Utrecht University - Bright Minds Fellowship

Bright Minds Fellowship

You get a one-off award of 5,000 EUR or 10,000 EUR towards your master's degree at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. A fellowship is a single grant, not a monthly payment, and it covers your whole master's programme. The selection committee decides which of the two amounts you get. Utrecht University and the Utrecht University Fund pay for it with donations from alumni, and they hand out about 10 fellowships each year.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You have been admitted to a master's programme at Utrecht University.
• Start date: You begin your master's on 1 September 2026.
• Degree level: This is your first master's degree.
• Nationality: You hold an EU or EEA passport, including Dutch.
• Field of study: Open to all master's programmes at the university.
• Grades: You have strong academic results from your previous studies.
• Background: You add to the diversity of the university, for example through your educational path, socio-economic background or cultural heritage. Extracurricular activities, community service and work experience also count.

How to apply

First apply for your master's programme through the OSIRIS online portal. Then log back in, start a new application and answer the Bright Minds Fellowship questions. The portal opens on 1 November 2025 and closes on 1 February at 23:59 CET. Selection starts after the deadline, and results are announced by mid-April.

How realistic are your chances?

With only about 10 fellowships and eligibility open to EU/EEA students across every master's, this is contested. The committee weighs your background and personal story alongside your grades. A clear case for the diversity you bring, backed by real engagement, sets you apart. Apply well before the deadline, because applications sent between 27 January and 1 February cannot be corrected.