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Sweden
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Teach and/or research in the proposed area of interest. The ratio of teaching vs. research and the number of courses to be taught (if any) is to be arranged between the scholar and the host institution and stated in the letter of invitation.
Affiliation with most institutions of higher education or research, museums or cultural institutions in Sweden is acceptable. Applicants are responsible for arranging their affiliation by the time of application. Applicants are free to contact the Commission with any questions regarding acceptable hosts. Assistance with housing arrangements is often available through the host institution.
The Fulbright grant is for up to six months. Grantees may extend their stay in Sweden beyond the maximum six-month period of the Fulbright grant, provided they demonstrate to the Swedish Migration Authority financial and insurance coverage for themselves and family members, as well as continued support from the academic host.
Applications are welcome in all fields, including the arts.
Scholars are encouraged to apply to the Intercountry Lecture Program through participating European Fulbright commissions or posts for additional funding to travel within Europe for activities related to their academic project. Please see the Commission website for information.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
All teaching and research activities can be conducted in English. However, knowledge of Swedish can be advantageous. Applicants requiring translation services or research assistance must arrange for this at their own cost.
Please note that candidates currently residing in Sweden or who have already begun a program in Sweden are not eligible for the Fulbright program in Sweden.
The grant period ranges between three and six months. Grants will be paid in Swedish crowns (SEK) at the current exchange rate. A fixed living allowance of SEK 27,000 (approx. $2,700 and untaxed) per month is provided, as well as a dependent allowance for accompanying family members (spouse and up to three children under 18) as listed below. Under this grant, a separate allowance for housing is not provided. Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing and should contact their host institution/adviser for assistance.
Round-trip travel for the grantee only.
The grant provides for an additional dependent allowance of SEK 1,000 per month for the first accompanying dependent (spouse) and SEK 500 per month for each additional accompanying dependent up to a maximum of three. Dependents must accompany the grantee for the entire grant period to be eligible for the dependent benefit allowance. All allowances will be paid in Swedish crowns.
Public schools are usually free of charge from the primary through the upper-secondary level and many public and private schools offer English instruction through these levels. However, grantees should be aware that personal funds are usually necessary to cover costs for accompanying dependents, including the additional cost of daycare and international schools. Please note that children of grantees may be eligible to receive subsidized daycare and free schooling as long as the other parent is working or studying. It is the responsibility of the grantee to contact any schools and daycare centers directly to negotiate the terms of stay and applicable costs.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Cost of living estimates are available on all host university webpages.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Sweden
With a total population of approximately 10.2 million, Sweden is a sparsely populated country, characterized by its long coastline, extensive forests and numerous lakes. It is one of the world’s northernmost countries. In terms of surface area it is comparable to Spain, Thailand or the American state of California. Sweden’s borders have been unchanged since 1905 and the country has not been at war since 1814. Considering its geographic location, Sweden enjoys a favorable climate. This is mainly because of the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that flows off Norway’s west coast.
Americans visiting Sweden will find that English is widely spoken. Swedish society is welcoming and the culture is relatively easy to navigate. As a technologically advanced country, Sweden is ideal for many types of research. Scholars can generally expect reasonable access to people, institutions and information for research purposes.
A useful overview of Sweden is available online.
With a strong public emphasis on education, Sweden is an excellent place to teach and conduct research and all Swedish institutions of higher education and research offer opportunities for international scholars. Candidates from the level of recent Ph.D. scholar to full professor in any discipline will therefore be considered. Preference is given to academic and professional excellence, feasibility and significance of the project and match with host affiliation. English is sufficient, as Swedish students and scholars have excellent proficiency in English, but interest in or limited knowledge of the Swedish language is appreciated and often useful. The academic year consists of two 20-week semesters. The fall semester runs from the middle or end of August through mid-January and the spring term from mid-January through the beginning of June. Awards are rarely made in the summer months, unless justified by the nature of the project and prearranged with the prospective host institution.
All applicants should prioritize making a preliminary reservation at the university housing office of the host institution as soon as possible. If additional help is needed, they should ask their Swedish academic hosts for assistance in placing them in the university's housing queue. The Commission is unable to assist with housing. As all Fulbright grants are less than one year in length, U.S. grantees will not be issued a personal ID number and will therefore not be included in the social welfare system, nor be required to pay Swedish tax. As such, school options for family members should be discussed with the host institution.
Grantees in Sweden for less than 6 months will not be able to open a Swedish bank account and will receive their grant payment at their U.S. financial institution. All other grants will be paid in Swedish crowns (SEK) at the current exchange rate.
For more information on living and studying in Sweden, click here.
Please note that applicants currently residing in Sweden or who have already begun a program in Sweden are not eligible for the Fulbright program with Sweden.
Applicants interested in contacting previous Fulbright alumni in a certain field/area of research or geographical location may contact the Commission. Please visit the Commission's YouTube channel for testimonial videos by a number of previous Fulbright grantees to Sweden, including the Distinguished Scholar in American Studies at Uppsala University here: https://www.youtube.com/@FulbrightSweden/videos.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Applicants must clearly state the number of months and specific dates for which they are requesting funding. Grant periods should be carried out during the academic year (August-May), unless otherwise justified. Information concerning letters of invitation can be found on the Commission website. Grantees intending to stay in Sweden for a longer period than the initial six months covered by the Fulbright award should apply for the appropriate dates when applying for their residence permit.
General information on host institutions and academic life in Sweden is available here.