Top 20 Netherlands Scholarships for International Students in 2027 | Fully Funded & Partial Scholarships

The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for international students, known for its world-class universities, innovative teaching methods, and more than 2,000 English-taught degree programmes. Every year, the Dutch Government and leading universities offer numerous scholarships for outstanding international students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and research programmes.

This guide features the Top 20 Scholarships in the Netherlands for International Students in 2027, along with their official application websites.

1. NL Scholarship (Formerly Holland Scholarship)

The NL Scholarship is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating Dutch universities. It is available for non-EEA students pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Benefits

• €5,000 for the first year of study

Official Website

https://www.studyinnl.org/finances/nl-scholarship

2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships

One of Europe’s most prestigious fully funded scholarships for international master’s students.

Benefits

• Full tuition fees
• Monthly stipend
• Travel allowance
• Insurance

Official Website

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

3. Orange Tulip Scholarship (Selected Countries)

Offered through participating Dutch universities and education partners for students from selected countries.

Official Website

https://www.studyinnl.org/

4. Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship

A fully funded scholarship for talented non-EEA students pursuing eligible master’s programmes.

Official Website

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

5. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

Scholarships for outstanding international master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/

6. Radboud University Scholarship Programme

Partial tuition scholarships for exceptional non-EEA master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.ru.nl/en/education

7. Utrecht Excellence Scholarships

Scholarships for outstanding international students pursuing eligible master’s programmes.

Official Website

https://www.uu.nl/

8. University of Twente Scholarship (UTS)

Scholarships for excellent international master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.utwente.nl/

9. Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (University of Amsterdam)

Merit-based scholarships for talented international master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.uva.nl/

10. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Fellowship Programme (VUFP)

Scholarships for outstanding international master’s applicants.

Official Website

https://vu.nl/

11. TU Delft Excellence Scholarships

Fully funded and partial scholarships for exceptional international master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.tudelft.nl/

12. Eindhoven University of Technology Scholarships

Scholarships for highly qualified international students.

Official Website

https://www.tue.nl/

13. University of Groningen Talent Grant

Scholarships for talented international students pursuing postgraduate studies.

Official Website

https://www.rug.nl/

14. Erasmus University Rotterdam Scholarships

Various scholarships for international bachelor’s and master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.eur.nl/en/education/practical-matters/scholarships-grants

15. HAN University of Applied Sciences Scholarships

Scholarships for talented international students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s programmes.

Official Website

https://www.hanuniversity.com/

16. Saxion Talent Scholarship

Merit scholarships for international bachelor’s and master’s students.

Official Website

https://www.saxion.edu/

17. Fontys University Scholarships

Scholarships for selected international students studying at Fontys University of Applied Sciences.

Official Website

https://www.fontys.edu/

18. Breda University of Applied Sciences Scholarships

Financial support for international students across various programmes.

Official Website

https://www.buas.nl/

19. Wageningen University Excellence Programme

Scholarships for outstanding master’s students in agriculture, environmental sciences, and related disciplines.

Official Website

https://www.wur.nl/

20. University of Groningen Eric Bleumink Fund

A fully funded scholarship supporting talented students from developing countries pursuing master’s degrees.

Official Website

https://www.rug.nl/education/scholarships/eric-bleumink-fellowship

Why Study in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands offers numerous advantages for international students:

• Globally ranked universities.
• More than 2,000 English-taught programmes.
• Innovative, research-based education.
• International learning environment.
• Strong graduate employability.
• Excellent quality of life.
• Opportunities to work during and after graduation through post-study residence options.

Tips for Winning Scholarships in the Netherlands

• Apply early for both admission and scholarships.
• Maintain an excellent academic record.
• Prepare a strong motivation letter.
• Obtain high-quality recommendation letters.
• Meet English language proficiency requirements.
• Carefully review each university’s eligibility criteria and scholarship deadlines.
• Use the official Study in NL Scholarship Finder to explore additional funding opportunities.

The Netherlands offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities for international students through the Dutch Government, universities, and European funding programmes. Prestigious awards such as the NL Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus, TU Delft Excellence Scholarship, Leiden Excellence Scholarship, Maastricht Holland-High Potential Scholarship, and the Eric Bleumink Fund can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad. Whether you are pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or research degree, these scholarships provide an excellent opportunity to study at some of Europe’s top universities. Always visit the official scholarship websites for the latest eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application procedures before applying.