NL Scholarship 2027 in Netherlands | Fully Funded

NL Scholarship provides fully funded awards for highly talented non-EU/EEA master’s students admitted to participating Maastricht University programmes. The NL Scholarship includes tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend, and support with insurance and some costs; 18 full scholarships are available each academic year.

The scholarship programme comprises the UM High Potential Scholarship and the NL Scholarship financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch higher education institutions. Maastricht University’s International Services Desk administers the stipend, insurance arrangements and many scholarship services.

Benefits of NL Scholarship 2027

• Offers 18 full scholarships, including tuition fee waiver and monthly stipend
• Living expenses: €20,150 (13 months) or €38,750 (25 months)
• Health & liability insurance: €700 (arranged and paid by UM International Services Desk)
• Visa application costs: At cost (arranged and paid by UM International Services Desk)
• Tuition fees: At cost (arranged and paid by UM International Services Desk)
• Pre-Academic Training costs: At cost (arranged and paid by UM International Services Desk)
• International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP): At cost for first block only
• Accommodation: a room allocated until 16 July 2028 as part of the scholarship (mandatory)

Eligibility Criteria of NL Scholarship 2027

• You hold a nationality in a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
• You do not have dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• You have applied for admission to a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University for the 2027-2028 academic year and have submitted your application file in full, meeting all admission requirements as stated on the website, before 10 December 2026.
• You meet the specific admission requirements of the UM master’s programme to which you have applied.
• You have never participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Students who have completed exchange programmes in the Netherlands are welcome to apply.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree.
• You are not older than 35 years of age on 1 September 2027.
• You have obtained excellent results during your prior education programmes, as demonstrated by your latest grade transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
• You agree to become an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador during and after your studies, by committing to share your experiences during at least one information session for students and/or other stakeholders.
• You can only submit an application once and for one Scholarship only; all documents must meet the requirements before submission.

How to Apply for NL Scholarship 2027?

• Step 1: Apply for one of the participating master’s programmes at UM via Studielink. You must receive a student ID number to complete the scholarship application.
• Only the master’s programmes in the participating list are eligible for a UM NL-High Potential scholarship.
• You must apply for the master’s programme through Studielink and submit your application file in full meeting all admission requirements by 10 December 2026.
• Step 2: Fill in the application form (log in with your UM account) via the UM scholarship application form and upload required documents. Applications are accepted only via the application form.
• Upload the following documents: Curriculum vitae (max two A4 pages), Letter of motivation (use provided template), Proof of academic excellence (transcript showing GPA of 7.5/10 or higher and document explaining grade system), Personal statement of financial needs, A reference letter (dated no earlier than February 2026) and the contact details of one referee.
• By the scholarship deadline of 1 February 2027 you must have met all registration requirements (except legal residence, tuition payment & hard copy of a diploma).
• You need to ensure any programme handling fee (if required) is paid by 10 December 2026; UM International Services Desk does not cover handling fees.
• You can only submit your application once; documents cannot be added or replaced after submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the NL Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply for the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship.