General information

• Please read all the instructions carefully and follow the step-by-step application guidelines below.
• We will only consider one application per person. If more than one application is sent in we will only consider the latest one and disregard all others.
• Applications must be submitted online with enclosures as digital documents in PDF format.
• All application materials/documents, including letters of reference/recommendation, must be received by the application deadline. Any material/document that arrives past the application deadline will not be considered.
• Avoid using all capital letters when answering sections, e.g. name, address, etc. It is better to use a combination of upper and lowercase, e.g. Tania Filatova, not TANIA FILATOVA.
• When asked to fill in your name you must state it exactly as it appears (or will appear) on your passport. Please use upper and lower case when entering your name, e.g. Tania Filatova.
• When a maximum number of pages or characters are specified you must limit your documents to that requirement. Information that exceeds the specified pages or characters will not be considered.

First steps

The first step necessary in order to apply for this scholarship is to obtain a letter of invitation from a Swedish university department willing to accept you as a visiting scholar. In fact, any Swedish university could be approached for this proposal. Additionally, 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:

• PhD students applying for a part of their PhD studies to be carried out in Sweden. Priority is given to individuals enrolled as a PhD student at their home university.
• Postdoctoral researchers, with priority given to holders of a PhD degree from 2007 or later.
• Senior scientists – holders of a PhD degree but who do not fit into the category of postdoctoral researchers, above, invited to Sweden for research (6 months maximum).

You must also choose the scholarship period you are applying for from one of the following:

• September 1, 2012 – February 28, 2013 (6 months)
• January 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013 (6 months)
• September 1, 2012 – August 31, 2013 (12 months)
• January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014 (12 months)
• Sandwich PhD*

* PhD students applying for a part of their PhD studies according to the sandwich model (several visits but a total of maximum 12 months to be used before the end of 2014). This type is only intended for PhD students, who apply for a sandwich setup. This setup must be confirmed in the letter of invitation, where preliminary dates for the visits must also be stated.

Supporting documents

Please note that the supporting documents must not exceed the number of pages stated below. As a Swedish authority, The Swedish Institute (SI) operates 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
The Letter of Invitation is an essential and highly-important part of your application. Without it your application will not be processed. You must personally obtain a Letter of Invitation from a Swedish university department willing to accept you. The Letter of Invitation must be signed by a professor or head of department at the Swedish university to which you have been accepted. It must be dated within the last four months and it must acknowledge the proposed scholarship period.

Furthermore, it must state that you have been officially invited as a student/researcher as well as describing ongoing or planned cooperation between the host institution and your home institution. The Letter of Invitation should also describe the research environment that you would be affiliated with at your host university in terms of staff resources, financial grants, laboratory or other equipment and how your research proposal would complement or fit into the ongoing work of the department.

Please note that if the formal Letter of Invitation is not signed (we accept electronic scans in the PDF format of signed documents) your application will not be regarded as complete and therefore not processed. The same policy applies for copies of e-mails.
Maximum 2 pages.

Two letters of recommendation - mandatory
Two letters of recommendation from professors/academic supervisors, describing your and their interest in cooperation and the 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).
One letter of recommendation should also evaluate the applicant’s English language. Both letters must be signed and dated within the last six months.
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
A research proposal describing the scientific quality of the project as well as its originality, methodological approach, and relevance. The research proposal is an important part of your application and should be prepared carefully.
Maximum 5 pages.

CV of the applicant - mandatory
CV outlining your previous studies, degrees, and English language proficiency.
Maximum 2 pages.

CV of the intended supervisor/contact person in Sweden - mandatory
If possible the personal website of supervisor/contact person in Sweden should be stated in the CV, as well as the department website.
Maximum 2 pages.

List of publications - optional
A list of publications written by the applicant.
Maximum 2 pages.

Personal statement of motivation - mandatory
This document is an essential part of your application and will be studied carefully in order to determine what motivates you on a personal and professional level. We expect the statement of motivation to give us a picture of you as a person, but avoid repeating facts already contained in your application. The statement should describe your goals, both in life and with your career. What plan do you have to reach your career goals and how would a Swedish Institute scholarship and research visit to Sweden contribute to this plan? What do you wish to accomplish with your research and how can your research contribute to development in the Baltic Sea Region? How will the research respond to needs emphasized in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU Eastern Partnership or in the EU Partnership with the Russian Federation?
Maximum 2 pages.

Complete the application form

Once the application is completed and submitted online, 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 and wait until a confirmation with your reference number appears on the screen.

Due to technical issues we still have not yet been able to open the electronic application form. Meanwhile, we recommend you to prepare your application so that once the form goes online you will just have to submit all the documents.

How are the applications processed?

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 field, study level, nationality, and gender will also be considered.

Decisions will be finalized during May 2012 and a confirmation will be sent to the appointed scholarship holder and to the supervisor/contact person at the receiving Swedish university. Please note that all decisions are sent by e-mail only. No paper documents will be sent.