This guide covers the 6 scholarships in the Netherlands that ScholarshipClaude lists for 2027: 2 fully funded and 4 with partial funding. For each one you will find what it pays for, who can apply and the deadline, with a link to the full page. The list was last updated on 8 October 2026.
The nearest confirmed deadline is TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands, on 1 December 2026. Scholarships with expected dates are based on the previous cycle and will be confirmed when the new call opens.
How scholarships work in the Netherlands
Dutch scholarships for students from outside the EEA are offered mostly by the universities, alongside the national NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship). Many are partial awards toward tuition, and a few university excellence scholarships are larger. In most cases you must be admitted to a programme before you can be considered.
Scholarships in the Netherlands 2027 at a glance
| Scholarship | Level | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leiden University Excellence Scholarship | Master's | Partial | 1 December 2026 |
| TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands | Master's | Fully funded | 1 December 2026 |
| Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands | Master's | Partial | Expected 15 January 2027 |
| Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands | Master's | Fully funded | 1 February 2027 |
| NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands | Master's | Partial | Expected 1 February 2027 |
| Orange Tulip Scholarship | Bachelor's & Master's | Partial | Expected 1 April 2027 |
Fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands for international students
TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) offers 16 full Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships for its regular two-year MSc programmes, two per faculty. They are financed by the legacy of Justus and Louise van Effen, and they cover the tuition fees plus a contribution towards living expenses.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees for a TU Delft MSc programme
- Contribution towards living expenses
- The scholarship does not pay for extensions beyond the two-year programme
Who can apply:
- Excellent international applicant, admitted or conditionally admitted to one of the regular two-year TU Delft MSc programmes (not an International Joint Education Programme)
- A bachelor's degree from an internationally renowned university outside the Netherlands
- Excellent academic results
Level: Master's. Deadline: 1 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship programme offers 18 full scholarships each academic year to highly talented students from outside the European Union who have been admitted to a master's programme at Maastricht University. Each scholarship includes a tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend. The programme combines the High Potential Scholarship, funded by the university's scholarship fund, and the NL Scholarship, financed by the Dutch government.
What it covers:
- Living expenses of 20,150 euros for a 13-month programme, or 38,750 euros for a 25-month programme (1,550 euros a month)
- Tuition fee waiver
- Health and liability insurance and visa costs, as listed by the university
- 18 full scholarships each academic year
Who can apply:
- Nationality of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname
- Meet the requirements for an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands
- Admitted to a master's programme at Maastricht University
Level: Master's. Deadline: 1 February 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Partial scholarships in the Netherlands
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) rewards outstanding non-EEA/non-EFTA students joining a full-time master's programme at Leiden University, one of Europe's oldest research universities, starting in September 2027. It is a merit-based tuition fee scholarship (partial funding), awarded at different levels up to the full tuition fee minus the statutory fee, for the duration of your programme. You apply through your master's admission application by uploading a motivation letter of up to 500 words. The deadline for the September 2027 intake is 1 December 2026, and results are expected by the end of March 2027.
What it covers:
- Tuition fee reduction at one of several award levels
- The highest level covers the full tuition fee minus the statutory fee
- Valid for the duration of your full-time programme
Who can apply:
- Non-EEA or non-EFTA nationality (exceptions for some programmes)
- Applying for a full-time Leiden master's programme starting in September 2027
- Not available for Leiden Law School's LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes
Level: Master's. Deadline: 1 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands
The NL Scholarship, formerly called the Holland Scholarship, is for students from outside the European Economic Area who want to do a full-time bachelor's or master's programme in the Netherlands. It is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and by Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. The scholarship is 5,000 euros, paid in the first year of your studies. It is not a full-tuition scholarship.
What it covers:
- One off grant of 5,000 euros in the first year
Who can apply:
- Your nationality is non-EEA
- You are applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating Dutch higher education institution
- You meet the specific requirements of the institution of your choice
Level: Master's. Deadline: expected 1 February 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Orange Tulip Scholarship
The Orange Tulip Scholarship is offered by Nuffic Neso offices together with Dutch universities and companies to talented students from selected countries who want to study in the Netherlands. Awards range from partial tuition waivers to full scholarships depending on the institution. Each country publishes its own list of participating programmes, usually in autumn, with application deadlines commonly around 1 April; the date below is an estimate for 2027.
What it covers:
- Tuition fee waiver (partial or full, depending on the institution)
- Some awards include living costs
Who can apply:
- Citizen of a participating country
- Admitted to a participating programme
- Meet the institution's academic requirements
Level: Bachelor's & Master's. Deadline: expected 1 April 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) is the University of Amsterdam's scholarship for outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA who plan to do a master's programme at the university. Students who hold a non-EU/EEA passport and have applied for a degree programme at the University of Amsterdam can apply.
What it covers:
- The amount of the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is set by each faculty or graduate school
- Check your faculty's scholarship page for what the award covers
Who can apply:
- A non-EU/EEA passport
- Applied for a master's programme at the University of Amsterdam
- Meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria of your faculty or graduate school
Level: Master's. Deadline: expected 15 January 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Scholarships in the Netherlands: documents and how to apply
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship
More eligibility rules:
- Excellent academic results, typically in the top 10% of your bachelor's
- Cannot be combined with another full external scholarship
Documents:
- Leiden master's admission application
- LExS motivation letter (PDF, maximum 500 words)
- Transcripts and other documents required by your programme
Application steps:
- Apply online for admission to an eligible Leiden master's programme (allow up to 3 working days for processing)
- In the scholarship section, select LExS and upload your motivation letter
- Submit by 1 December 2026
- Faculty selection committees review applications
- You receive the outcome by the end of March 2027
How applications are assessed:
- Excellent academic results in your previous studies, relevant to the master's programme you apply for
- As an indication, you are among the top 10% of graduates in your previous programme
- The faculty selection committees nominate the recipients
Duration: Length of the master's programme. Open to: Non-EEA and non-EFTA nationals (some programmes open to all nationalities). Go to the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship page.
TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands
Documents:
- Complete TU Delft MSc application that meets the admission requirements (required)
- Scholarship Application Form 2027–2029, uploaded with your application (required)
- One reference letter; if you have two references, upload them as one PDF (required)
- English language certificate, uploaded before the scholarship deadline (required)
Application steps:
- Complete your TU Delft MSc application and check the admission requirements for your programme
- Upload the Scholarship Application Form
- Upload one reference letter (two references go into one PDF)
- Upload your English language certificate before the scholarship deadline
- Submit everything by 1 December 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time; late applications are not reviewed
- Scholarship winners are told by email by the end of March 2027
How applications are assessed:
- You must first be admitted, or conditionally admitted, to an MSc programme
- You submit the Scholarship Application Form and one reference letter
- TU Delft faculty selection committees make the final selection
- Scholarships are highly competitive and only the strongest candidates are selected
Duration: 2 years. Open to: Non-EEA nationals. Go to the TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands page.
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
Documents:
- UvA master's application
- The scholarship documents listed by your faculty or graduate school; the list differs by faculty
Application steps:
- Apply for your master's programme at the University of Amsterdam
- Open the scholarship page of your faculty or graduate school: Child Development and Education, Communication Science, Economics and Business, Humanities, Law, Medicine, Psychology, Science or Social Sciences
- Submit the scholarship application to the Admissions Office of your graduate school before its own deadline
How applications are assessed:
- Academic excellence
- Ambition
- The relevance of the chosen master's programme to your future career
- Each Graduate School publishes its own detailed criteria and deadline
Duration: 1 year (renewal possible for 2-year programmes). Open to: Students from outside the EU. Go to the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands page.
Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
The deadline in earlier years was 1 February, and the date shown here is an estimate for 2027. Confirm it on the university's website.
More eligibility rules:
- A strong academic record, since the scholarship is for highly talented students
- A GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, which the university equates to 75% or 3 out of 4, depending on your grading system
Documents:
- An official document from your university showing your most recent GPA
- A document explaining your university's grading system
- CV of no more than two A4 pages, including any awards or prizes
- Letter of motivation, written on the university's template
- Contact details of your referees
- The scholarship application form, submitted with your Maastricht University account
- Files must be in .doc, .docx or PDF format, and you can submit only once
Application steps:
- Apply for a master's programme at Maastricht University through Studielink and submit your full application file by 10 December
- Prepare the scholarship documents listed on the university's scholarship page
- Submit the scholarship application with your Maastricht University account between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, 23:59 Central European Time; you can submit only once
- Meet all registration requirements by 1 February 2027 (except legal residence, tuition payment and the hard copy of your diploma)
- Pay any handling fee your programme charges yourself; the scholarship does not cover it
- Wait for the selection result
Duration: Length of the master's programme. Open to: Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname. Go to the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands page.
NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands (formerly the Holland Scholarship)
More eligibility rules:
- You do not have a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands
Documents:
- Admission application at your chosen institution
- NL Scholarship application, in the form your institution asks for
- Motivation letter
- Transcripts
Application steps:
- Apply for admission to a participating Dutch programme
- Complete the NL Scholarship application on your institution's website
- Submit by the institution's own deadline (often 1 February or 1 May)
Duration: First year of study. Open to: Non-EEA nationals who have not studied in the Netherlands before. Go to the NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands (formerly the Holland Scholarship) page.
Orange Tulip Scholarship
Documents:
- Admission application
- OTS application form
- Motivation letter
- Transcripts
Application steps:
- Check the OTS list for your country
- Apply for admission to a participating programme
- Submit the OTS application before the deadline
Duration: Length of the programme. Open to: Citizens of selected OTS countries. Go to the Orange Tulip Scholarship page.
Scholarships in the Netherlands by study level
- Bachelor’s: Orange Tulip Scholarship.
- Master’s: Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands, Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands, Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands, NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands (formerly the Holland Scholarship), Orange Tulip Scholarship.
Application timeline
Plan your applications in deadline order:
- 1 December 2026: Leiden University Excellence Scholarship
- 1 December 2026: TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands
- Expected 15 January 2027: Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
- 1 February 2027: Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands
- Expected 1 February 2027: NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands
- Expected 1 April 2027: Orange Tulip Scholarship
What the scholarships in the Netherlands ask you to submit
Across the 6 scholarships in the Netherlands on this page, this is how many ask for each document:
- CV or résumé: 1 of 6 (guide: academic CV template)
- Motivation letter, personal statement, essay or study plan: 4 of 6 (guide: statement of purpose guide and motivation letter template)
- Recommendation or reference letters: 2 of 6 (guide: how to get strong recommendation letters)
- Language test score or certificate: 1 of 6 (guide: IELTS or TOEFL: which to choose)
- Transcripts or degree certificates: 3 of 6
Frequently asked questions
Which scholarships in the Netherlands are fully funded?
Among the scholarships we list: TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands, Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands.
Which scholarships give partial funding?
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands, NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands, Orange Tulip Scholarship.
Which deadline comes first?
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, on 1 December 2026.
See every active scholarship for this country on the scholarships page, and read how to find fully funded scholarships for more options.
Live list: every scholarship we currently cover here
| Scholarship | Funding | Stipend | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| TU Delft Excellence Scholarships 2027 in the Netherlands | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Leiden University Excellence Scholarship | Partial | Tuition fee award at one of five levels: 10,000, 15,000, 17,500, 18,500 or 19,000 euros of the tuition fee (not a full scholarship) | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands | Partial | Set by each faculty or graduate school | 15 Jan 2027 (expected) |
| Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands | Fully funded | Living expenses of 20,150 euros for a 13-month programme, or 38,750 euros for a 25-month programme (1,550 euros a month) | 1 Feb 2027 |
| NL Scholarship 2027/28 in the Netherlands | Partial | One off grant of 5,000 euros in the first year | 1 Feb 2027 (expected) |
| Orange Tulip Scholarship | Partial | See the scholarship page | 1 Apr 2027 (expected) |
This table updates itself whenever a scholarship is added or changed, so it can include newer entries than the sections above. See all scholarships.
