Application Guidelines

It is a very important requirement for a MFS project;

• that the study is carried out in a country where Sweden conducts development co-operation and,
• is connected to one or more strategies of relevance to Swedish development co-operation in the host country.
  

It is preferred if the project also has a connection to ongoing research or international collaboration at JU. Check JU website for research and ask your academic contact person at the school for advice.

GUIDE: How can I align my MFS project with Swedish development cooperation strategies?

1. Start by choosing a country or region from the list on SIDA 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.
   More about the strategies and how to find them: About MFS: Swedish development 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.
   
   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 connection to JU collaboration and how this project will contribute to the collaboration. (If applicable)

Restrictions

The grant is not made available, or given in favour of third parties included in the EU's Sanction Map External link, opens in new window. of persons, groups and entities subject to financial sanctions.

Check UD travel recommendations

Always consult the travel recommendations from Ministry of foreign affairs recommendation (UD) External link, opens in new window.regarding the safety in your chosen country. If UD does not recommend to travel to the country/regions you chose, then you should prioritize another country/region. Same applies if UD state to avoid all unnecessary travels.
Important! If UD has travel restrictions, it has an impact on the Student OUT insurance and validity!

Tips to identify the topic

• What do you want to work with in the future?
• What development strategy are you most passionate about?
• What topics/questions are of interest for you?
• Can your MFS study raise your merit to work with something specific in the future?
  
• Do you have any country you want to live/work in for a period of time?
• Check the requirements within the syllabus of your thesis course.
• To get inspiration and ideas search for earlier MFS thesis in the database DIVA External link, opens in new window..

Once you find the topic ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the value of writing about this topic?
  
• Is it possible to write about this topic? Ethically, legally and politically? Feasibility (is my plan realistic)?
• Does the project gain the visiting country new knowledge they can use? Does it gain new knowledge to share with stakeholders in Sweden/abroad?

Use the template for project plan! Word, 81.7 kB.

The content that you should focus on is following:

1. Introduction (1 page approx.)
2. Project description (2 pages approx.)
3. Aim (1/2 page approx.)
4. Clearly state the connection to the Swedish development strategies:
   - 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.
5. State the connection to JU collaboration and how this project will contribute to the collaboration. (If applicable)
6. Research methodology (1/2 page approx.)
7. Ethical issues*
   
8. Risk assessment
9. Plan B/C**
10. Budget specifying cost of living, accommodation, transportation, etc.***
11. Identify internal (JU) and external stakeholders and how you plan to share the knowledge.
12. References

*Most of the students' applications get declined because of an ethical issue. If the application concerns an ethically sensitive group of participants, then it might not be granted.

Please observe that in the project plan, the ethics section must contain a reflection on how the project can be applied in and be relevant to the host country. The plan must include an analysis and account of what possible ethical issues / dilemmas the project raises and how these will be handled. This also includes questions about the study's possible local impact, and how, for example, translators or others who assist in the project are affected. It is also important in the project plan to relate to ethical rules and laws that apply in the country where the study is conducted. The project plan must also contain an assessment and balance between any risks and benefits that the project may entail for the persons concerned.

Ethical guidelines
Project participants have an obligation to take into account the ethical guidelines for international employment issued by the Government Offices at any time.

Ethical guidelines for international service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pdf, 4.6 MB, opens in new window.

** Prepare a description of alternative plan B and C that you can use in case something unexpected happens (for example, earthquake situation or take a more realistic example: pandemic), and you will need to change the destination of your MFS. It does not mean you need to prepare the whole project plan for B and C plans but give us a clear, well thought out idea that can work out for you in case of crisis.

*** For budget specification: you can use the web-site of Numbeo. External link, opens in new window.In this world’s largest cost of living database you can easily find the costs you would like to include in your budget.

Recommendation:

The recommendation is to write a rather detailed and elaborated project plan that proves your familiarity with your research topic.

For most of the study programmes, thesis supervisors are not given until the start of the project. In the application process for MFS you then contact the academic contact for your study programme for academic advice regarding the thesis course.

The recommendation is to contact your academic contact/thesis course manager rather early in the process. Do not wait with this step too long.

It is either your academic contact or thesis supervisor who writes the "Supervisor's certificate" to express his/her support for your MFS project plan and application.

Having a contact person in the host country is a requirement and you should receive a written confirmation stating you are welcome to carry through your field study in the host country.

Who counts as a contact person?

Your contact person in the host country can be employed at a governmental authority, Higher Education Institution, organisation or company in the country. They may also represent development projects such as Sida, the UN, NGOs, or similar. However, the contact does not necessarily have to be a part of an organisation. Many students choose to find a contact person themselves through their personal network or through research.

Your contact should be able to help with practical things both before and during your time in the country, such as:

• finding people to interview
• advice on accommodation, travel, transport, permissions
• provide safety information
• write a certificate to confirm

The contact will not receive compensation from Sida or JU for their efforts. Therefore, it is important that you reimburse any expenses agreed by the both of you beforehand, for example for transportation or data collection. Be aware of corruption, which is not accepted.

Certificate of contact person needed

In the MFS application, you need to submit a confirmation from the contact in the field (formal invitation or certificate/contract or an email exchange) showing there is a contact in the country to assist you. The certificate or the invitation letter should include clearly the name of the contact organisation/contact person and your complete name and the preliminary planned time period. If you submit an email exchange, make sure you include both your initial email requesting for a contact person and the contact person's reply confirming the request.
Please note: the confirmation must be submitted in English. If your contact does not speak English, please write a translation in English and attach to the application.

Tips how to find a contact person

• Ask your programme director, academic contact or International Office if they already have contacts or collaborations abroad.
• Do you have friends/family that previously travelled or lived in the country?
• Research various host organisations and make contact.
• Does JU have any cooperation projects you can be part of (maybe through another department)?
• Is there an MFS alumni who has been to the country where you would like to go? Ask the International Office to get in touch.

Recommendations

This step can be tricky, and usually it can take a long time to receive an answer to your e-mail. Try to call if possible.

Make sure you have all the required documents to be uploaded in the application. See Application for the specification of documents.

See the deadlines at the page for Application.

It is not possible to complete the application with a missing document later. Incomplete applications will be declined.

If you are writing your thesis in a pair, submit ONE application per student and mark that you apply together with another student.

In the application you will be asked to upload the Project plan and Invitation letter, which must be identical for both students. The copy of passport, CV, Transcript of records and any recommendations will be individual for each person.

You will receive results through the JU e-mail within 3 approx weeks after the deadline.

After that, the the preparations start. A preparation meeting will be organized for all students who received MFS scholarship.

Students who will be selected for an MFS scholarship find more information about the continuing process at Following process.