Scholarships in the Netherlands | EFG - European Funding Guide

Whether starting your first year of University or heading down the road of a Master’s degree or PhD, the Netherlands has a multitude of scholarships available. This large number of scholarships is exceptionally necessary due to high the number of both local and international students who pursue their higher education in the Netherlands.

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Scholarships

General situation in terms of scholarships

Students in the Netherlands, whether EU members or native to another country, are able to take advantage of a wide range of scholarships. With the European Union, private organisations and also the Dutch government offering scholarships, there isn’t a shortage when it comes to the availability of funding for one’s studies. The search for scholarships in the Netherlands is made easy by means of the Nuffic (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education) database. Here, students are afforded access to scholarship information, the criteria that need to be met in order to be eligible for particular scholarships, application dates and also the application process. Some scholarships are specific to a certain field of study, others only account for a number of years and there are also scholarships available in the Netherlands for the entirety of one’s study, regardless of the degree programme and field of involvement.

Type of scholarships and granting institution

Two of the main scholarship programmes include the MENA scholarship programme and the Netherlands Fellowship programmes. These scholarships are also offered to international students and are funded by the Dutch government. The Netherlands is also home to a wide variety of different scholarship institutions. The government, companies, and even individual universities are great places to turn to when looking for a scholarship to study in the Netherlands. Amongst these are the HSP Huygen programme which is run by the Minster of Education, Culture and Science.

Availability and conditions for getting a scholarship

There is no scarcity concerning scholarships in the Netherlands. Its countries, the Dutch government, individual organizations, universities and private organisations all offering scholarships to both international and local students, scholarships for studying in the Netherlands are fairly easy to obtain. However, one should not overlook the fact that many of these scholarships do not cover the entire cost of studying in the country. Whereas some scholarships take into consideration housing, travel and school materials, others are solely focused on covering tuition costs. The conditions under which a student becomes applicable to receive a scholarship in the Netherlands varies depending on the organization granting the scholarship as well as the type of scholarship itself. Country of citizenship, age, field of study as well as degree, all play a role in what makes a candidate applicable or not. Additionally, one of the key factors is typically grades. A large number of scholarships in the Netherlands are offered for excellence and thus, grades also play a role in one’s eligibility.

Local scholarships for foreign students

The fact that a degree from a university in the Netherlands is internationally recognized isn’t the only reason why this splendid country is a popular location for students from all over the globe. The Netherlands also has a wide variety of scholarships available for international studies combined with exceedingly low tuition fees. All in all, this makes the Netherlands a great place to study without breaking the bank. Universities are one of the most common places where scholarships are given through. Additionally, scholarships like the Netherland’s fellowship Scholarship, the Talent for Governance Scholarship and the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship are available to international students. Furthermore, Chinese students are open to apply for the Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange scholarship for excellence and StuNed Scholarships for Indonesian students.

Typical scholarships in the Netherlands

In collaboration with sixty other countries, the Netherlands Fellowship Programme is amongst the largest government bases for scholarships in the Netherlands. Its funding comes from the Dutch Ministries of Foreign affairs and it is run by the organisation that deals with the international involvement of higher level education in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Fellowship Programme sees thousands of applications on an annual basis. However, only a small number of students in the Netherlands are able to obtain this scholarship. Universities in the Netherlands are also very large contributors to the scholarship pool. Many offer scholarships based on grades and others based on talents or other accomplishments. This includes both private and public universities in the Netherlands. It’s important to note that the scholarships typically offered from universities do not cover the entire cost of tuition and also, may not take living costs or other expenses into consideration.