Built with a strong economy and multicultural population, the Netherlands is an excellent option for studying undergraduate programs, and master’s and doctorate degrees. The Netherlands is located in Western Europe, and it’s bordered by Germany and Belgium. For years, this country has significantly contributed to different fields such as the economy, science, and other industries.
As of today, the Netherlands has colleges and universities with excellent reputations globally. They offer different programs to cater to the educational needs of every learner. If you’re an aspiring international student in the Netherlands, this country provides numerous resources to support your studies. In this article, we will be looking at the best scholarships in the Netherlands for international students.
We also have included stories of scholarship recipients whom we have stories for! I believe that this will be helpful for those who are seeking those scholarships, so make sure to check them out!
Top Scholarships in the Netherlands
1. NL Scholarship (NL Government Scholarship)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €5,000
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
The NL Scholarship (formerly known as the Holland Government Scholarship) is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, and awarded to students from non-European countries. This scholarship is given to incoming international students as it encourages them to study in the Netherlands and is a one-time scholarship.
To start your scholarship application, check if your chosen Dutch university is on the list of participating universities. Then obtain the admission requirements of your university and program. Usually, these include your previous educational attainments, language requirements, and many more.
2. University of Twente Scholarship (University of Twente)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €3,000 to €22,000 for a whole academic year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The University of Twente Scholarship is given to approximately 50 students (European and non-European students) who have an outstanding academic reputation. This scholarship aims to acknowledge and provide financial assistance to graduate students who excel in their respective programs.
There is a separate application procedure for this scholarship program. To be eligible, you must meet all requirements and should be admitted to a graduate program in the university.
All applications are done online, you’ll receive a confirmation once you submit the requirements and complete the application form. Then, the committee will assess your application, and you’ll be notified when the results are out.
3. PhD Funding (Employment Contracts)
- Scholarship Value: Full Funding – Full Tuition and Living Stipend
- Eligible Degree/s: PhD
Ph.D. students in the Netherlands, and in Europe in general, are considered as an employee, working on projects. You can see this from Moses Ebere, a Ph.D. student in Cognitive Robotics at TU Delft, who states, “My Ph.D. is fully funded (this is common in the Netherlands as PhD are seen as employees on project contracts).”
How it works is that professors get a variety of projects, and after they successfully get the projects, they find Ph.D. students to work on those projects. So, if you apply for Ph.D. in the Netherlands, you will be applying to different projects. It’s quite different from the US and Canada Ph.D. admissions process.
4. Amsterdam Merit Scholarship for Undergraduate Students (University of Amsterdam)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €6,000 (Economics and Business programs), full tuition (Communication Science program)
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
The University of Amsterdam is a public university in Amsterdam, and it has an outstanding reputation in the country and Europe. This public university offers a merit scholarship for excellent undergraduate international students. These are offered to students taking economics, business, and communication science programs.
Every department has different requirements, selection, and application processes. But usually, they will require you to have excellent academic scores in your chosen program. You can submit your application through the admission portal. Alongside your application, you will also be required to submit documents like GPA, results of the English proficiency test, motivation, and recommendation letters.
5. NL High Potential Scholarship (Maastricht University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €30,000 (tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend each academic year)
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Maastricht University‘s NL High Potential Scholarship, one of the best scholarships in the Netherlands for international students, is a combination of the university’s high potential scholarship funded by the Maastricht University and the NL scholarship financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.
This scholarship program offers 24 full scholarships of €30,000 covering tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend each academic year to non-EU students admitted to the master’s program at the university.
To qualify for this scholarship, you should meet the specific admission requirements of your chosen program and have excellent academic grades. Start your application by registering in one of the university’s master’s programs online. You’ll be asked to fill out an application form and submit the required documents.
The International Services Desk will decide the selection of the recipients, and you’ll be notified whether your application is accepted, denied, or shortlisted. If accepted, you’ll be required to attend the university’s three-week Pre-Academic Training.
6. Amandus H. Lundqvist Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition fee waiver worth €19,300 and annual stipend for living costs worth €7,500 (Full scholars)
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Amandus H. Lundqvist Scholarship Program (ALSP) is a prestigious award offered by Eindhoven University of Technology to outstanding international students enrolling in its Master’s programs. Designed for non-Dutch applicants with a strong academic background (typically a minimum GPA of 80%), the scholarship provides partial to full financial support, including a tuition waiver and a living stipend that varies by award level.
We have many stories of recipients who’ve received the Amandus H. Lundqvist Scholarship Program. Check out the story of Satyaki Mallick from India, who completed a Master’s in Data Science & AI at Eindhoven University of Technology!
7. Africa Scholarship Programme (Wageningen University & Research)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: full tuition waiver and living allowance (24 months), visa costs, travel, and other academic costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
Africa Scholarship Programme at Wageningen University & Research is a financial assistance for excellent students from Sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree at the university.
The program aims to contribute to the long-term development of Sub-Saharan Africa by supporting its most talented students, who will return home after graduation and help strengthen their home countries’ economies and societies.
It offers full tuition fees and living expenses for 24 months, visa costs, travel costs, and other academic expenses. The scholarship is sponsored by the Ministry of Education Culture and Science (OCW) and Wageningen University & Research.
8. Radboud Encouragement Scholarship (Radboud University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: full tuition fee, living stipend, visa costs, residence permit, health insurance, and liability insurance
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Radboud Encouragement Scholarship is offered to international students currently enrolled in the university’s graduate programs in the English language. Yearly, 16 recipients are selected for this full-funding scholarship.
This scholarship is highly selective, and the university chooses the recipients based on their academic performance and financial needs. There is a separate application for this scholarship. Applicants are required to submit a CV, scholarship motivation letter, and two reference letters.
9. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full Tuition, Living Expenses
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Program is a prestigious European Union-funded scholarship initiative that supports exceptional international students to pursue integrated Master’s degrees across multiple countries, including the Netherlands. Dutch universities such as the University of Groningen, TU Delft, and the University of Twente participate in various Erasmus Mundus consortia, offering specialized programs in engineering, sustainability, social sciences, and more. The scholarship covers full tuition, travel expenses, installation costs, and a generous monthly stipend for the duration of the two-year program. Students benefit from the opportunity to study in at least two different countries, often beginning or concluding their studies in the Netherlands, gaining not only academic excellence but also cultural and professional exposure across Europe.
We have many stories of recipients who’ve received Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships. Check out stories of Sawera Yaseen from Pakistan who is pursuing an MSc in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems across Spain, Croatia & the Netherlands, Anagha Anilkumar from India who is undertaking a Master’s in Health Management in Aquaculture across Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway & Spain, and Hiba from Morocco who completed a multi-country Erasmus Mundus master’s in sustainability and computer science spanning Italy, Finland & the Netherland!
10. Utrecht Excellence Scholarships (Utrecht University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: full-tuition and cash award
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for Bachelor’s and Master’s that provides financial assistance to students who meet specific criteria. Applicants must come from a non-EU/EEA country and be among the top 10% of their class.
We have many stories of recipients who’ve received the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship. Check out stories of Duong Nguyen from Vietnam who earned a Bachelor’s in Economics and Business Economics funded entirely for three consecutive years, Adriana Figueredo from Paraguay who received a full scholarship to study Master’s in Law and Technology in Europe, and Christian Oliveros from Venezuela who pursued an MSc in Games and Media Technology!
11. VU Fellowship Programme (Free University of Amsterdam)
The VU Fellowship Programme is one of the best scholarships in the Netherlands. It is open to international students studying for a master’s degree at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
This partial funding fellowship will cover full tuition. For those interested, one must be admitted to a master’s program that would be starting on a September opening and must have a GPA equivalent to Dutch 8 to be eligible.
12. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships (Delft University of Technology)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: full tuition waiver and living stipend
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at the Delft University of Technology are awarded to Dutch and international students with excellent academic backgrounds.
The scholarships are awarded to university students who have been accepted for a full-time or part-time master’s degree course. The scholarships cover tuition fees and a living stipend.
13. Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship (University of Groningen)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition fee, costs of international travel, and health insurance
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Eric Bleumink Scholarship at the University of Groningen is an excellent option for international students who are in their graduate studies and are in need of financial assistance. This fund will cover tuition costs, air travel, books, allowance, and health insurance.
However, there is no separate application process for this type of fund, rather, this scholarship is done through a nomination process. Applicants who have received an unconditional offer will have a high chance of being nominated.
The Netherlands promotes a world-class higher education as it is home to renowned scientists, inventors, and other professionals who created a massive impact on the world’s advancement. This country has produced outstanding results and continues to deliver by producing graduates in various educational and research fields.
We hope this article on the Netherlands’ best scholarships was helpful in your future educational journey! If you want to learn more, make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe and Guide to Studying in the Netherlands sections!
