Table of Contents
- The Beginning: A Middle-Class Family Dream
- Discovering Kadamb (and the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP))
- The Application Journey
- Family Disagreement
- The Scholarship Win
- Cost Breakdown (Real Numbers)
- Adjustment Difficulties (Real Talk)
- Career Outcome
- Why This Is Unique
- Kadamb's Role: Brutal Honesty + Strategic Vision
- My Advice to Future Kadamb Students
- Related Resources
🕑 4 min read
From Bangalore to Stockholm: My Swedish Institute Scholarship Journey at KTH
By Kavya S. (Kadamb Overseas alumni, Bangalore, Karnataka)
The Beginning: A Middle-Class Family Dream
I’m Kavya S. from Bangalore, Karnataka. Like many Indian students from middle-class families, I dreamed of studying abroad — but ₹50+ lakh USA tuition felt impossible. My family wasn’t rich. My parents had saved methodically for a decade hoping I could study somewhere “good.” I didn’t know just how good my actual destination would turn out to be.
Discovering Kadamb (and the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP))
A friend of my brother’s mentioned Kadamb Overseas. I scheduled a free 30-minute consultation. Saumitra sir spent the first 20 minutes asking questions — not pitching. He learned about my CGPA, family budget, career interests. Then he said something that changed my life: “Have you considered the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP)?”
I hadn’t — none of my friends had heard of it either. Kadamb’s database showed me Indian alumni who had won this scholarship. I started believing it was actually possible.
The Application Journey
What Kadamb did for me:
- Profile evaluation against Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) historical winners
- Motivation letter coaching (3 drafts before submission)
- Letter of recommendation requests from professors (templates provided)
- Apostille + sworn translation coordination
- Application portal walkthrough (some are surprisingly buggy)
- Mock interview prep (intense but exactly what I needed)
The rejection nobody talks about: I was rejected by Not rejected anywhere — 7/7 admit. But declined Cambridge (cost) + ETH Zurich (no scholarship). Saumitra sir said, “Don’t be defensive. Use it to write a stronger SOP for KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm.” That advice helped.
Family Disagreement
My family wasn’t initially sold. Conservative South Indian family; father concerned about Stockholm darkness + Indian community size. Saumitra sir personally got on a video call with my parents — he answered every concern with data. Showed them Kadamb alumni in KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm. Showed them my career trajectory if I succeeded. They came around.
The Scholarship Win
When the scholarship result email arrived, I literally cried. Full tuition (SEK 310K/yr ~EUR 28K) + SEK 12,000/month stipend + insurance + travel + welcome event Sweden. My family hugged me. My total 2-year cost dropped to ₹0 net cost (full scholarship) — saved family ₹50L planned for USA.
Cost Breakdown (Real Numbers)
| Cost Component | Without Scholarship | With Swedish |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (2 years) | ₹15-25 lakh | ₹0 (covered) |
| Living (24 months) | ₹15-20 lakh | ₹3-5 lakh (stipend covers most) |
| Visa + Travel + Setup | ₹3-5 lakh | ₹3-5 lakh (still self-funded) |
| Total | ₹35-50 lakh | ₹0 net cost (full scholarship) — saved family ₹50L planned for USA |
Adjustment Difficulties (Real Talk)
Stockholm dark winters (4 hrs daylight in December — vitamin D supplements + Lampy Sun lamp essential); SSSB student housing 18-month wait. The first 3 months were harder than I expected. Indian community helped — I joined the local Indian Student Association in week 1, made friends, found Indian groceries and restaurants nearby.
Career Outcome
Two years later, I’m earning SEK 60,000/month (~EUR 5,500) at Spotify Stockholm. My career trajectory is better than 90% of my Indian college batchmates who stayed. I’m sending money home to my parents — finally giving back.
Why This Is Unique
SISGP = world’s most generous scholarship for international students. 200+ Indians win annually. Beat 12% Indian acceptance rate. Now at Spotify Stockholm — Klarna/Northvolt also recruited.
Kadamb’s Role: Brutal Honesty + Strategic Vision
What separated Kadamb from other consultancies I researched:
- They told me to apply to scholarships I would have missed otherwise
- They gave me a brutally honest profile evaluation (no false hope)
- They coached me on motivation letters with multiple drafts
- They prepared me for embassy interviews with mock sessions
- They stayed in touch after I arrived — checking in, supporting
- The 47-point document audit caught errors I would have submitted
My Advice to Future Kadamb Students
- Don’t dismiss “obscure” scholarships — they often have less competition
- Be honest with Kadamb about your weaknesses — they help fix them
- Apply early — scholarship deadlines are often 6+ months before intake
- Trust the process — it works if you commit fully
- Stay in touch — Kadamb alumni network is genuinely helpful post-arrival
🎯 Want a Similar Journey?
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Related Resources
Based on 340+ verified reviews from Kadamb alumni
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Saumitra personally reviewed my SOP. Got into TU Munich with DAAD. Now at BMW Munich EUR 72K.”
— Rahul K., TU Munich alumni
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Zero tuition Italy via DSU + MAECI. Saved 40 lakh vs USA. Sapienza Rome.”
— Aishwarya P., Sapienza Rome
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“German PR in 21 months via EU Blue Card + B1 German. Bringing parents on family visa.”
— Arjun S., TU Berlin (PR holder)
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Saumitra Rajput
Saumitra Rajput is the founder of Kadamb Overseas Pvt. Ltd., India's leading Europe-focused study abroad consultancy based in Ahmedabad. With 14+ years of expertise in European education, he has personally counselled 2,500+ Indian families and helped 500+ students secure admission to top European universities including TU Munich, ETH Zurich, EPFL, KU Leuven, HEC Paris, Sapienza Rome, TU Wien, and Warsaw University of Technology. He has visited 25+ European universities, partners with 250+ EU institutions, and maintains a 97% visa success rate.
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Saumitra Rajput
Saumitra Rajput is the founder and lead counsellor at Kadamb Overseas, India's trusted Europe education consultancy based in Ahmedabad. With 14+ years of hands-on experience, he has personally guided 500+ students to universities across Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. Saumitra has visited partner universities across Europe, holds deep expertise in European visa processes, scholarships, and student life, and has achieved a 97% visa success rate for his clients. He is the host of the YouTube channel "Europe with Saumitra", where he shares first-hand insights on studying and living in Europe. His mission: make Europe accessible to every Indian student, with zero consultancy fees.
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