Netherlands Government NL Scholarship 2026 | How To Apply
Most institution-specific deadlines for the NL Scholarship 2026-2027 cycle have either passed or are closing imminently. Use this post as your full preparation framework for the 2027-2028 cycle, which is expected to open for applications in November 2026 based on the established annual pattern. Formerly known as the Holland Scholarship and renamed in June 2023, the NL Scholarship is financed jointly by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and participating Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.
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It awards a one-time €5,000 payment in your first year of study — not a full tuition waiver — to non-EEA international students admitted to a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme in the Netherlands. There is no central application portal. You apply directly through whichever participating institution you want to attend, which means each university sets its own deadline, its own eligibility criteria on top of the national ones, and its own number of available awards. The most common mistake applicants make is finding the scholarship on a general listing page, assuming there is one universal deadline, and missing the actual cutoff at their chosen institution.
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About the NL Scholarship
The NL Scholarship was established in 2014 following a joint vision on internationalisation developed by VSNU (the Association of Universities in the Netherlands) and the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, backed by a Ministry of Education policy letter that identified the need for a national Dutch scholarship specifically targeting inbound international student mobility. Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, administers and promotes the programme nationally, while individual institutions handle selection and payment. The programme is designed primarily as a profiling tool for Dutch higher education — it helps Dutch institutions compete internationally for talent from outside Europe — which explains why each institution controls its own criteria, number of awards, and fields of study. The list of participating institutions changes every year, so a university that offered the scholarship in 2025-2026 is not automatically on the 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 list. Always verify current participation on the official Study in NL page before planning your application.
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Summary of the NL Scholarship
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship) |
| Host Country ⇒ | Netherlands |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate Scholarships | Postgraduate Scholarships | Master’s Scholarships |
| Benefits ⇒ | €5,000 — paid once in your first year. This is not a full tuition scholarship |
| Funded By ⇒ | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and participating Dutch institutions |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Non-EEA international students without a prior Dutch degree |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Varies by Program |
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Eligibility Requirements
The national eligibility criteria apply to every participating institution. You must meet all of the following:
- Hold a nationality from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals are not eligible
- Be applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at one of the participating Dutch institutions
- Not hold a degree from any educational institution in the Netherlands
- Meet the specific requirements of the institution you are applying to
That last point is where most applicants underestimate the work involved. On top of the national criteria, each institution adds its own layer — a minimum GPA, a ranking of your previous university, a motivation letter, a language proficiency standard, a field of study restriction, or a specific number of available awards per faculty. At Radboud University, for example, only 12 awards were available across the entire institution for 2026-2027, split unevenly across five faculties. The University of Twente’s own NL Scholarship page describes the award as targeted at excellent students with specific academic benchmarks. These conditions are not published on the central Nuffic page — only on each institution’s own scholarship page.
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What the NL Scholarship Covers
The scholarship pays a single, one-time amount of €5,000, disbursed in your first year of study. This covers a portion of your study-related costs — it is not a full tuition waiver, and it does not cover living expenses, housing, health insurance, or visa and residence permit fees for subsequent years.
To put the figure in context: annual tuition fees at Dutch universities for non-EEA students typically range from €8,000 to €20,000 per year depending on the programme and institution. Living costs in the Netherlands average approximately €800 to €1,200 per month. The €5,000 award meaningfully reduces your first-year financial burden but leaves the majority of your costs unfunded. Plan your finances around the full cost of study before applying, and treat the scholarship as a supplement to other funding, not a primary source.
Some institutions pay the €5,000 in a single transfer; others may split it into two instalments. Confirm the payment schedule with your chosen institution before you accept an offer.
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Participating Institutions for 2026-2027
Research Universities:
Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Protestant Theological University, Radboud University, Theological University Apeldoorn, University of Groningen, University of Twente, Utrecht Theological University, Utrecht University, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research
Universities of Applied Sciences:
Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of the Arts, ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Codarts Rotterdam, Design Academy Eindhoven, Driestar Christian University, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Hotelschool The Hague, HAN University of Applied Sciences, HKU University of Applied Sciences, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, HZ University of Applied Sciences, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Thomas More Hogeschool, University of the Arts The Hague, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
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This list changes annually. Confirm current participation for the 2027-2028 cycle on the official Study in NL page once the new cycle opens.
How to Apply for the NL Scholarship
There is no central application form. The entire process runs through your chosen institution:
- Visit the official Study in NL Scholarship page and confirm which institutions are participating for your intake year
- Go to the individual website of each institution you are considering and find their specific NL Scholarship page — not the general admissions page
- Note your chosen institution’s NL Scholarship deadline. This is the date that matters, not any general date published on aggregator sites
- Check what additional eligibility criteria, documents, and fields of study that institution requires for the NL Scholarship specifically
- Apply for admission to your chosen programme through the institution’s admissions system. At most institutions, you indicate your NL Scholarship interest within the same admissions application rather than through a separate form
- Submit all required documents before the institution’s scholarship deadline. Late or incomplete submissions are not considered
One practical detail worth knowing: at several participating institutions, including Radboud University, you must indicate your scholarship interest at the point of applying for admission. You cannot go back and add a scholarship application after you have already submitted your admission application. Check this before you start the admissions form.
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Application Deadline
For the 2026-2027 cycle, applications opened on November 1, 2025. Institution-specific deadlines ran from January through June 2026, with the most common cutoffs falling on February 1 and May 1. The 2027-2028 cycle is expected to open around November 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NL Scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a one-time €5,000 payment in your first year only. It contributes toward study-related costs but does not cover full tuition, housing, living expenses, or any costs beyond the first year.
Can I apply to multiple institutions for the NL Scholarship at the same time?
Yes, you can apply to multiple participating institutions. However, you can only receive the scholarship once and from one institution.
Can EEA citizens apply for the NL Scholarship?
No. The scholarship is specifically for nationals from outside the European Economic Area. EU, EEA, and Swiss passport holders are not eligible.
Can I apply if I already have a degree from a Dutch institution?
No. Applicants who have previously obtained a degree from any educational institution in the Netherlands are not eligible.
How competitive is the NL Scholarship?
It varies significantly by institution. Radboud University offered just 12 awards across the entire university for 2026-2027. Some universities of applied sciences offer more places but add their own selection criteria including interviews and motivation videos.
Where do I find my institution’s specific NL Scholarship deadline?
On the institution’s own website — not on Nuffic’s central page or on third-party listing sites. Search for your institution’s name plus “NL Scholarship” to find their specific page, and check it regularly once the 2027-2028 cycle opens.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from the official Study in NL and Nuffic websites, as well as individual institution pages, as of July 2026. Institution-specific details including deadlines, eligible programmes, and number of awards change annually. Always confirm the latest details directly on your chosen institution’s official NL Scholarship page before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Nuffic, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, or any participating Dutch institution.
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