Netherlands Scholarships for International Students, Top Opportunities & How to Apply

Netherlands scholarships for international students, including government-funded, university-specific, and merit-based options. Learn about eligibility, application deadlines, and how to study in the Netherlands with financial aid.
authorImageMbbs 14 Jul, 2025
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Netherlands Scholarships for International Students

Netherlands Scholarships for International Students: Do you wish to start your studies in the Netherlands? There are several scholarships available in the Netherlands for overseas students. In this post, we will go over the scholarships available at the leading colleges in the Netherlands, their perks, and the step-by-step application procedure.

Many scholarships are available to overseas students at major institutions in the Netherlands for the academic year 2024-2025. These scholarships are partially and totally financed, and they give a monthly stipend in addition to tuition, housing, health insurance, and a travel allowance.

Netherlands Scholarships for International Students

This fellowship is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, as well as numerous Dutch research universities and applied sciences.

The scholarship totals € 5,000. You will acquire this throughout your first year of studies. This is not a full-tuition scholarship.

Apply for fully funded scholarships and realise your dream of studying at world-renowned universities such as Delft University of Technology, RSM Erasmus University, University of Groningen, Utrecht University, Radboud University, Maastricht University, University of Amsterdam, University of Twente, Leiden University, and many more. The following is a list of scholarships in the Netherlands for international students.

Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships, TU Delft

The Justus and Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships are fully paid scholarships for overseas students. These scholarships are available for master's study at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. These scholarships will give the winner €30,000 per year.

Orange Knowledge Programme

The Orange Knowledge Programme is a fully-funded fellowship for overseas students. This scholarship is available for master's degrees and short courses at several Netherlands-based institutions.

Netherlands Government Scholarships

Netherlands Government Scholarships are fully financed master's and short-course scholarships for overseas students. The Orange Knowledge Programme, funded by the Netherlands Government Scholarship, provides free living expenses, tuition fees, visas, round-trip travel tickets, and health insurance.

Radboud University grant

The Radboud University grant is a fully financed master's grant for overseas students. A Radboud Scholarship reduces your tuition charge to € 2,209,-. For example, a grant recipient in 2022/2023 will pay a tuition fee of €2,209,- rather than €16,000.

Maastricht University Scholarships

Maastricht University Scholarships are fully financed scholarships for overseas students. This scholarship is available for master's studies and covers € 23,750 in living expenses, € 700 in health and liability insurance, € 192 in visa application costs, and € 16,800 in tuition fees.

University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship

The University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is offered to foreign master's students. Depending on the faculty, University of Amsterdam scholarships might range from €2,000 to €25,000.

University of Twente Scholarship

The University of Twente Scholarship is a fully financed master's scholarship for overseas students. There are around 50 scholarships available, ranging in value from € 3,000 to € 22,000 for one year. However, students might earn an extra UTS to cover second-year fees.

Holland Government grants NL scholarships

The Holland Government grants NL scholarships to overseas students during the academic year 2024-2025. This award is open for undergraduate and master's studies and offers the recipient €5,000 to cover tuition fees.

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a master's tuition scholarship available to overseas students. This scholarship gives an average of € 15,000 each year.

ISS Scholarship

The ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students is offered to foreign students from all around the world who wish to study master's studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands. The ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students pays 40% of the tuition charge.

Facebook Fellowship Programme 

The Facebook Fellowship Programme provides a fully financed fellowship for overseas students. This fellowship is intended for PhD research study. The grant includes two years of tuition and fees, an annual stipend, and conference travel assistance.

Human Frontier Science Programme Postdoctoral Fellowships

Human Frontier Science Programme Postdoctoral Fellowships are fully-funded grants for overseas students. HFSP Fellowships will provide a living allowance, as well as research and travel expenses. Depending on their circumstances, fellows may also be eligible for a child allowance, a parental leave payment, or a relocation stipend.

Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme

The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme provides a fully financed master's scholarship to overseas students. The JJ/WBGSP scholarship will cover the whole tuition price, housing, economy class air travel, and a monthly living stipend.

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Programme

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Programme provides a fully financed fellowship for overseas students. This fund is open for PhD studies and awards up to $42,750 net per fellow for an eight-month fellowship.

IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Programme

The IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship Programme provides fully financed PhD fellowships for overseas students. The International Mathematical Union Scholarship is worth up to USD 10,000 per year and covers tuition, lodging, travel, and living expenses.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship

The Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship is a financed grant for overseas students. This scholarship is worth a maximum of USD 50,000 per year for a PhD and a maximum of USD 40,000 per year for a Postdoc and can be renewed till the end of studies.

Netherlands Scholarships for International Students - Application Criteria

  • Your nationality does not fall inside the European Economic Area.

  • You are applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's degree at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.

  • You fulfil the specific standards of the institution of your choice. You can discover them on the institution's website.

  • You have not received a degree from a Dutch educational institution.

Netherlands Scholarships for International Students - Code of Conduct

Nuffic or Nuffic-managed initiatives may not participate in activities that include improper conduct. It might be about interpersonal or financial misbehaviour, or abuse of authority. To address improper conduct, Nuffic has implemented an Integrity Code of Conduct. Furthermore, actions containing the following situations/behaviour are deemed unacceptable:

Possible penalties include bankruptcy, insolvency, breach of tax or social security obligations, involvement in a criminal organisation, money laundering or terrorist financing, terrorist offences, irregularity, and creation or ownership of a shell company.

When we carry out our programmes, we acknowledge our Code of Conduct. Our Code of Conduct explains how we put our mission and beliefs into action every day. We describe the professional and ethical behaviour that is expected of all of us, including those who manage individual NL Scholarships.

Netherlands Scholarships for International Students FAQ's

What types of scholarships are available for international students in Netherlands?

There are government-funded, university-specific, merit-based, and subject-specific scholarships available for international students.

Are fully funded scholarships available in Netherlands?

Yes, options like Orange Tulip Scholarship and Netherlands Government Scholarship offer full tuition and living costs coverage.

Which universities in Netherlands offer scholarships?

Top universities like TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam offer various scholarships for international students.

Do I need IELTS to get a scholarship in the Netherlands?

Yes, most scholarships require proof of English proficiency, typically through IELTS or TOEFL scores.
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