Maastricht University - UM NL Global Studies Scholarship

UM NL Global Studies Scholarship

You get a full scholarship to study the Global Studies bachelor at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Your tuition fees are paid in full. On top of that you receive a monthly living allowance of about 1,550 EUR, which adds up to 20,150 EUR per academic year, to cover rent, food, transport, phone, books and personal costs. The university also arranges and pays your health and liability insurance, your visa application costs and your pre-academic training. The scholarship runs for 36 months, the full length of the three-year programme. A room is reserved for you for the first half of the first year. For years two and three you find housing yourself. The award covers one student per academic year. It does not pay for flight tickets or a small cleaning fee of about 75 EUR.

Who can apply

• Programme: You are (conditionally) admitted to the Global Studies bachelor at Maastricht University for the 2027-2028 academic year. The scholarship is only for this one programme.
• Nationality: You hold the nationality of a low or middle-income country on the OECD aid-recipient list (for example India, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil or Kenya). You must not also hold a nationality of an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or Suriname.
• First degree: You do not already hold a bachelor's degree or an equivalent higher-education diploma.
• Age: You are 35 or younger on 1 September 2027.
• Financial need: You can show that you cannot pay for the studies yourself.
• Grades: You have strong school results, at least 75% of the maximum grade (for example at least 7.5 out of 10).
• Ambassador role: You are willing to act as a Global Studies and UM ambassador, taking part in at least one information session.
• Visa: You meet the requirements for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit. If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must be valid until at least 2 September 2027.

How to apply

First apply for a study place in Global Studies through Studielink and submit your full admission file by 10 December 2026. Once you have your UM student number, complete the online scholarship application form by 1 February 2027, 23:59. A committee ranks all applications and invites a top five to an online interview. The final decision comes by June 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

This is cut very narrowly: only one scholarship is given per year, it applies to a single bachelor programme, and you must come from an eligible country, show financial need and have top grades. That means a strong but small pool of applicants competing for one place, with an interview deciding it. If you clearly fit every criterion and make a convincing case for both your grades and your need, you have a genuine shot. But with only one award available, the competition is real.