Karolinska Institutet Postdoctoral Scholarship 2026
About this scholarship
Karolinska Institutet Postdoctoral Scholarship supports international postdoctoral researchers undertaking research training at KI in Sweden, typically for up to two years after a doctorate.
Karolinska Institutet Postdoctoral Scholarship is a scholarship-based postdoctoral research opportunity offered by Karolinska Institutet (KI), one of Sweden’s leading medical universities. It is designed to support postdoctoral qualification and advanced research training for international researchers coming to Sweden to work in KI research groups.
The programme is used across a wide range of KI departments and projects, especially in medicine, biomedicine, neuroscience, immunology, public health, bioinformatics, and related life-science fields. Awards are typically granted for 12 months at a time, with payments made on a six-month basis, and many postings state that the scholarship can be held for a maximum of two years within a four-year period after the doctoral degree. The scholarship amount is generally described as tax free.
Based on the referenced KI postings, this scholarship is primarily intended for foreign researchers coming to Sweden for postdoctoral studies. Several postings explicitly note that people resident in Sweden, or those who have completed all or part of their academic education at KI or another Swedish institution, are not eligible for these scholarship-based postdoctoral appointments. Applicants are usually expected to hold a PhD or equivalent doctorate, or to have completed all doctoral requirements before the intended start date.
Funding is offered as a stipend rather than salaried employment, so applicants should review the terms of each specific advertised position carefully. Coverage usually centers on the postdoctoral stipend itself rather than a broad package of benefits. Opportunities are hosted at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, often tied to a specific lab, department, or research project. Applications are normally submitted through KI’s recruitment system when individual scholarship-based postdoctoral positions are advertised.
If you are an early-career researcher with a completed doctorate and a strong fit for a KI research group, this programme can provide a valuable route to pursue internationally focused postdoctoral training in Sweden.
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Applicants must normally hold a PhD or equivalent doctorate, or complete all degree requirements before the intended start date. The scholarship is intended for foreign researchers coming to Sweden for postdoctoral education at Karolinska Institutet. Multiple postings state that individuals resident in Sweden, or those who have completed all or part of their academic education at Karolinska Institutet or another Swedish institution, are not eligible. Subject-specific research experience is required for each advertised project.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Language requirements
Good proficiency in spoken and written English
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting Karolinska Institutet Postdoctoral Scholarship.
