Continued support opens doors for more international students
The Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation has an agreement with Uppsala University to contribute nearly SEK 10 million in scholarships for international tuition-paying students. “That we can offer scholarships and welcome ambitious students from around the world is a key to the continued development of our international environment,” says Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson.
In connection with Anders Wall’s 80th birthday in 2011, the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation donated SEK 10 million for scholarships in Wall’s name for non-European students at Uppsala University. Thanks to this support over the years, the University has been able to award scholarships to around 100 students from China.
The Beijer Foundation has now signed an agreement with Uppsala University to continue its support for an additional five years with a total of SEK 9.4 million.
Foundation. Photo: David Naylor
“Sweden is a small country that is dependent on exports, and its success is thanks to its openness to the outside world. That non-European students are given the opportunity to study at Uppsala University contributes to improving our international relations, which benefits both the Uppsala region and Sweden as a whole,” says Anders Wall, chair of the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation.
According to the agreement with the foundation, the University will contribute an equivalent amount over the coming five years.
As previously, the funds will be used for scholarships for non-European students to study
Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes at Uppsala University. Each year, a joint decision will be made on which geographic or thematic areas and which academic levels will have priority in the coming call for applications.
“We are deeply thankful for this generous donation. I usually say that Uppsala University is out in the world and the world is here with us. That we can offer scholarships and welcome ambitious students from around the world is a key to the continued development of our international environment. And this is particularly important in a time when travel and exchange are more difficult,” says Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson.
Anna Malmberg
About scholarships and internationalisation
About tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees were introduced in 2011 for Bachelor’s and Master’s students from countries outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland. The goal was for Sweden to compete with the quality of its programmes and not by offering free education. An unintended consequence was a significant decrease in the number of international Master’s students from countries outside of the EU. Ten years after the reform, the number of international students is once again increasing. But without scholarships, it is difficult for academically talented non-European students with fewer financial resources to come to Uppsala. The scholarships help make it possible for more international students to study at the University.
Facts about Uppsala University’s internationalisation within education
• International student exchanges with close to 500 universities in about 50 countries.
• Over 100 international Master’s programmes in English.
• Four Bachelor’s programmes in English.
• About 750 freestanding courses in English.
• Just over 2,000 tuition-paying international students are accepted annually.
• Total number of tuition-paying students (full-time equivalent) 2019: 833