VU Amsterdam - VU Fellowship Programme

What you get

Your full Master's tuition fees are waived at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) for the duration of your studies, i.e. one or two years. A scholarship is a merit-based grant for gifted students, and the university allocates around 1 million euros to this scheme each year. If you apply, you will automatically be considered for the NL Scholarship as well. This is a separate, one-off payment of 5,000 EUR or 10,000 EUR to cover your living costs in your first year. Only around 20 to 25 of these scholarships are awarded each year, so not every scholarship holder will receive one. If your Master’s programme lasts two years, the exemption will only apply to the second year if you have successfully completed all the credit points for the first year. As a scholarship holder, you also undertake to act as a student ambassador during your studies and to answer questions online from prospective students. The exemption applies exclusively to tuition fees. Rent, food, insurance and other living costs are not included.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You hold a passport issued by a country outside the EU/EEA, are not a Dutch national and pay the higher (non-EU) tuition fees.
• Where you study: You have been offered a place on a full-time Master’s programme taught in English at VU Amsterdam, starting in September 2026. Programmes starting in February and joint degree programmes to which the VU does not admit you directly are not included.
• Field of study: All Master’s programmes taught in English are eligible – from law and economics to computer science, environmental science and health sciences.
• Grades: Your bachelor’s degree average is at least equivalent to the Dutch mark 8 of 10.
• No Dutch degree: You did not obtain your qualifying qualification in the Netherlands and do not hold a qualification from a Dutch institution.
• Not already here: You are not currently enrolled on a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in the Netherlands.

How to apply

First, apply for your chosen Master’s programme and secure an offer of admission. Then submit the scholarship application form via your personal VU Dashboard, together with your academic transcript and an explanation of your grading scale. The deadline is 1 February 2026, 23:59 (CET). A faculty panel and the central committee will assess applicants on the basis of their grades, motivation, goals and voluntary work. The results are expected to be announced in mid-March 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

The prize is open to students of any nationality and from any subject area, so there is a large pool of applicants. The high academic requirement (equivalent to a Dutch 8) is merely the entry ticket. What sets applicants apart from one another is the assessment of their motivation, future plans and commitment; so a clear, well-reasoned application is just as important as your grades. As a substantial budget is available, your prospects are good if you really stand out – but you should view this as a competition rather than a sure thing.