Tilburg University Waiver

Tilburg University Waiver

You get a 50% cut of the institutional tuition fee for a one-year Master's programme at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, starting in September. The reduction lasts for your full programme. There are 21 waivers for the 2027-2028 year, split across the university's schools: 6 in Economics and Management, 6 in the Law School, 2 in Social and Behavioral Sciences, 6 in Humanities and Digital Sciences, and 1 in Catholic Theology. The two-year Master in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence also qualifies, including its two tracks in AI for Psychological Research and in AI and Cybersecurity. The waiver aims to open postgraduate study to talented graduates from under-represented regions. Note that you still pay the other 50% of the fee, the Dutch immigration (IND) fee, and must prove you can cover your living costs.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You hold a non-EEA nationality (that is, not from the European Economic Area).
• Where you studied: You completed your most recent degree, or will complete it before the Master's starts, in one of roughly 60 eligible countries. The list covers much of Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of Eastern Europe, including India, China, Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ukraine, Turkey and Vietnam.
• Programme: You apply to a regular one-year Master's at Tilburg, or the two-year Cognitive Science and AI Master. Research Master's and Pre-Master's programmes do not qualify.
• First Master here: This is your first Master's at Tilburg University.
• Direct admission: You are admitted straight into the Master's, not through a Pre-Master's route.
• Intake: You start in September. The February intake is not covered.
• No other fee funding: You hold no other scholarship or waiver that covers part or all of your tuition.

How to apply

Submit a complete application for your chosen Tilburg Master's programme by 1 April 2027, and fill in the separate Tilburg University Waiver form by the same date. You hear the result by 1 June 2027. If more eligible applicants apply than there are waivers, recipients are chosen by random draw among those admitted to a Master's.

How realistic are your chances?

There are only 21 waivers, and eligibility is limited to non-EEA graduates from a fixed list of countries, so the pool is narrower than for open scholarships. The final selection is a random draw among all admitted eligible applicants, not a merit ranking. So your real task is to secure Master's admission and file both forms on time. After that, luck decides. Getting your admission confirmed early keeps you in the draw, including the reserve round.