Funding and financing
Most doctoral students are employees at SU and receive salary and other standard benefits of employment. There is also the possibility to apply for various scholarships and grants during the studies.
Doctoral students are employees
In most cases, the doctoral student is employed at the department where they have been admitted. This means that they receive a salary and other standard benefits of employment. There is even the possibility to extend the period of studies by working with teaching or administrative tasks within the department, up to 20% of a full-time position, which can result in a full extra year of employment as PhD student.
However, it is possible to pursue doctoral studies at Stockholm University with an external scholarship or a special agreement with a company or other external employers. In these special cases, the doctoral student will only be subject to the employer's specific conditions and will be considered solely a student at Stockholm University.
Scholarships and grants
Scholarships from various donation funds are announced in mid-March each year and travel grant from Liljevalch/Augustinsson's scholarship funds at the end of January.
Applications for these scholarships are open in connection with the call, please see each scholarship below for more information about that particular scholarship and link to the application.
C F Liljevalch J:ors stipendiefond
Travel grants for PhD students of the Faculty of Science. These grants are awarded annually and the call for applications occurs in January each year.
The travel grant can be awarded to those who are not yet 35 years old at the time of the application deadline and who have been registered at Stockholm University for at least two semesters (the present semester excluded). Only applications from PhD students will be considered. The grant is primarily awarded in regard to the applicant’s scientific achievements and the purpose of travel.
There is a total of 220 000 SEK at disposal 2025. No grant will be less than 3 000 SEK.
Klas-Bertil och Margareta Augustinssons stipendiefond
Travel grants for PhD students of the Faculty of Science. These grants are awarded annually and the call for applications occurs in January each year.
The travel grant can be awarded to those who are not yet 30 years old at the time of the application deadline and who are PhD students in the area of Biochemistry. There is a total of 290 000 SEK at disposal 2025.
Anna Ahlströms och Ellen Terserus stiftelse
The Foundation offers one- and two-year scholarships to women for studies at the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences at Stockholm University.
Donation scholarships
These scholarships are intended for students who are registered at Stockholm University at the time of application and who intend to remain so the following academic year.
All faculties prioritize PhD students when awarding scholarships. The Faculty of Law has chosen to also give priority to students who are planning exchange studies at non-European universities.
The scholarships are awarded annually and the call for applications occurs in March each year.
Erasmus + grants
Students who go on exchange through Stockholm University via Erasmus+ are granted a scholarship for physical mobility. You apply for the scholarship as soon as you have been admitted to a partner university.
PHD students also have the opportunity to participate in a short term mobility for example to study a course, do a dissertation preparation activity or conduct a traineeship. The physical part must be between 5 and 30 days and a virtual component is optional. PHD students participating in a short term mobility can apply for an Erasmus grant.