Scholarships and study grants
In some cases, higher education institutions are able to admit applicants with scholarship funding to their doctoral programmes. The institution needs to be able to see that the funding can be secured for the whole programme and that the applicant can devote enough time to the studies for them to be completed on time. Scholarships for doctoral candidate positions can normally only be used for one year. After that, the doctoral candidate is to be offered employment as a doctoral candidate.
In the case of overseas aid or capacity-building programmes or for certain EU projects, scholarships may be used for more than one year. For the period that the doctoral candidate is studying in Sweden, the scholarship amount is to correspond to the salary of an employed doctoral candidate after tax.
Non-state-funded scholarships
State funding, (for example, grants paid directly to higher education institution or funding from a state research council), may not be used for scholarships intended for the financing of doctoral studies.
No social security benefits at state sector higher education institutions, but there is insurance
A scholarship does not entitle you to receive social security benefits. Since scholarship funding is not a form of employment, you are not entitled to receive work-based benefits such as sickness benefit or parental benefit from the Swedish social insurance system unless you have a protected SGI (sickness benefit qualifying income from a previous job). Similarly, you are not entitled to collective agreement-based benefits such as supplementary parental benefit or reimbursement for medicine costs. You may therefore encounter problems in the event of long-term illness or parental leave.
State sector higher education institutions are, however, obliged to take out insurance for doctoral candidates on scholarships through Kammarkollegiet, the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency. This insurance covers loss of income during sick leave or parental leave. They must also insure all doctoral candidates against personal injury in connection with their studies.
In general, SULF believes that scholarships should not be used as an alternative to doctoral candidate employment.
For more information, please see the Kammarkollegiet website
In addition to the above, SULF recommends that you take out insurance to cover accidents outside the workplace. Our collaboration with the insurance company Folksam offers discounted insurance for SULF members. You can also buy other types of insurance from Folksam, such as life, health and child insurance. For more information, please see visit Folksam’s website.
Study grants for doctoral studies
Study grants can be provided for doctoral programmes, but only for a maximum of 12 terms, including first cycle programmes. Study grants cannot be awarded to any doctoral candidate who has previously been employed as a doctoral candidate.