Start your study adventure in the Netherlands. Good news! The NL Scholarship is currently open. In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of this scholarship, its benefits, and the step-by-step application process.
The Dutch government offers NL scholarships for international students for the academic year 2026-2027. This scholarship is available for undergraduate and master’s studies and provides the recipient with €5,000, which can be used to cover tuition fees.
The NL Scholarship is accepting applications from non-EEA international students to pursue undergraduate and master’s studies at the Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. The Holland Scholarship is offered by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and is awarded to bright students.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Masters
- Institution(s): Participating research universities and participating universities of applied sciences
- Study in: Netherlands
- Courses Offered: Bachelor’s or master’s programs in eligible fields of study offered by the participating institutions.
- Program Period: The grant is awarded for one year and can only be received once.
- Deadline: February 01, 2026 / May 01, 2026 / June 01, 2026 (The application for the academic year 2026-2027 is now open.)
Participating research universities
Below is an overview of the Dutch research universities participating in the NL Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. You can find the specific closing dates and the fields of study for this academic year on the website of the institution you want to apply to.
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Maastricht University
- Protestant Theological University
- Radboud University
- Theological University Apeldoorn
- University of Groningen
- University of Twente
- Utrecht Theological University
- Utrecht University
- VU Amsterdam
- Wageningen University & Research
Participating universities of applied sciences
Below is an overview of the Dutch universities of applied sciences participating in the NL Scholarship for the next academic year.
- Aeres University of Applied Sciences
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Amsterdam University of the Arts
- ArtEZ Institute of the Arts
- Breda University of Applied Sciences
- Codarts Rotterdam
- Design Academy Eindhoven
- Driestar Christian University
- Fontys University of Applied Sciences
- Gerrit Rietveld Academie
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences
- Hanze University of Applied Sciences
- Hotel School The Hague
- HAN University of Applied Sciences
- HKU University of Applied Sciences
- HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
- HZ University of Applied Sciences
- NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
- Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Saxion University of Applied Sciences
- Thomas More Hogeschool
- University of the Arts, The Hague
- Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
Scholarship Coverage
The NL Scholarship provides the recipient with:
- Scholarship amount: €5,000.
- Please note that this is not a full-tuition scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria for the NL Scholarship
To qualify for the NL Scholarship, candidates must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Required Languages: English
- Eligible Countries: Non-EEA International Students
- You are applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s program at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.
- Your nationality is non-EEA.
- You meet the specific requirements of the institution of your choice. You can find these on the website of the institution. For more, click here.
- You do not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
How to apply for the NL Scholarship?
Please follow the following instructions to avail the NL Scholarship:
- Apply for the NL Scholarship. Click here.
- You can find an overview of participating research universities and participating universities of applied sciences, and selected fields of study.
- Compose a letter of motivation (max. 500 words) to the university, in which you describe why you are a talented student, considering both your academic achievements and extracurricular activities (e.g., voluntary work).
- Indicate in your online application that you are applying for the NL Scholarship and upload your scholarship motivation letter where indicated. The university will contact you to let you know if you have been awarded a scholarship.
Website
To learn more about the NL Scholarship, please visit the official website: