OpenFieldSLU Scholarship for Non-EU/EEA Master's Students (Full Tuition Waiver)
SLU's premier merit-based scholarship for fee-paying international students admitted to English-taught Master's programs in Environmental Science, Forestry, and Plant Biology.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet)
Established in 1977 through the merger of Sweden's historic veterinary, forestry, and agricultural colleges, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet - SLU) is a world-class life sciences research powerhouse. Consistently ranked by QS as #3 in the world in Agriculture and Forestry, SLU develops sustainable solutions for biological natural resources, planetary boundaries, veterinary medicine, and renewable bio-based economies. With campuses in Uppsala, Alnarp, and Umeå, SLU doctoral candidates are employed as salaried academic staff members under Swedish collective agreements with zero tuition fees. Explore verified graduate degrees, fully salaried PhD programs, and world-class faculty profiles.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
SLU Salaried Doctoral Position (PhD) in Boreal Forest Ecology and Carbon Sequestration
Four-year full-time doctoral research employment contract based at SLU Umeå investigating boreal forest management regimes, soil organic carbon stabilization, and greenhouse gas fluxes.
SLU Master of Science (MSc) in Plant Biology for Sustainable Production
Two-year research-embedded Master's curriculum at the Uppsala BioCenter, preparing students for leading international PhD programs in plant molecular biology and crop breeding.
SLU Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Food Systems
Two-year multidisciplinary degree examining resilient agricultural production, food processing life-cycle analysis, dietary transition policies, and sustainable consumer behavior.
SLU Postdoctoral Researcher in Forest Pathology & Fungal Genomics
Two-year postdoctoral position at the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology in Uppsala investigating invasive tree pathogen virulence mechanisms.
SLU Svartberget Field Station Summer Traineeship in Hydrology & Biogeochemistry
Six-week research placement at the Krycklan Catchment Study in northern Sweden measuring stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC), hydrological flow pathways, and riparian buffer effectiveness.
SLU Senior Bioinformatician / Research Engineer in Agricultural Metagenomics
Full-time scientific staff role at the Department of Molecular Sciences analyzing soil and rhizosphere microbiome sequencing datasets to enhance sustainable plant disease suppression.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Completed Bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS) in biology, environmental science, agronomy, forestry, or related natural science discipline from an internationally recognized university.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- University degree at advanced (Master's) level comprising at least 240 ECTS credits (including at least 60 credits at advanced level) with demonstrable scientific methodology training.
- Language proficiency
- English 6 equivalent: Academic IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT 90 (minimum 20 in written test); required for all non-native English speakers.
- Research statement / Proposal
- For doctoral positions, an individual study plan (ISP) formulated with the designated principal investigator based on an established research project description.
- Application fee
- SEK 900 international application fee paid to University Admissions Sweden (antagning.se); SEK 0 application fee for doctoral salaried employment positions.
- Required documentation
- Certified bachelor's transcripts, degree diploma, curriculum vitae, documentation of relevant field/laboratory experience, and two academic referee letters.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
In Sweden, doctoral education is 100% free of tuition fees for all students regardless of citizenship. Furthermore, SLU doctoral candidates are hired on fully funded salaried employment contracts (doktorandanställning) under Swedish collective agreements, receiving a starting salary of approximately SEK 32,000 to SEK 36,000 per month with full healthcare, parental leave, and pension benefits. For Master's students, SLU and Swedish Institute scholarships cover 100% of tuition fees.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences:
Dr. Dan Binkley
Honorary Professor of Forest Ecology & Former Editor-in-Chief of Forest Ecology and Management; specializing in Forest Nutrition, Biogeochemistry, Ecosystem Ecology.
Dr. Ove Nilsson
Professor of Forest Genetics & Director of the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC); specializing in Flowering Time Control, FT Gene, Tree Dormancy.
Dr. Sara Hallin
Professor of Soil Microbiology & Chair of Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology; specializing in Nitrogen Cycle, Denitrification, Soil Microbiome.
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences documentation reviewed 2026-10-14. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-14 · Editorial standards · Report an issue