The MFS programme is open to all students enrolled at Swedish universities (see list of higher education institutions – UKÄ) who meet the following criteria:

• Planning to write a course project or a degree project at bachelor’s or master’s level;
• Actively enrolled at the university through which they are applying at the time of the application;
• Swedish citizen or been registered in Sweden for at least one year at the time of the application;
• Have never started a doctoral-level programme.

Students must apply through their own university.

Note: Students are only eligible to apply for one MFS scholarship per level of study.

A field study within the MFS program means collecting data for a course project or a degree project in a host country for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks (56 days) and a maximum of 20 weeks. The field study period starts the day you arrive in the host country and ends the day you leave. Please note that you cannot split your field study between multiple countries.

To be eligible for the MFS program, your field study must meet the following requirements:

• Academic relevance: The study must align with your academic program or subject area and meet the necessary academic standards.
• Host country: The field study must take place in a country where Sweden has active development cooperation.
• Strategic alignment: The field study must align with one or more Sweden’s development cooperation strategies in the host country.
• Contact person: You must have a contact person in the host country who can provide support and assistance with the execution of your field study.
• Academic supervisor: Your field study must be supervised by an academic advisor at your Swedish university.
• Final output: The study must result in a course or degree project, which must be written in English.

After Completing the Field Study

Once your field study is completed, you are expected to:

• Submit a participant report.
• Present your project to your class and teacher.
• Take part in any knowledge-sharing activities planned by your university.
• Publish your thesis or degree project in the MFS database (launching in 2025) within one year of your return.

Additionally, you're encouraged to make your study available in the host country in the local language, when possible, for example, in the form of a summary or article.

1. Start by choosing a country or region from the list on Openaid 

• Check if there is an active country strategy for the chosen country.
• If no country strategy exists, consult the relevant regional strategy to understand Sweden’s focus areas for development cooperation in that region.

Read more about strategies and how to find them: 
About MFS: Swedish developemt cooperation.

2. Study the strategy carefully

Read the country or regional strategy thoroughly to understand the prioritized areas and goals for that country or region.

3. Is your project relevant to any of the thematic areas in the strategy?

Evaluate if your project aligns with any of the thematic areas outlined in the strategy.
For example, if you are planning a project in Latin America, refer to the Swedish government’s regional strategy (Strategi för Sveriges regionala utvecklingssamarbete med Latinamerika 2021–2025, in Swedish) which emphasizes human rights, climate, and migration. Read the specific goals under each thematic priority.

4. Align your project with the strategic goals

Ensure that your project is clearly connected to one or more goals within the thematic areas of the strategy.

5. Specify the connection in your application

In your application, clearly state:

• Which country or regional strategy your project is linked to.
• The specific goal(s) within the thematic area that your project addresses.
• Additionally, specify the thematic strategy that provides context for the thematic area in the strategy.
   

The contact person in the host country can represent or be employed by a local authority, university, organization, or company in the country, or by a development project (Sida, UN, NGOs, consultancy firms, or Swedish companies), or similar. The contact person does not need to be affiliated with an organization.

Your contact person should be someone working in your research area who can assist you in identifying and connecting with relevant individuals or organizations for interviews or data collection. They should also be able to support you with practical matters both before and during the fieldwork, such as providing tips on accommodation, transportation, and safety.