The Fully Funded VU Amsterdam Scholarship Program in Netherlands offers talented prospective non-EU/ EEA students the unique opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam isis a public research university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1880. The VU Amsterdam is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The literal translation of the Dutch name Vrije Universiteit is "Free University." "Free" refers to the independence of the university from both the State and the Dutch Reformed Church. Both within and outside the university, the institution is commonly referred to as "the VU." Although founded as a private institution, the VU has received government funding on parity with public universities since 1970. The university is on a compact urban campus in the southern Buitenveldert neighborhood of Amsterdam and adjacent to the modern Zuidas business district.

The university consistently ranks among the top 150 universities worldwide by prominent international ranking tables. As of October 2021, the VU had 29,796 registered students, most of whom were full-time. That year, the university had 2,263 faculty members, researchers, and 1,410 administrative, clerical, and technical employees based on FTE units. The university's annual endowment for 2014 was circa €480 million. About three quarters of this endowment is government funding; the remainder comprises tuition fees, research grants, and private funding.

The Fully Funded VU Amsterdam Scholarship Program in Netherlands covers the tuition fees. VUFP scholarship does not provide any additional allowance towards study or living costs. The scholarship can be granted for a one or two-year Master’s program. The scholarship will only be extended for the second year of the two-year Master’s program if 100% of the credits of the first year have been achieved.

When applying for the VUFP scholarship, you automatically apply for the NL Scholarship. No separate application is necessary.  If granted, the HSP is a contribution towards the costs of living costs – 5.000 EUR or 10.000 EUR for one year. The NL Scholarship is awarded only for the first year of your study program.

The eligibility criteria for the Fully Funded VU Amsterdam Scholarship Program in Netherlands are stated below:

1. You hold a non-EU/ EEA passport and are not eligible for the lower tuition fee.

2. You do not have the Dutch nationality.

3. You can prove your academic excellence (GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8).

4. You are conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master’s program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting September 2024.  Please note that students starting in February cannot apply, and joint programs where VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are excluded from VUFP.

5. The degree with which you are seeking admission has not been obtained in the Netherlands.

6. You do not need to complete a preparatory programme before the start of your Masters.