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

Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships

You get a full scholarship for a 2-year master's at TU Delft in the Netherlands. It covers all tuition fees for both years plus a monthly living allowance for 24 months. For students from outside the EU/EFTA the total is around 60,000 EUR (roughly 30,000 EUR per year for tuition and living costs). For EU/EFTA students it is around 28,000 EUR (living costs of roughly 11,500 EUR per year), the difference reflecting the lower tuition rate for EU students. The money comes from the legacy of Justus van Effen, a TU Delft graduate from the 1940s, and is managed by the Delft University Fund. Each year at least 16 full scholarships are awarded, 2 per faculty across all 8 faculties. The first payment arrives in late September or October, so you must be in the Netherlands with a Dutch bank account by then. To keep the funding for the second year, you must pass at least 48 of your 60 ECTS credits (course points) in the first year. The scholarship does not cover flights, visa and residence permit costs, health insurance, or about 1,500 EUR to furnish your housing.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are applying for a regular 2-year MSc programme at TU Delft (not an International Joint Education Programme). A few programmes are excluded, including Industrial Ecology and Applied Geophysics.
• Nationality: You are an international student. If you hold both EU and non-EU nationality and are registered as an EU citizen, you apply under the EU rate.
• Grades: You have excellent results, roughly the top 10% of graduates from your previous programme. You do not need to prove a ranking; this just shows how competitive it is.
• Age: You are no older than 35 on 1 September of your first study year.
• New to TU Delft: You have not already started studying at TU Delft, and you did not earn your bachelor's at a Dutch university. TU Delft bachelor students cannot apply.
• No other funding: You do not hold any other full or partial scholarship during the funding period.

How to apply

Submit a complete MSc application (diploma, transcript, English language certificate, CV). Before the scholarship deadline of 1 December 2026, 23:59 CET, also upload the Scholarship Application Form (max 2 pages) and one reference letter. You do not need an admission decision before the deadline. Faculty selection committees pick the winners, and only successful applicants are notified by email in late March.

How realistic are your chances?

TU Delft states openly that it receives far more applications than it can fund, so this award is highly competitive. With only 2 full scholarships per faculty and a strong focus on top-10% results, you need both excellent grades and a convincing application form that shows what sets you apart. If you clearly fit the criteria, apply as early as possible and make sure every document is in before the deadline, since a late application is not reviewed at all.