Written by Kelsey
09 Feb 2026
If you’re hoping to study in Sweden, chances are you’re searching for scholarships to fund your education. I was in the same boat! Several scholarships are available, through the Swedish Institute and specific universities. Thankfully, I received the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability from the University of Gothenburg. I can only speak to my experience receiving this university-specific scholarship, but know requirements may vary based on the scholarship and university you’re applying to!
What is the Axel Adler Scholarship?
The Axel Adler Scholarship covers the full tuition costs for the duration of your studies at the University of Gothenburg. It is specifically designated for fee-paying international students at GU, for both Master’s and certain Bachelor’s programmes. It is funded by the generosity of the Adlerbertska Scholarship Foundation, Adlerbertska Grant Foundation, and the Swedish Council for Higher Education. The scholarship is in memory of Axel Adler, a businessman and lifelong learner who aimed to support education and research in Gothenburg.
What are the eligibility requirements?
You might be eligible if:
- You are required to pay tuition in Sweden
- You have applied and been admitted to an international, campus-based, and full-time (in-person not virtual) program at the University of Gothenburg
- As of 2026, this applies to all full-time Master’s programmes, but only select full-time Bachelor’s programmes
- You have ranked the University of Gothenburg as your first priority in your University Admissions application.
- You’ve submitted your application to University Admissions, paid the application fee, and documented your study eligibility on-time based on the year’s deadlines.
- Please refer to the University of Gothenburg’s Axel Adler Scholarship requirements, as this is the most updated source of information!
If you are eligible, you’ll receive an email (to the email address on your University Admissions account) inviting you to apply to the scholarship. The email will also contain application instructions. For 2026, eligible students should receive an email around February 10. So be sure to check your email (including your spam folder, just in case!). Again, check GU’s website for the most updated dates and deadlines!
What is the application like?
There are two main elements to the Axel Adler Scholarship application — your CV and Letter of Motivation. You can’t attach any documents to your application. In other words, you have to write both your CV and motivational letter within the application system. Your CV should focus on relevant experience for your degree programme. In the Letter of Motivation, you have the opportunity to express why you deserve to receive the scholarship by highlighting your qualifications.
How does the selection process work? How many recipients are there?
Academic staff will evaluate and rank your application based on your CV and Letter of Motivation, plus your general programme application and academic merits. Generally, one scholarship is awarded for each program. So, this is a quite competitive scholarship! However, for 2026, up to 10 additional scholarships may be awarded to the programmes with the highest number of applicants, depending upon the availability of funds.
What about the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability?
The Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability is a new program, specifically for students admitted to a sustainability-focused Master’s programmes. GU determines which programmes are labelled as sustainability-focused, which is not to be confused with sustainability-related programmes. You can find a list of both here.
To be eligible, you must meet all of the general requirements listed above, plus special requirements that are specific to the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability. Again, you must be studying in a sustainability-focused Master’s programme, as Bachelor’s students are not eligible!
If you are eligible, you can apply to both the general and sustainability Axel Adler scholarships within the same application! However, you can only receive one. The application is the same as the general Axel Adler scholarship, except for one extra question about your focus within sustainability, and why you should receive the scholarship. The selection process is also based on your CV, Letter of Motivation, application to the programme, plus the motivational letter for the sustainability scholarship.
In 2026, 2 to 12 students (across all sustainability-focused programmes) will receive the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability. Unlike the Axel Adler Scholarship, this might not be at least 1 student for each program.
My Experience with the Application
Since my programme is sustainability-focused, I could apply for both the general and sustainability-specific Axel Adler scholarship. In mid-February 2025, I received an email from the Scholarships Office at GU, inviting me to apply and providing instructions. The application was open for about 2.5 weeks. However, GU’s website page provided these questions and word limits, so I could start preparing before the application opened.
I struggled most with the tight word limits. The CV and Letter of Motivation could only be a maximum of 3000 characters each. Under these conditions, you must be very selective about the information you include, and concise in the way you present it. Accurately describing your experience without exceeding the word count can be difficult.
You should write in a way that feels authentic to you, but this is how I approached the motivational letter. I started by describing why I was drawn to the programme and GU. After briefly highlighting my academic qualifications, I used most of my words to describe relevant experiential learning experiences. For instance, I discussed my study abroad, jobs and internships, and leadership positions in student organizations. In my view, hands-on experiences demonstrate a tangible commitment to your values. I was selective about which activities I included, using those that particularly prepared me for the programme.
In my sustainability-focused motivational letter, I took a similar approach. However, I chose to include more sustainability-oriented activities. I used these experiences to clearly establish my interests and focus within the sustainability realm. I tried to differentiate myself by being specific about what I have already done and what I hope to do in the future, and how this programme fit into that journey.
For the CV, I again tried to select the most relevant experience. This is also a good opportunity to include anything that strengthens your application, but you don’t have space to discuss in your motivational letter(s). I couldn’t include everything I did during college, but I had space for a few more leadership roles. I wanted my CV to show that I was a well-rounded person.
My Experience Being an Axel Adler Scholar
Thankfully, I ended up receiving the Axel Adler Scholarship for Sustainability! I got the news in April 2025, which was a huge relief. Besides the obvious benefit of no tuition fees, there are other advantages to being an Axel Adler Scholar. They hosted a fun welcome event for us, where we could meet other recipients. They also plan other informative events and professional development opportunities, like the Axel Adler Mentorship programme. Overall, I’m very thankful to be an Axel Adler Scholar!
Takeaways
While I hope this information was helpful, be sure to check the University of Gothenburg’s website for the most updated information about the Axel Adler Scholarships. Also, what worked for me might not work for you! Stay true to yourself, and be honest about your experiences, skills, and goals for the future. But be sure to take time to think about what is most relevant, given the word limits. Good luck!
