These are my own calculations on that one programme. Fees at Lund vary widely by field, and science, engineering, medicine and architecture programmes cost more than humanities, so check the fee on your own programme page before you work out a budget.
Costs you still have to cover
- Living costs: the Swedish Migration Agency asks students applying in 2026 to show at least SEK 10,656 a month for the residence permit. Lund’s own sample budget lists SEK 3,000 for food and SEK 4,000 to 8,000 for accommodation each month, plus books and personal costs.
- Any tuition the award leaves: paid by the date in your offer email, which can be earlier than Lund’s normal payment deadline.
- Application fee: SEK 900 on universityadmissions.se, not refundable.
- Travel, permit fees and deposits for housing.
Lund tells applicants plainly not to apply if they cannot fund living costs to the Migration Agency’s standard. A full tuition award will not get you a permit without that money.
Lund University Global Scholarship eligibility
- Citizenship: you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, and you must pay tuition fees in Sweden.
- Programme: you apply in the regular international round to a Lund master’s programme, or to the bachelor’s in Development Studies, Mathematics, Physics or Physical Geography.
- First choice: a Lund programme is ranked first on your universityadmissions.se application.
- Complete application: you have uploaded all documents and paid the application fee.
- Entry requirements: you meet the programme’s academic and English requirements.
The scholarship is open to every nationality outside Europe’s free-movement area. An applicant from Ghana, India, Brazil or the United States competes in the same pool as one from Nigeria or Pakistan.
Edge cases worth knowing
- Lund ranked second: you are not eligible, even if your first choice is at another Swedish university that rejects you.
- Two Lund programmes: you can list several, but you may submit only one Global Scholarship application per round.
- Swedish Institute applicants: you may apply to SI in the same year. If SI pays your full fee, a Lund tuition award would not be needed.
- Music and Fine Arts: these programmes have their own conditions, and applicants receive instructions by email if scholarships are available.
- Late round (March to April): applicants in that round are contacted separately if funds remain. Most money goes in the January round.
- Dual EU citizenship: you would normally be fee-exempt and therefore outside the scheme.
Lund University Global Scholarship deadline and important dates
| Step | Date (Swedish time) |
|---|---|
| International application round opens on universityadmissions.se | 16 October 2026 |
| Programme application deadline | 15 January 2027, midnight CET |
| Supporting documents and SEK 900 fee due | 1 February 2027 |
| Lund scholarship portal opens | Early February 2027 |
| Deadline (scholarship application) | 16 February 2027 |
| Master’s admission results | 1 April 2027 |
| Scholarship decision email | Shortly after admission results |
| Autumn semester starts | 30 August 2027 |
The 16 February 2027 Deadline repeats the 2026 closing date (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). The programme dates for 2027 are already fixed by the national admissions system, so those will not move.
How to apply for the Lund University Global Scholarship
- Pick your Lund programme: use Lund’s programmes A to Z list, read the entry requirements and note the tuition fee.
- Apply on universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2027: rank the Lund programme first. You can list up to four programmes in total.
- Finish your file by 1 February 2027: upload your degree certificate or current transcript, passport, English proof and any programme-specific documents, then pay SEK 900.
- Write the Scholarship Motivation Letter: up to 600 words, separate from any statement of purpose your programme asks for.
- Submit on Lund’s scholarship portal by the Deadline: the link appears on Lund’s Global Scholarship page when the round opens in February.
- Watch your email after 1 April 2027: Lund sends a message stating whether you won and how much, with next steps.
Documents checklist
| Document | Where it goes | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree certificate, or a transcript showing your degree is in progress | universityadmissions.se | Final-year students can apply and prove completion later, by the date the system gives |
| Official transcript with grading scale | universityadmissions.se | Add a certified English translation if the original is in another language |
| Passport page with your photo and citizenship | universityadmissions.se | This proves you are a fee-paying applicant |
| English test result or exemption proof | universityadmissions.se | Check the minimum for your programme |
| Programme documents (statement of purpose, CV, portfolio) | universityadmissions.se or Lund, as the programme states | Only if your programme asks for them |
| Scholarship Motivation Letter, up to 600 words | Lund’s scholarship portal | Write it fresh; do not reuse your statement of purpose |
| Universityadmissions.se application number | Lund’s scholarship portal | Copy it from your confirmation email |
Some countries have extra rules on how degree documents must be sent, for example directly from the university or with specific stamps. Universityadmissions.se publishes country-by-country instructions, so read the page for the country where you studied before uploading anything.
English and academic requirements
Most Lund master’s programmes need a bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credits, or three years, in a related subject, plus English at the Swedish “English 6” level. IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 5.5 is the usual test route. Some programmes ask for a higher level, and some applicants can use an English-taught degree from specific countries instead of a test, so read your programme’s requirements on Lund’s site and on universityadmissions.se.
How Lund picks winners
Lund names four criteria: strong academic performance, a good fit with the programme, clear commitment to studying at Lund, and Lund as your first choice. Financial need plays no part. There is no interview. Your transcript and your 600-word letter are what the panel reads, so the letter has to show fit and commitment that your grades alone cannot.
Writing the 600-word Scholarship Motivation Letter
Six hundred words is short. I would use it in four parts, roughly 150 words each.
- Your academic record in context: your grade, your class rank if known, and the one project or thesis result that best shows your ability.
- Fit with the programme: name two or three courses, a research group or a Lund teacher whose work connects to your interests.
- Why Lund specifically: what the university offers that your other options do not. This is the “commitment” criterion.
- What you will do with the degree: a realistic next step, such as a job type, a PhD direction or a sector at home.
A sample opening: “My final-year project at the University of Ibadan modelled flood risk for 32 communities along the Ogun River, and it showed me how little of that data reaches the people deciding where to build. Lund’s Physical Geography programme is where I want to learn how to close that gap.” Because need is not assessed, leave out hardship stories. Spend those words on evidence.
Mistakes that cost applicants the award
- Ranking a Lund programme second or third to keep options open.
- Forgetting the separate scholarship form because the programme application felt like enough.
- Pasting the programme statement of purpose into the scholarship box instead of writing a new letter.
- Leaving the fee unpaid or documents missing on 1 February, which makes the application incomplete.
- Going over 600 words.
- Missing the short acceptance window in the award email.
After you receive an award
To keep the scholarship you must accept it within the time stated in your award letter, accept your study place as Lund instructs, and pay the remaining tuition instalment by the date in the offer email. That date may come before Lund’s standard payment deadline, so have the money ready in April. Once you have paid, apply for your residence permit with the Swedish Migration Agency and show funds for living costs for the whole permit period. The scholarship amount is then deducted from each tuition invoice automatically.
Lund’s page does not set out credit targets for keeping the award in year two. Ask the scholarship office about continuation rules when you accept, and keep your first-year results strong.
Lund Global Scholarship compared with other Swedish awards
| Scholarship | University | Tuition | Living costs | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lund University Global Scholarship | Lund University | Part or all | No | Lund ranked first; merit only |
| Axel Adler Scholarship | University of Gothenburg | 100% | No | Fee-paying master’s applicant |
| Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals | Any eligible Swedish university | 100% | SEK 12,000 a month | Citizens of 34 countries with work and leadership experience |
Because Lund requires first-choice ranking, you cannot use the same application to chase both Lund and Gothenburg scholarships at full strength. Decide which university you want most. If Gothenburg suits your field better, read our guide to the Axel Adler Scholarship. You can also compare Nordic and wider options in our Finland scholarships guide and our list of scholarships in Europe.
Who should apply and who should not
- Apply if Lund is genuinely your first choice, your grades are near the top of your class and you can fund living costs.
- Apply if you are from a country outside the Swedish Institute’s list, since Lund’s scheme is open to every non-EU/EEA nationality.
- Think twice if you need a stipend. Even a 100% award leaves you to pay at least SEK 10,656 a month in living costs.
- Skip it if you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, or you want a bachelor’s programme outside the four eligible ones.
FAQ about the Lund University Global Scholarship
Is the Lund University Global Scholarship fully funded?
No. It covers part or all of your tuition fee only. Living costs, travel and the application fee are always your responsibility.
What is the deadline for the Lund Global Scholarship 2027?
The Deadline is 16 February 2027. You must also apply to your Lund programme by 15 January 2027 and complete documents and payment by 1 February 2027.
Do I need to rank Lund first to get the scholarship?
Yes. A Lund programme must be your first choice on universityadmissions.se, or you are not eligible.
How many Lund Global Scholarships are given each year?
Lund does not publish a number. It says it awards about SEK 26 million in scholarships each year to a number of new international students.
Sources and updates
Checked on 25 October 2026 against Lund University’s Lund University Global Scholarship page, its money and living costs page, and the European Studies programme page for the 2027 fee. Autumn 2027 admission dates come from Stockholm University’s important dates page for the national round, and the SEK 10,656 maintenance figure is the 2026 amount set by the Swedish Migration Agency. Lund had not opened the 2027 scholarship round on that date, so the 16 February 2027 Deadline repeats the 2026 date; this post will be updated when Lund publishes the new portal dates.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
