Tilburg University - FIDERH - Tilburg University – FIDERH Tuition Fee Waivers

What you get

You can take out a up to 200,000 Mexican pesos per year (about 9,700 EUR) to fund a master’s or PhD programme at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. This is a low-interest student loan, not a grant that you can keep for free. It covers tuition fees, living costs and health insurance. FIDERH, a fund managed by the Mexican Central Bank on behalf of the federal government, provides the funding.

Master’s degree programmes are funded for 9 to 24 months; doctoral studies are funded for up to 38 months. Repayment begins 12 months after completion of your studies and is made in 40 quarterly instalments over a period of 10 years. The interest rate is 0.75 of the Central Bank’s average monthly interest rate (CPP). If repayments are made on time, it may be reduced to 0.25 CPP. The loan may be fully waived if you are working full-time in research, teaching or the civil service in Mexico – outside Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Mexican national, whether by birth or by naturalisation.
• Age: You are 50 or younger.
• Degree so far: You already hold a Bachelor’s degree, an ‘especialidad’ qualification or a Master’s degree with a grade point average of at least 7.8.
• Admission: You have received a firm offer of admission from Tilburg University, or have already commenced your studies there, and have at least 6 months remaining until you complete your degree. Your degree programme must commence no later than 11 months after you have submitted your application documents.
• Field of study: Any subject area is eligible. Programmes delivered entirely online and courses lasting less than 9 months are not eligible for funding.
• Language proof: You hold a language certificate obtained within the last 2 years (for English: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English and others).
• Guarantor: You have a Mexican guarantor (Aval) aged between 18 and 68, who lives in Mexico, can provide proof of income and is not submitting an application to FIDERH themselves.

How to apply

First, secure your place at Tilburg University. Then register on the FIDERH website (banxico.org.mx) and apply during one of the 2 to 3 application rounds that FIDERH offers each year. FIDERH will review your application and, if approved, enter into a loan agreement with you.

How realistic are your chances?

This offer is aimed exclusively at Mexican nationals studying abroad who meet certain academic criteria and the requirements regarding a guarantor; the number of eligible applicants is therefore limited. If you can demonstrate the required grade point average, have been admitted to Tilburg University, have a valid guarantor and apply during an open application round, your chances are good. Please note that awards are subject to the availability of funds. This is a loan that you will have to repay; you should therefore carefully consider the repayment terms before committing to it.