Eric Bleumink Fellowship Application 2027: Eligibility, Benefits, Nomination and Deadline

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship application works differently from most scholarships: there is no form to fill in. The University of Groningen picks nominees from its own Master’s applicants, so the only way in is a strong, complete Master’s application submitted before 1 December 2026. The fellowship is fully funded and open to students from a list of developing countries that includes Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. This guide explains what it covers, who is eligible and how to give yourself the best chance of a nomination. The key facts are also on our Eric Bleumink Fellowship 2027 listing.

We checked every detail on 30 October 2026 against the University of Groningen’s Eric Bleumink Fellowship page, the Eric Bleumink Fund’s ‘applying for a grant’ page and the fellowship’s rules and regulations (updated November 2024). Allowance amounts come from those rules and may be updated, so confirm them with the university.

Eric Bleumink Fellowship at a glance

University	University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Level	One-year or two-year Master’s programmes (MSc, MA, LL.M.) starting in September
Programmes	All University of Groningen Master’s programmes
Who can apply	Nationals of eligible developing countries
Funding	Tuition, international travel, subsistence, books and health insurance
How you apply	No direct application: nomination from Master’s applicants
Key date	Complete your Master’s application before 1 December 2026
Number of awards	Only four a year, according to the rules

About the fellowship

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship was established on 23 May 2000 and is named after Professor Eric Bleumink, a former President of the University of Groningen who also served as Rector Magnificus and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. According to its rules, its main aim is to support Master’s students from the poorest developing countries, improve cooperation between Groningen and universities in those countries, and raise the level of academic expertise there. That is why the selection focuses so strongly on what you will do with the degree once you return home.

The Mobility and Scholarship Desk (MSD) of the University of Groningen handles the financial arrangements for fellows, including flights, housing information and insurance. Questions about the grant can go to MSD at msd@rug.nl, while questions about your Master’s application go to the Admissions Office through your programme page.

What the fellowship covers

The university says the grant covers the tuition fee, international travel, subsistence, books and health insurance. The rules and regulations give more detail:

Item	What the rules say
Tuition	Master’s tuition fees paid by the fellowship
Living allowance	€1,250 per month for food and accommodation
Settling allowance	€275 for extra costs on arrival
Books	€310 per year for books and study material
Travel	Economy flights between Amsterdam and the airport nearest your home, with train tickets reimbursed
Insurance	Medical, accident, emergency flight home and liability cover, paid by the fellowship
Visa	Entry visa arranged by the university, with the cost covered

The allowance is meant for one person. The fellowship does not pay for family members or a clothing allowance, and fellows may not take paid work in the Netherlands. Fellows also agree to return to their home country after the programme.

Who is eligible

• Nationality. You must hold the nationality of a country on the university’s list. Besides those above, it includes Afghanistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Morocco, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and many more.
• An admission offer before February. You need a provisional or unconditional offer for a Groningen Master’s.
• Excellent grades. The university wants excellent bachelor’s results, preferably confirmed by recommendation letters.
• Excellent English, meeting your programme’s admission requirements.
• Full availability and good health for the whole programme, so that Dutch health insurance can be arranged.
• No other funding. You must have no other means of financing the study, and you cannot combine it with another Groningen scholarship.

The rules add that students from universities with a Groningen agreement or NICHE contract, listed in an appendix, are preferred.

Eric Bleumink Fellowship application deadlines for 2027

When	What happens
Before 1 December 2026	Complete your Master’s application to Groningen
Before February 2027	You need a provisional or unconditional admission offer
First week of January (per the rules)	Admissions Office selects nominees with the faculty boards
Before 1 February 2027	Nominees informed; send your EBF motivation letter within one week
Before 1 March 2027	Selection committee tells all nominees the outcome
September 2027	Master’s programme starts

The university does not give a time of day for the 1 December date, so aim to submit well before 30 November. Some programmes have earlier admission deadlines of their own, so check your programme page too.

What you need to prepare

• a complete Master’s application with every document your programme asks for (see the programme pages on the Groningen website);
• recommendation letters that confirm your academic performance, since the nomination criteria favour them;
• your English test result at the level your programme requires;
• copies of other funding applications you have made, as the committee considers them; and
• if nominated, a motivation letter for the fellowship within one week.

Start drafting the motivation letter now so you are not caught out by the one-week window. Our motivation letter template and IELTS vs TOEFL guide will help.

How to apply step by step

1. Check your country against the eligible list on the official page.
2. Pick a Master’s programme from the Groningen programme list and read its entry requirements and deadline.
3. Book your English test early so the result is ready for your application.
4. Submit a complete Master’s application before 1 December 2026. Incomplete files may not be processed in time for an offer before February.
5. Watch your email in January. If you are nominated, send the EBF motivation letter within a week.
6. Wait for the decision, which nominees receive before 1 March 2027.

How the committee chooses

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship board looks at how your education will strengthen scientific capacity in your home country and whether it can build long-term links between a university there and Groningen. It also aims for a balance of men and women, a range of faculties and regional variety across continents. Decisions cannot be appealed.

Tips to improve your chances

• Apply early. The offer has to arrive before February, which takes processing time.
• Explain your plans back home. Show how the degree will help you contribute to your country’s academic or professional capacity.
• Get strong references. Letters that confirm excellent performance support the nomination.
• Keep backup options. Only four awards are given a year, so apply for other funding too.

Looking for more Dutch funding? Read about the NL Scholarship, the University of Twente Scholarship, our Radboud Scholarship guide and our list of scholarships in the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship?

You cannot apply directly. Submit a complete University of Groningen Master’s application before 1 December 2026; the Admissions Office nominates suitable candidates.

Is the Eric Bleumink Fellowship fully funded?

Yes. It covers tuition, international travel, subsistence, books and health insurance.

How much is the monthly allowance?

The rules and regulations (updated November 2024) give €1,250 a month for food and accommodation.

Can students from Pakistan apply?

Yes. Pakistan is on the university’s list of eligible countries.

How many fellowships are awarded?

The rules say hundreds apply each year and only four are awarded.

When will I know if I am nominated?

Before 1 February 2027. If you have not been contacted by then, you were not nominated.

Can I combine it with another Groningen scholarship?

No. Another Groningen scholarship offered at the same time is not allowed.

Where to apply

Read the official Eric Bleumink Fellowship page and the rules and regulations, then choose a programme from the Groningen Master’s programme list. Our Eric Bleumink Fellowship listing keeps the key facts in one place.