Scholarship watch: KTH deadline and what to check

Students looking for ways to fund a master's degree in Europe have another scholarship deadline to keep on their watchlist. KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden is offering its KTH Scholarship for students applying to eligible master's programmes starting in 2027.

The scholarship is competitive, and there is an important date to remember: the scholarship application opens on 1 December 2026 and closes on 15 January 2027. KTH says the scholarship results will be announced on 1 April 2027. These dates are for the 2027 intake. (KTH)

As of 12 November 2026, the scholarship application has not opened yet, so students should use the time before December to prepare their master's application and check the requirements for their chosen programme.

Who can apply?

The KTH Scholarship is aimed at fee-paying students applying for eligible master's programmes at KTH.

Applicants must apply to KTH as their first priority and pay the required application fee if they are subject to the fee. A student cannot receive the KTH Scholarship for a programme listed as their second, third or fourth priority. (KTH)

For African applicants, this means nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility. A prospective student needs to meet KTH's admission requirements, be applying to an eligible programme and meet the scholarship's fee-paying and first-choice conditions.

KTH also makes clear that only applicants who fulfil the admission requirements of their chosen programme can be considered for the scholarship. (KTH)

What does the scholarship cover?

The KTH Scholarship covers the tuition fee for the first and second year of an eligible one- or two-year master's programme, provided the student meets the academic requirements to continue into the second year.

There is an important limitation, however: the scholarship does not cover living expenses. Students should therefore not treat the tuition waiver as a full financial package for studying in Sweden. They still need to consider accommodation, food, transportation, insurance and other personal costs. (KTH)

KTH says the scholarship is available for its two-year master's programmes and certain specified programmes. Some joint programmes are excluded, so applicants should check whether their particular programme qualifies before applying. (KTH)

What documents should applicants prepare?

There is a useful distinction here.

For the KTH Scholarship application itself, KTH says applicants do not need to submit additional documents. Instead, the university uses the documents submitted as part of the master's application through University Admissions. Those documents must be submitted by the relevant document deadline. (KTH)

Students therefore need to focus first on getting their master's application in order.

KTH's master's application guidance says applicants should check the specific requirements for their chosen programme. Depending on the programme and the applicant's background, this can include academic documents and proof of English proficiency. KTH also requires applicants to meet the programme-specific entry requirements. (KTH)

For the 2027 intake, KTH says master's applications close on 15 January 2027, while required documents must be submitted by 1 February 2027. Applicants who are required to pay an application fee must also meet the fee deadline. (KTH)

How are scholarship applicants selected?

Meeting the basic requirements does not mean a student will automatically receive the scholarship.

KTH says selection focuses mainly on academic excellence and the applicant's motivation to contribute to sustainable development. The university considers factors including grades, the ranking of the university where the applicant earned their bachelor's degree, relevant extracurricular research or professional experience, awards and other achievements. (KTH)

Applicants are also expected to explain how they intend to contribute to sustainable development with a master's degree from KTH.

That makes the scholarship highly competitive. KTH reported that in 2026, 65 out of 718 scholarship applicants admitted to a programme were nominated for the KTH Scholarship, equivalent to 9%. (KTH)

The dates to remember

For students planning to apply for the 2027 intake, the key dates are:

1 December 2026: KTH Scholarship application opens.

15 January 2027: Scholarship application closes, and this is also the master's application deadline.

1 February 2027: Deadline for submitting required documents and, where applicable, paying the application fee.

1 April 2027: Scholarship results are announced. (KTH)

The main takeaway is simple: the KTH Scholarship is an opportunity to reduce the cost of tuition, but it is not a promise of full financial support. Admission and funding are competitive, and applicants should check their programme requirements carefully rather than assuming that meeting the basic scholarship conditions guarantees an award.