Delft University of Technology - Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship

Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship

You get full tuition fees for the whole 2-year MSc programme at TU Delft, plus a monthly living allowance for 24 months. The tuition covered is either the statutory or the institutional rate, depending on the nationality you register with. The exact monthly amount is stated in your award letter. As a guide, the foundation mentions first setup costs of around 1,500 EUR. The award comes from the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Foundation, funded from the estate of Justus van Effen, who studied at TU Delft in the 1940s. TU Delft gives out 2 of these scholarships per faculty each year. Flights and separate accommodation costs are not covered, and the funding cannot be extended beyond 24 months.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You apply for a regular 2-year TU Delft MSc programme. International Joint Education Programmes do not count.
• Field of study: Open to most master's programmes. A few are excluded, including Industrial Ecology, Applied Geophysics and The Berlage Post-master.
• Nationality: You are an international student. Both non-EU and EU students can apply. If you hold an EU passport, you cannot claim scholarships meant for non-EU students.
• Where you did your bachelor: You did not earn your bachelor at a Dutch university, and you are not a current TU Delft BSc student.
• New to TU Delft: You have not already started studying at TU Delft.
• Grades: You rank roughly in the top 10% of your graduating group. You do not need to prove a ranking.
• Age: You are no older than 35 on 1 September, the start of your first study year.
• No double funding: You do not hold another full or partial scholarship at the same time.

How to apply

Submit a complete MSc application (diploma, transcript, English language certificate, CV and motivation), plus the Scholarship Application Form and one reference letter. The deadline is 1 December 2026 (23:59 CET) for the 2027-2029 cycle. You do not need to be admitted before the deadline. Faculty selection committees choose the winners after your admission has been assessed positively. Only successful candidates are notified, by email around the end of March 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

TU Delft says it gets far more applications than it can fund. With only 2 full awards per faculty, the competition is real. Grades alone will not decide it: the application asks you to show what makes you an excellent student beyond your marks and how you would contribute to your programme. If you sit clearly at the top of your class, fit the eligibility exactly and write a strong, specific application, you have a genuine shot. Still, treat a place as far from guaranteed and plan your finances in case you are not selected.