Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund - Utrecht Sylff Scholarship

Utrecht Sylff Scholarship

You receive at least 25,000 USD per year (about 23,000 EUR) if you are a non-EU student, or at least 10,000 USD per year (about 9,200 EUR) if you are an EU student, for up to 12 months. Two-year master's programmes can be extended for a second year. The exact amount varies. This money is a contribution to your travel and living costs while you study in Utrecht. It does not cover the full cost of your studies, so you need other funding on top. The Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) pays the scholarship, and Utrecht University awards it to future leaders in society. About three scholarships are given each year.

Who can apply

• Your background: You are a current student or recent graduate of University College Utrecht (UCU), or of the Bachelor's in Economics and Business Economics at Utrecht University.
• Where you study next: You have been admitted to an international master's at Utrecht University. UCU graduates: in Humanities, Social Sciences or Economics. Economics and Business Economics graduates: at the Utrecht University School of Economics.
• Nationality: You hold a non-Dutch passport and cannot get Dutch state study support ("Studiefinanciering").
• Residence: If you need a Dutch residence permit, you can meet the conditions for one.
• Grades: You have outstanding results in your bachelor's, shown by grades, test scores or publications.
• Leadership: You want to play a leading role in society, locally or globally. You are active outside your studies and work across cultures and subjects.

How to apply

You cannot apply directly. Your faculty nominates you by 1 April. A selection committee then ranks the nominations and sends them to SYLFF at the end of April. SYLFF awards the scholarships in June for a specific master's programme and start date.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut very narrowly: only top graduates of two specific Utrecht programmes qualify. With about three scholarships a year, the field is small but selective. You cannot apply yourself, so your prospects hinge on standing out to your faculty through strong grades and clear leadership. If you fit one of the programmes and can show both, you have a real chance.