Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science - NL Scholarship

NL Scholarship

You get a one-off payment of 5,000 EUR, paid in the first year of your studies at a Dutch university. It helps international students from outside Europe pay for a bachelor's or master's in the Netherlands. The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science funds it together with several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. Note that this does not cover your full tuition; it lowers your costs rather than paying for everything.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You hold citizenship of a country outside the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
• Degree: You are applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme.
• Where you study: You apply to one of the Dutch universities in the scheme. The list of participating universities changes each year.
• No previous Dutch degree: You have not already earned a degree at an institution in the Netherlands.
• Admission: You meet the entry requirements of the university you choose.

How to apply

There is no central application. You apply directly to the participating Dutch university where you want to study. Each university sets its own deadline and its own fields of study. Check the website of your chosen university for the exact closing date. The round for the 2026-2027 academic year opened on 1 November 2025.

How realistic are your chances?

Eligibility is broad. Any non-EEA nationality can apply, and most fields of study across many Dutch universities qualify. So the applicant pool is large and each university offers only a limited number of awards. Because every university runs its own selection and deadline, apply early to a university where you clearly meet the entry requirements. Meeting the academic bar for your programme matters more than the scholarship criteria themselves.