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Steve spent five years preparing for a fully-funded scholarship that would change his life. In 2025, he received the Swedish Institute Scholarship, and his life changed forever. In this story, he shares how he did it.
Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?
I currently live in Sweden. I left Nigeria on August 19, 2025.
Oh wow! Congratulations.
Thank you!
What was life like for you before leaving Nigeria?
I was in Lagos, but most of my friends weren’t. I came to Lagos in 2023 to resume a job. Later, I took on the role of Social Media Manager for Tera Academy for the Arts, which is owned by Terra Kulture and Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions.
Then, sometime in December 2024, I was promoted to Head of Communications and Marketing. That was the role I held until I left. Most of my social interactions were with the few friends I had in Lagos and through work-related activities. Terra Kulture is a cultural hub, so there were always opportunities to interact and socialise with people there.
Sounds like you have a good life. What inspired you to apply for the Swedish Institute Scholarship, and how did you hear about it?
Honestly, I was inspired to apply because I wanted to further my education in communications and marketing. Before applying for the Swedish Institute (SI)Scholarship, I had already started a course with the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK. While I was on that, I decided I wanted to pursue a full master’s degree in communication, with marketing attached to it.
I first heard about the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals on December 29th, 2019. From that moment, I started working towards it because I wanted to take one shot and make it count. So, I spent the next five years putting the pieces together to make sure I was ready. From October 2024 to February 2025, I made my application, and it was successful.
That’s amazing. What helped improve your chances?
I got it on my first attempt, and the most important thing that helped me was research. There’s no substitute for that. Applying for the SI Scholarship requires a lot of personal work because it’s your story; no one can tell it for you.
I spent years reading every page on their website, watching thousands of hours of YouTube videos, and gathering resources. It’s a very competitive scholarship; they receive over 9,000 applicants every year and only select 2–3%. So, I studied every cycle, looked at what successful applicants did differently, and refined my approach year after year until I was ready to apply.
Can you walk me through the step-by-step process, especially for people who want to apply?
The Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals is not like other scholarships; it’s targeted at professionals who have worked in their fields and made an impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The process starts with an application for admission to a Swedish university. You need to first gain admission before being considered for the scholarship. The entire process begins every October.
I started my university application in October 2024. By November, the scholarship board (which is separate from the university) releases the application documents so you can start preparing.
You select your courses by January 15th, which is the deadline. Then, in the first week of February, university admissions close. By the second week of February, the SI Scholarship application officially opens, and you only have two weeks to submit your application.
By late March, university admission results are released. In my case, I got my first-choice admission at Lund University. Then, by late April, the scholarship results come out. That’s when you know if you’ve been awarded funding, and from there, you can start planning your travel to Sweden.
What advice would you give to people applying this year? Any tips you wish you had known earlier?
My biggest advice is: do the work yourself. I get people asking me to help them apply or even offering to pay, but I’m not an agent, and even if I were helping, I wouldn’t charge. My advice is always: go back and do the research.
Be committed to it. I won’t tell anyone to put all their eggs in one basket, like I did; it worked for me, but it might not work for everyone. Another thing: read between the lines. English isn’t the first language for the Swedes, so some instructions might be worded in a way that could confuse you.
Pay close attention to every single detail because I almost made a mistake with the work experience section, which is crucial. They’re very strict with instructions. There are no second chances or late submissions. If you miss something, you’ll have to wait till next year.
You got the scholarship on your first try. What do you think you did exceptionally well that made them say yes?
I put together a very strong application. I provided everything they asked for and more. I also had a supportive organisation behind me, Tera Academy for the Arts.
For example, one of the requirements is to prove that you’ve worked for at least 3,000 hours — full-time, part-time, or freelance. Many people struggle with that because they don’t provide the proof in the format the Swedish Institute wants. People also make mistakes with document stamps, reference letters, or even the order of names.
I ensured every detail was correct and every document followed instructions. Scholarship applications are competitions, so you must put your best foot forward. Read everything carefully and present your experiences — work, leadership, documents — exactly as instructed.
You’ve mentioned a few times that English isn’t their first language. What’s it like living in a country where people speak a different language?
They speak Swedish, but everyone I’ve met so far also speaks English. You can live comfortably in Sweden without speaking Swedish.
However, if you plan to integrate into society by volunteering, working part-time, or building relationships, learning Swedish helps. They even have a program called Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) that makes it easy to learn. So, you don’t need to speak Swedish to live here, but if you want to truly belong, it’s good to learn.
What’s it like studying there, especially since most Nigerians go to the UK or the US?
The education system here is excellent. They take honesty seriously. For example, if a website doesn’t have an updated picture of a building, they’d rather not post it than mislead people. That’s how serious they are about accuracy and integrity.
The same values reflect in their schools. The resources, facilities, and lecturers are top-notch and very responsive. They’re also informal; you call professors by their first names, and they make sure you feel comfortable and included. There’s no discrimination in resource allocation, and they emphasise sustainable, progressive learning. Everything is world-class. The only thing they don’t joke with is plagiarism; it’s treated almost like a crime. So, everyone is careful about academic integrity.
Could you share exactly what you’re studying and how you chose it?
Sure. Selecting my course was a two-step process. First, I had to find a course that the Swedish Institute was willing to sponsor because not every course qualifies. Every year, they release a list of about 700 eligible courses.
After finding the eligible courses, I had to check if I was qualified by asking myself questions like, do I have the background, the credits, and relevant experience? I wanted something heavy on communication but also covering marketing, PR, advertising, crisis communication, and brand strategy. I found all that in the Strategic Communication course at Lund University.
For anyone applying, don’t just pick any course. Make sure it’s one sponsored by the scholarship, or you might not be able to afford it.
Do you see yourself staying in Sweden after your studies?
Not necessarily, but all options are on the table. One of the main goals of the scholarship is for us to go back and contribute to our home countries. The future is still about 20 months away, but I definitely want to give back in whatever capacity I can.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in Sweden?
I’d say ten. People talk about the “honeymoon phase” when you first arrive, but it’s been two months, and I’m still very happy. The system works for everyone.
There are things I didn’t even realise should just work until I experienced them here. Everything is organised, people are cared for, and the environment makes life easier. There’s really a lot to be happy about.
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