International fieldwork scholarships for your thesis

Page reviewed:  29/10/2025

Do you want to carry out fieldwork in a low- or middle-income country for your thesis? Students at SLU can now apply for scholarships. The purpose is to spark greater interest in and provide meaningful experiences of science for sustainable global development.

SLU students have now the opportunity to do field work and collect data for their thesis in a country where the Swedish Government has active strategies for development cooperation. SLU manages Erasmus+ scholarships (funded by the European Commission) and Minor Field Study scholarships (funded by Sida). You can apply for both types of scholarship with the same application, but only be granted one of them. 

Next application round will be in spring 2026

The fieldwork can be carried out in a country where Sweden has active strategies for development cooperation. These strategies can focus on specific countries or regions or be thematic. You can read more at the central MFS page and at Sida. Additionally, scholarships will not be granted to countries or regions where the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utrikesdepartementet), advise against travel. It is important to keep updated about the country and region where you are going, as the security situation can change quickly.

The fieldwork should be at least 8 consecutive weeks (60 days) and no more than 20 weeks. The scholarship is individual and not to be shared with another applicant. Are your thesis project linked to another applicant you must still apply separately and outline your different responsibilities. Erasmus+ scholarship holders will receive their scholarships from the SLU Mobility team and given special instructions if granted in the particular Moveon system, where the scholarship is referred to as an internship. MFS scholarship holders will receive their scholarships and receive further instructions from SLU Global. 

Minor Field Studies (MFS): The scholarship is totally 35 000 SEK that you can use to cover expenses related to your field study, such as travel, accommodation, vaccination, and visa. However, note that the scholarship is not meant to cover all costs, but should be an addition to your student grant (e.g. CSN).

Erasmus+:  The scholarship varies depending on your destination and days of travel, but is estimated to 700 Euro per month for cost of living, and 820-1500 Euro for travel costs. The Erasmus+ scholarship should contribute to travel and accommodation. Additional funds may be available for applicants currently receiving disability support at SLU, or students accompanied by their children. 

For both Erasmus+ and MFS

  • The applicant must have an academic supervisor at SLU, and an on-site supervisor in the selected country. These must be requested and confirmed when you apply for the scholarship. The Swedish supervisor is the main supervisor and responsible for the project and the academic supervision. The on-site supervisor in the selected country will help on spot but without being responsible for the academic content. You also need to specify which organisation or University the contact on-site supervisor is affiliated with.
  • The student must carry out degree work at undergraduate or advanced level (candidate or master's level) at SLU with an examiner of the degree work at SLU.
  • The applicant is actively enrolled as a student at SLU and signed up for a degree course.
  • The student has never started an education at postgraduate (PhD) level.

Additional eligibility requirements specific for MFS

  • MFS scholarships are available for Swedish citizens or students who have been registered in Sweden for at least one year.
  • The applicant has a Swedish bank account.
  • The student has not been granted another fund from Sida for the field study period.
  • Before departure, MFS scholarship holders will need to take part in a mandatory preparatory course.

 

 

 

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