The KTH Scholarship Sweden helps top international master’s students study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology with full tuition coverage. It is competitive, merit-based, and not fully funded. Understanding what it covers, who qualifies, deadlines, and realistic costs is essential before applying, especially for students planning to study in Sweden in 2026.
What is the KTH Scholarship in Sweden?
The KTH Scholarship is a merit-based tuition scholarship offered by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, one of Europe’s leading technical universities. It targets high-achieving international students admitted to a full-time master’s program at KTH.
Here’s the key point many students miss early: this scholarship covers tuition fees only. It does not pay for living expenses, accommodation, travel, or insurance. KTH designed it to reward academic excellence, not to act as a full financial aid package.
Students from Pakistan and other non-EU countries apply for it every year because KTH ranks highly in engineering, technology, and applied sciences, and a tuition waiver alone can save tens of thousands of euros.
Is KTH free for international students?
No, KTH is not free for international students from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
If you are a non-EU student, you must pay tuition fees for master’s programs at KTH unless you receive a scholarship. Tuition fees usually range from moderate to high depending on the program, and living costs in Sweden are separate and unavoidable.
This is where confusion often starts. Many students hear “scholarship” and assume everything is covered. At KTH, tuition and living costs are two different realities.
What does the KTH Scholarship actually cover?
The KTH Scholarship covers 100 percent of the tuition fee for a master’s program at KTH.
It does not include:
Housing costs
Monthly living expenses
Travel to Sweden
Health insurance
Residence permit fees
This makes it a partial scholarship, not a fully funded one. Still, it is extremely valuable because tuition at KTH can be a major financial barrier.
To make this clearer, here’s a simple comparison.
| Item | Covered by KTH Scholarship |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee | Yes, 100% |
| Accommodation | No |
| Monthly living costs | No |
| Travel expenses | No |
| Health insurance | No |
Students who win the KTH Scholarship usually rely on personal savings, family support, part-time work, or other scholarships to cover living costs.
Is the KTH Scholarship fully funded?
No. This needs to be said plainly.
The KTH Scholarship is not fully funded. It is a tuition-only scholarship.
If your goal is a fully funded scholarship in Sweden that pays tuition plus monthly living expenses, you need to look beyond KTH’s internal scholarship and consider national-level options like Swedish Institute scholarships.
That said, many students still choose KTH because:
The academic reputation is strong
Graduates have good job prospects
Sweden allows part-time work during studies
Who can apply for the KTH Scholarship for international students?
The scholarship is open to international students who meet three core conditions.
First, you must be a fee-paying student. This means you are from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
Second, you must have applied for and been admitted to a full-time master’s program at KTH. You cannot apply for the scholarship without first applying for admission.
Third, you must demonstrate strong academic merit. KTH looks closely at your academic record, not just your eligibility.
Nationality itself is not a restriction. Students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and many other countries apply and get selected every year.
What are the KTH Scholarship Sweden requirements?
The requirements fall into two main categories: admission requirements and scholarship-specific expectations.
Academic requirements
You must meet all entry requirements for your chosen master’s program. This includes:
A relevant bachelor’s degree
Strong academic performance
English language proficiency
KTH does not publish a fixed GPA cutoff for the scholarship. Instead, selection is competitive and relative. Your grades are judged alongside other applicants to the same program.
Application requirements
You must:
Apply to KTH through the official Swedish admission system
Submit all required documents on time
Receive an offer of admission from KTH
Only admitted students can be considered for the scholarship. If your admission application is weak or incomplete, the scholarship discussion ends there.
How competitive is the KTH Scholarship?
Very competitive.
Each year, thousands of international students apply for master’s programs at KTH. Only a limited number of KTH Scholarships are awarded. This means even excellent students may not be selected simply due to limited slots.
KTH prioritizes:
Academic excellence
Relevance of previous studies
Potential to succeed in the chosen program
This is not about financial need. It is about merit and fit.
When is the KTH Scholarship Sweden deadline?
The scholarship deadline usually comes shortly after the master’s admission deadline.
In practice, this means:
You apply for master’s programs first
After admission results, you apply for the KTH Scholarship
For the 2026 intake, the scholarship deadline is expected to fall in early spring, typically around March. Dates can change slightly each year, so students should monitor official KTH announcements closely.
Missing the deadline means waiting another full year.
How does the KTH Scholarship 2026 application process work?
The process is structured but unforgiving if you miss steps.
First, you apply for one or more master’s programs at KTH through the Swedish national admissions system.
Second, you wait for the admission results. Only admitted students can move forward.
Third, eligible admitted students submit a separate scholarship application through KTH.
There is no interview stage. Selection is based entirely on documents and academic record.
How to get a 100% scholarship in Sweden?
This question comes up constantly, and the answer depends on what you mean by “100%.”
If you mean tuition-only coverage, the KTH Scholarship qualifies.
If you mean tuition plus living expenses, then you need a different path.
Fully funded scholarships in Sweden usually come from national or government-backed programs. These often include:
Full tuition
Monthly living allowance
Insurance
Sometimes travel grants
They are more competitive but also more comprehensive.
Can I get a fully funded scholarship in Sweden as an international student?
Yes, but not through KTH alone.
Fully funded scholarships in Sweden exist, but they are limited and highly selective. They typically target students with:
Strong academic records
Leadership potential
Clear career goals tied to development or innovation
Students who rely only on university-level scholarships often struggle financially unless they have strong personal funding.
A smart strategy many students use is to apply for both university scholarships and national scholarships in parallel.
Why do students still choose KTH despite partial funding?
Because value is not only about money.
KTH offers:
Strong industry connections
High employability in Europe
Access to Sweden’s tech and innovation ecosystem
Many students see the tuition waiver as an investment. They cover living costs themselves but graduate with a respected degree and better long-term prospects.
Sweden also allows international students to work part-time during studies, which helps with expenses if managed carefully.
What mistakes do students make with the KTH Scholarship?
Several patterns repeat every year.
One common mistake is assuming the scholarship covers everything. Students apply without a financial plan for living costs and later struggle.
Another mistake is focusing only on the scholarship and neglecting the admission application. Without admission, the scholarship is irrelevant.
Late applications are another issue. Swedish systems are strict. Missing deadlines usually means automatic rejection.
Finally, some students underestimate competition and submit average applications, hoping the scholarship will compensate. It won’t.
Is the KTH Scholarship worth applying for?
Yes, if you understand it correctly.
It is worth applying if:
You are academically strong
You can manage living costs independently
You value KTH’s academic reputation
It is not suitable if:
You need full financial support
You cannot cover living expenses
You are applying without meeting program requirements
Honesty with yourself is critical here.
What should international students do before applying?
Before applying, students should:
Calculate realistic living costs in Sweden
Assess personal or family financial support
Research part-time work rules
Compare KTH with other Swedish universities
This preparation prevents disappointment later and helps you make informed decisions.
Final perspective for KTH Scholarship applicants
The KTH Scholarship Sweden is not a shortcut to free education, but it is a serious opportunity for high-performing students who plan carefully. If you treat it as part of a broader funding strategy rather than a complete solution, it can open doors to one of Europe’s strongest technical universities.
Andrew Wiles, Higher education expert with 15+ years guiding students in PhD, postgraduate, and research scholarships. Andrew simplifies visas, interviews, and application planning.