KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm runs scholarships for international Master's students who have to pay tuition fees in Sweden. For a Pakistani engineering or technology graduate with a strong academic record, this is one of the more realistic routes to studying at a well-known technical university in Europe without paying the full fee bill. It is a tuition scholarship, though, and you should read it that way from the start. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing page, and this guide walks through what the award does, what it leaves out and how to put together a competitive application.
A tuition award for non-EU Master's students in Stockholm
The scholarships are aimed at talented students from outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Selection is competitive and based on academic excellence: KTH looks at your academic performance and your potential to contribute to the KTH community. Every Master's program offered at KTH is in scope, so you are not limited to one department.
Who does this suit? Students with consistently high grades who already have a clear reason to pick a specific KTH program, and who can show how they will pay for living in Stockholm. Who should think twice? Anyone whose plan depends on a scholarship that also pays rent and food. KTH scholarships typically cover tuition fees only and do not include living expenses, so a student with no funding for living costs will struggle even with a successful result.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | KTH Royal Institute of Technology |
| Funding | Partial funding (a full or partial tuition fee waiver) |
| Study level | Master's |
| Fields | All Master's programs offered at KTH |
| Country | Sweden |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | KTH official website |
Full or partial tuition waiver, and what sits around it
The core of the award is a tuition fee waiver. It can be full or partial, and the funding typically covers tuition for the duration of the Master's program. Do not assume you will get the full waiver. Read your offer carefully to see which one you have been given, because a partial waiver leaves a fee balance that you must pay yourself.
Alongside the waiver, recipients get the things that come with being a KTH student:
- access to KTH research facilities
- networking opportunities with industry partners
- support from the international student office
- access to career counseling services
Those are useful, but none of them pay for accommodation, food, travel or insurance. Plan a separate budget for living costs from day one. If you need to show funds for a residence permit, our guide to bank statements and proof of funds for Pakistani students explains how to prepare that paperwork.
There is also a condition attached. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to keep receiving the scholarship throughout your studies. Treat it as an award you keep earning each term, not a one-time prize.
Eligibility for Pakistani applicants
Pakistan is outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, so Pakistani citizens fall inside the target group. The full set of requirements is:
- you must be a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland
- you must be required to pay tuition fees for studies in Sweden
- you must have applied for a Master's program at KTH via University Admissions
- you must show high academic achievement in previous studies
- you must meet the specific entry requirements of your chosen Master's program
The second point catches some people out. Eligibility is tied to being a fee-paying student as well as to your passport. If you hold another citizenship or a status in Sweden that changes whether you pay fees, check your position with KTH before you apply.
The last point matters too. The scholarship sits on top of admission. If you do not meet the entry requirements of the program itself, the scholarship application goes nowhere, so check the program page for its specific academic and English requirements before anything else.
The two applications you have to submit
This is where applicants most often go wrong. The scholarship is a separate process from admission, and you need both:
- Apply for a Master's program at KTH through the national University Admissions website.
- Submit the scholarship application through the KTH online portal during the designated application period.
- Wait for the admission results from University Admissions.
- Receive the scholarship outcome from KTH.
Applying for the program does not automatically put you in the scholarship pool. Students who finish the University Admissions application and stop there are not considered. Keep a record of both submissions, including confirmation emails and any reference numbers, so you can follow up if something looks wrong.
Documents to prepare before the window opens
KTH lists five documents for the scholarship application:
- academic transcripts
- proof of English proficiency
- statement of purpose
- curriculum vitae
- letters of recommendation
Transcripts and degree documents from Pakistan often need attestation before foreign universities accept them, and that takes time. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide covers the process. Start it early so a missing stamp does not hold up your submission.
For English, make sure your test scores meet the minimum requirements of your program. A score just below the line can cost you the program place, and with it the scholarship.
Dates change every cycle, so check them yourself
KTH does not publish a fixed opening date or deadline that we can confirm here. Both the opening date and the deadline vary, and you should check the KTH official website for the current cycle dates. Because the scholarship has its own designated application period inside the KTH portal, the scholarship deadline and the University Admissions deadline may not fall on the same day. Note both separately.
Check the KTH website regularly for updates on scholarship availability. Programs and funding rounds can change from year to year, and older forum posts are a poor guide to the current cycle.
Making a merit-based application stand out
Since selection is based on academic excellence, your grades carry most of the weight. You cannot change your CGPA now, but you can present your record well and support it with the rest of your file.
Your statement of purpose should put your academic achievements up front. Name the courses, projects or results that prepared you for this specific KTH program, and explain how you will contribute to the KTH community, since that potential is part of how recipients are chosen. A generic statement that could be sent to any university reads weakly next to one that clearly knows the program.
Some practical points:
- Submit your Master's application early so all documents have time to be processed.
- Ask your referees for letters well before the deadline and give them your CV and statement so their letters match your story.
- Keep your CV focused on academic work, research, projects and relevant technical experience.
- Prepare every document well in advance. Last-minute uploads are where scans go missing and files end up unreadable.
The most common mistake is the one already mentioned: completing the admission application and forgetting the separate scholarship form. The second is budgeting as if the award covers living costs. The third is assuming a full waiver when a partial one is possible. Avoid those three and you are already ahead of a lot of applicants. For a wider view of how this fits with other options, see all Sweden scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for KTH scholarships?
Yes, if they are required to pay tuition fees for Master's studies at KTH. The scholarships are for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who pay tuition fees in Sweden.
Does the KTH scholarship cover living expenses?
No. KTH scholarships typically cover tuition fees only and do not include living expenses. You will need your own funds or another source for accommodation and daily costs.
Is the tuition waiver always full?
No. The waiver can be full or partial, and the award is listed as partial funding. Check your scholarship decision to see exactly how much of the fee is covered.
Do I apply for the scholarship and the program at the same time?
They are two separate applications. You apply for the Master's program through University Admissions and submit the scholarship application through the KTH online portal during its designated period.
Which subjects are eligible?
All Master's programs offered at KTH are eligible. You still have to meet the specific entry requirements of the program you choose.
Can I lose the scholarship after I start?
You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to keep receiving the scholarship throughout your studies, so weak results can put the funding at risk.
Before you apply, confirm the current cycle dates and requirements on the KTH official website, and keep the KTH scholarship page handy for the key details.