NL Scholarships for BS and MS 2026-2027: Study in the Netherlands

Applications are now open for the NL Scholarship 2026-2027, offering international students from outside the European Economic Area an excellent opportunity to pursue their bachelor’s or master’s degree in the Netherlands. This scholarship provides €5,000 in financial support during your first year of study and is available across all academic fields at participating Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences.

The application opened on November 1, 2025, with deadlines varying by institution. This is a partially funded scholarship that helps offset tuition and living costs but does not cover the full expenses. Students from non-EEA countries who have never studied in the Netherlands before are eligible to apply. There is no separate application fee for the scholarship itself, though universities may have their own application fees. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details

• Scholarship Amount: €5,000 (one-time payment in the first year)
• Funding Type: Partially funded
• Eligible Countries: All countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Study Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s programs
• Fields of Study: All fields available at participating institutions
• Application Deadline: Varies by institution (check individual university websites)
• Study Destination: Netherlands
• Number of Participating Institutions: 34 universities (11 research universities and 23 universities of applied sciences)
• Application Fee: No separate scholarship application fee

What is the NL Scholarship?

The NL Scholarship is a prestigious award designed for non-European students who dream of studying in the Netherlands. This scholarship is jointly funded by:

• The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
• Various Dutch research universities
• Universities of applied sciences across the Netherlands

Scholarship Coverage

You will receive €5,000 during your first year of study. Please note this is a partial scholarship and does not cover full tuition fees. Students will need to arrange additional funding for remaining tuition costs and living expenses.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the NL Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

• Nationality: You must be from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Program Type: You must be applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s program at a participating Dutch institution
• Educational Background: You must not hold a degree from any Dutch educational institution
• Institution Requirements: You must meet the specific admission requirements of your chosen university (check their website for details)

Check also: Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 (Round 21) – Fully Funded

How to Apply

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year opened on November 1, 2025.

Important: Each participating institution sets its own application deadline. Visit your chosen university’s website to find the specific closing date for your program.

Best opportunity: CERN Administrative Student Programme 2026 (Fully Funded)

Participating Universities

Research Universities 2026-2027

The following Dutch research universities are participating in the NL Scholarship program:

• Eindhoven University of Technology
• Maastricht University
• Protestant Theological University
• Radboud University
• Theological University Apeldoorn
• University of Groningen
• University of Twente
• Utrecht Theological University
• Utrecht University
• VU Amsterdam
• Wageningen University & Research

Check also: Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships 2026: PhD Sandwich Program

Universities of Applied Sciences 2026-2027

These universities of applied sciences are offering the NL Scholarship:

• Aeres University of Applied Sciences
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
• Amsterdam University of the Arts
• ArtEZ Institute of the Arts
• Breda University of Applied Sciences
• Codarts Rotterdam
• Design Academy Eindhoven
• Driestar Christian University
• Fontys University of Applied Sciences
• Gerrit Rietveld Academie
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences
• Hotelschool The Hague
• HAN University of Applied Sciences
• HKU University of Applied Sciences
• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
• HZ University of Applied Sciences
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences
• Thomas More Hogeschool
• University of the Arts, The Hague
• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Also check: ISTA PhD Program 2026 in Austria (Fully Funded)

Code of Conduct

All scholarship recipients must adhere to Nuffic’s Integrity Code of Conduct. The scholarship program maintains zero tolerance for:

• Interpersonal or financial misconduct
• Abuse of power
• Fraud or irregularities
• Money laundering or terrorist financing
• Tax or social security payment violations
• Criminal activities or bankruptcy proceedings

Nuffic is committed to ethical practices and expects all scholarship handlers and recipients to uphold these standards.

Other best opportunity: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2026/27 (Fully Funded)

Next Steps

1. Choose Your University: Select from the participating institutions listed above
2. Check Requirements: Visit your chosen university’s website for specific program requirements and deadlines
3. Prepare Your Application: Gather all necessary documents for both university admission and scholarship application
4. Submit on Time: Ensure you meet your institution’s specific deadline