Stichting Jo Kolk Studiefonds - Jo Kolk Studiefonds grant

Jo Kolk Studiefonds grant

You get a one-off payment of up to 4,000 EUR. This is a single contribution, not a monthly stipend, and the exact amount is set for your situation. How much you get depends on your category:

• Master's students (Category A): up to 1,000 EUR for a study or research project abroad, or for master's-level courses at a foreign institution.
• PhD students (Category B): up to 4,000 EUR for research abroad as part of a doctorate. For combined MD/PhD tracks, up to 2,000 EUR.
• Women returning to work (Category C): an amount set individually for a course or training that helps you re-enter the job market after a break.

The fund is a Dutch foundation set up from the estate of Johanna Maria Kolk to help women finish or extend their education.

Who can apply

• Gender: You are a woman.
• Nationality: You have Dutch nationality.
• Where you study: You do your degree or doctorate at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences. For categories A and B, the funded activity itself takes place abroad.
• Financial need: You cannot cover the full cost yourself, and you show this with a budget and a funding plan. Master's students must also borrow the maximum available through the Dutch student loan body (DUO), or explain why they cannot.
• VVAO membership: For categories B and C, you are a member of the VVAO, the Dutch association of women with a higher education.
• What is not funded: medical clerkships, bachelor-level courses, a full master's programme abroad, summer schools, conference visits, postdoc projects, thesis printing costs and general living costs.

How to apply

You email the foundation one combined PDF (max 6 MB), using the official form for your category. There are two deadlines a year: 15 May for activities starting between 1 July and 31 December, and 15 November for those starting between 1 January and 30 June. The deadlines are strict, so anything arriving on 16 May or 16 November or later is not considered.

How realistic are your chances?

The fund is narrow (Dutch women only, studying at a Dutch institution, with proven financial need), so the applicant pool is smaller than for open scholarships. Even so, demand outstrips the budget: in 2023 the foundation approved 46 of 92 applications and rarely pays the full maximum. If you clearly meet the criteria, submit a complete budget and apply on time, your prospects are reasonable, but expect less than the headline figure.