het Cultuurfonds Muziekbeurs

het Cultuurfonds Muziekbeurs

You receive up to 25,000 EUR to fund a master's programme at a music conservatoire (a specialist music college) abroad. The grant covers at most half of your total budget, so the exact amount depends on your costs and how long you stay. It pays for rent, living costs, tuition fees and one return trip. You can apply for one or two academic years. For a two-year master you can request the full grant. The money comes from het Cultuurfonds, a private Dutch foundation in Amsterdam.

Who can apply

• Your studies so far: You are about to graduate from a Dutch conservatoire, or you graduated from one within the last 3 years (bachelor or master).
• Where you go: You apply for a full-time programme abroad, outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and you will live in that country.
• Nationality or residence: You are Dutch, or you have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 years.
• Timing: From July, your programme still has at least 1 full academic year to run. You may already have started, but the grant is never paid for time already passed.
• First-time only: You have not received a Cultuurfonds grant before.
• Your plans: You intend to contribute to the Dutch music scene after your studies.

How to apply

You apply through the online portal between 1 February and 1 April (deadline 1 April, 23:59). Only complete applications are considered, but you may send your diploma and proof of admission later. An advisory committee reviews all applications in early June. You hear the result in writing about three weeks after their meeting.

How realistic are your chances?

The pool is narrow: you must be a Dutch-trained conservatoire musician heading abroad for a master's, so far fewer people compete than for an open scholarship. Still, the foundation says it receives more applications than the budget allows, so a strong motivation letter, portfolio and references matter. If you clearly fit the criteria and make a convincing case for your programme, your prospects are good.