The Netherlands is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations for international students seeking high-quality education, diverse cultures, and vibrant student life. With an increasing number of globally recognized institutions, the country offers numerous scholarships that help international students pursue their academic dreams. These scholarships range from fully funded opportunities to partial financial support, covering various expenses, including tuition fees, living costs, travel, and insurance. This article outlines some of the most prominent scholarships available in the Netherlands for the academic year 2026-2027, including details on eligibility, benefits, and the application process.
Overview of Scholarships in the Netherlands
Several Dutch universities offer scholarships aimed at international students, supporting them in obtaining their master’s, MBA, or PhD degrees. Some of these scholarships are fully funded, covering not only tuition fees but also providing allowances for accommodation, health insurance, and travel. Below is a detailed overview of the top scholarships available for international students in the Netherlands.
1. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at TU Delft
The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships are fully funded scholarships for international students pursuing a master’s degree at Delft University of Technology, one of the leading technical universities in the world. This prestigious scholarship provides €30,000 per year, covering tuition fees, living expenses, and other related costs (TU Delft, 2022).
Institution: Delft University of Technology
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: Full tuition, living expenses (€30,000 annually)
Application Process: Detailed steps can be found on the TU Delft website (TU Delft, 2022).
2. Erasmus University MBA Scholarship
The Erasmus University MBA Scholarship offers partial financial support for international students enrolled in the Rotterdam School of Management's MBA program. Scholarships range from a 25% to 50% reduction in tuition fees, making this an attractive option for students seeking world-class business education in Europe (Erasmus University, 2023).
Institution: Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Level of Study: Full-time MBA
Benefits: Up to 50% reduction in tuition fees
Application Process: Application details can be found on the university's website (Erasmus University, 2023).
3. Eric Bleumink Scholarships at the University of Groningen
The Eric Bleumink Scholarships, offered by the University of Groningen, are fully funded scholarships for international students pursuing a master’s degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, international travel costs, living expenses, health insurance, and books, making it an all-inclusive opportunity for students (University of Groningen, 2023).
Institution: University of Groningen
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: Full tuition, travel costs, living expenses, books, and health insurance
Application Process: Detailed instructions are available on the university's scholarship portal (University of Groningen, 2023).
4. Utrecht Excellence Scholarship
Utrecht University offers the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship to outstanding international students pursuing a master's degree. The scholarship covers full tuition fees and provides an additional €11,000 grant for living costs, helping students focus on their academic work without financial strain (Utrecht University, 2023).
Institution: Utrecht University
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: Full tuition and €11,000 for living expenses
Application Process: The step-by-step application process can be found on the Utrecht University website (Utrecht University, 2023).
5. Radboud University Scholarship
Radboud University provides a fully funded scholarship for international students who want to pursue a master's degree in one of their programs. The Radboud Scholarship reduces tuition fees to €2,209, significantly lowering the cost for students (Radboud University, 2023).
Institution: Radboud University
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: Reduced tuition fee (€2,209)
Application Process: Detailed instructions can be found on the university’s official website (Radboud University, 2023).
6. Maastricht University Scholarship
Maastricht University offers a fully funded scholarship for international students pursuing a master's degree. This scholarship provides up to €23,750 for living expenses, €700 for health insurance, €192 for visa application costs, and €16,800 for tuition fees (Maastricht University, 2023).
Institution: Maastricht University
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: Full tuition, health insurance, living expenses (€23,750)
Application Process: The scholarship application procedure can be found on Maastricht University’s website (Maastricht University, 2023).
7. University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship
The University of Amsterdam offers a merit-based scholarship for international students who wish to pursue a master's degree at the university. The scholarship amount varies between €2,000 and €25,000, depending on the program and faculty (University of Amsterdam, 2023).
Institution: University of Amsterdam
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: €2,000–€25,000, depending on the program
Application Process: The application process is outlined on the university’s scholarship page (University of Amsterdam, 2023).
The University of Twente provides a fully funded scholarship for international students wishing to pursue a master's degree. The scholarship offers between €3,000 and €22,000 for one year, with the possibility of renewal for the second year (University of Twente, 2023).
Institution: University of Twente
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: €3,000–€22,000 for one year
Application Process: The application process can be found on the University of Twente's official website (University of Twente, 2023).
9. NL Scholarship
The NL Scholarship is a government-funded initiative offered by the Dutch government to international students pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree in the Netherlands. The scholarship provides a €5,000 contribution toward tuition fees (Holland Scholarship, 2023).
Institution: Participating Dutch universities
Level of Study: Undergraduate/Master’s
Benefits: €5,000 for tuition fees
Application Process: The application steps can be accessed on the official Dutch government scholarship portal (Holland Scholarship, 2023).
10. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LexS)
Leiden University offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship for international students pursuing master’s programs. The scholarship provides an annual grant of €15,000 to help cover tuition fees (Leiden University, 2023).
Institution: Leiden University
Level of Study: Master's
Benefits: €15,000 annually
Application Process: Applicants can follow the application process outlined on the university’s website (Leiden University, 2023).
11. ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students
The ISS Scholarship Fund offers partial funding for international students interested in pursuing a master’s degree at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The scholarship covers up to 40% of the tuition fee (ISS, 2023).
Institution: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Level of Study: Master’s
Benefits: 40% reduction in tuition fees
Application Process: Detailed instructions can be found on the Erasmus University website (ISS, 2023).
12. Facebook PhD Fellowship
The Facebook PhD Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship for international students pursuing doctoral research in the fields of computer science, engineering, or related areas. This fellowship covers the entire duration of the research project, including an annual stipend, tuition fees, and travel expenses for attending conferences (Facebook, 2023).
Institution: Accredited universities worldwide
Level of Study: PhD
Benefits: Full funding for research, annual stipend, and conference travel expenses
Application Process: The application process is available on the Facebook Fellowship Program website (Facebook, 2023).
Conclusion
The Netherlands is a fantastic destination for international students looking to pursue their higher education at world-class universities. With numerous scholarships available, students can benefit from various financial supports, ranging from full funding to partial assistance for tuition and living expenses. Institutions like Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the University of Amsterdam offer competitive scholarships that open the doors to high-quality education and research opportunities. Interested students should carefully review the application requirements and deadlines for each scholarship to ensure a successful application.
Reviewed by GEO BETA
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September 11, 2025
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