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Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands 2027: 12 Best Options for International Students
If you’re searching for fully funded scholarships in Netherlands, you already know Dutch universities are some of the best-ranked in continental Europe — but figuring out which award genuinely covers tuition, housing, and living costs (instead of just a partial waiver) can eat up hours of research. This guide fixes that.
Below, you’ll find a carefully verified list of 12+ fully funded scholarships in Netherlands for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD applicants, along with what each one actually pays for, who qualifies, and the exact official page to apply on. We’ve also linked out to in-depth LicensureHub guides where we’ve already broken down the eligibility criteria and application steps in detail.
What Are Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands?
A fully funded scholarship in Netherlands is an award that covers the full cost of studying at a Dutch institution — not just a discount. In practice, that usually means:
- Full tuition fees (statutory or institutional rate, depending on nationality)
- A monthly living stipend for accommodation, food, and transport
- Health and liability insurance
- Travel costs to and from the Netherlands (on some programs)
It’s worth knowing upfront that not every scholarship marketed for the Netherlands is fully funded. Programs like the NL Scholarship provide a fixed one-time grant rather than full coverage, while others — like the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships — cover tuition and living expenses in full. We’ve flagged the funding level for every entry below so you don’t waste time applying to the wrong tier.
Why Study in the Netherlands
The Netherlands consistently ranks among Europe’s top study destinations, and it’s not just about the scholarships. Dutch universities offer:
- Over 2,100 English-taught degree programs, so IELTS/TOEFL is often your only language hurdle
- Globally ranked institutions — Delft University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and Utrecht University all sit inside the world’s top 100
- A central location that makes it easy to travel across the EU during breaks
- A large international student community and strong post-study work options (the Orientation Year visa)
If English proficiency is your main barrier to applying, it’s worth also checking our guide to fully funded scholarships without IELTS, since several Dutch institutions accept alternative English proficiency evidence for select programs.
Quick Comparison Table: Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands
| Scholarship | Host Institution | Study Level | Funding Level | Typical Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship) | Multiple Dutch universities | Bachelor’s, Master’s | Partial (€5,000 grant) | Feb–May (varies) |
| Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) | Leiden University | Master’s | Partial to full | Feb 1 |
| Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships | TU Delft | Master’s | Fully funded | Dec 1 |
| University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) | University of Twente | Master’s | Fully/partially funded | Various by round |
| Eric Bleumink Fund | University of Groningen | Master’s | Fully funded | Dec 1 |
| Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) | University of Amsterdam | Master’s | Fully funded | Jan 15 (varies by faculty) |
| Radboud Scholarship Programme | Radboud University | Master’s | Partial (tuition reduction) | Jan–Feb |
| Utrecht Excellence Scholarships | Utrecht University | Bachelor’s, Master’s | Fully funded | Jan–Feb |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees | Multiple (incl. Dutch universities) | Master’s | Fully funded | Dec–Jan |
| Orange Tulip Scholarship | Nuffic Neso partner countries | Bachelor’s, Master’s | Partial to full | Varies by country |
| VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | PhD | Fully funded | Rolling / per vacancy |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam Scholarships | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Master’s | Partial to full | Jan–Mar |
Deadlines shift slightly every intake cycle, so always confirm the exact date on the official page linked in each section below.
12 Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands for International Students
1. NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship)
The NL Scholarship, formerly known as the Holland Scholarship, is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating research universities and universities of applied sciences. It’s the most widely available scholarship in the Netherlands and a strong starting point if you’re new to Dutch scholarship applications.
- Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s
- Benefit: €5,000 one-time grant in your first year (not full tuition)
- Eligibility: Non-EEA nationals applying for a full-time program at a participating institution
- Apply: NL Scholarship — official page
2. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)
Leiden University’s own excellence scholarship supports outstanding non-EEA students in master’s programs, with awards reaching up to €19,000 depending on the program and nationality bracket. We’ve already published a complete breakdown of eligibility, deadlines, and the application process.
- Level: Master’s
- Benefit: Up to €19,000 (full or partial tuition coverage, varies by faculty)
- Read our full guide: Leiden University Excellence Scholarship: Win up to €19,000
3. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships (TU Delft)
Funded by the legacy of Justus and Louise van Effen, this is one of the most generous fully funded scholarships in Netherlands for engineering and technology students. It covers tuition in full plus a living stipend for two-year MSc programs at TU Delft.
- Level: Master’s (2-year programs only)
- Benefit: Around €30,000/year for non-EU/EFTA students — full tuition + living contribution
- Eligibility: Admitted to a 2-year regular TU Delft MSc program, top 10% of your previous cohort
- Apply: TU Delft — Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships
4. University of Twente Scholarship (UTS)
The UTS is designed for excellent students from non-EU/EEA countries applying to a graduate program at the University of Twente. Awards range from €3,000 to €22,000 depending on program length and financial need.
- Level: Master’s
- Benefit: €3,000–€22,000 toward study-related costs
- Apply: University of Twente — UTS official page
5. Eric Bleumink Fund (University of Groningen)
The Eric Bleumink Fund supports talented students from developing countries who want to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Groningen. You can’t apply directly — you’re nominated by the university’s Admission Office after you’ve applied for and received an offer on a master’s program.
- Level: Master’s (1–2 years)
- Benefit: Full tuition, international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance
- Apply (via nomination): University of Groningen — Eric Bleumink Fellowship
6. Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS)
The University of Amsterdam awards the AMS to outstanding non-EU/EEA students applying for a master’s program for the first time. The scholarship amount varies by faculty but can equal the full tuition fee plus a living allowance.
- Level: Master’s
- Benefit: Full tuition + additional living allowance (up to roughly €25,900 for 2026–2027)
- Apply: University of Amsterdam — Amsterdam Merit Scholarship
7. Radboud Scholarship Programme
Radboud University’s flagship scholarship reduces your tuition fee dramatically — down to around €2,694 instead of paying the full non-EEA rate — for a complete English-taught master’s program, and also covers visa, insurance, and residence permit costs.
- Level: Master’s
- Benefit: Tuition reduced to EEA-level rate + visa/insurance costs covered
- Apply: Radboud University — Radboud Scholarship Programme
8. Utrecht Excellence Scholarships
Utrecht University offers a limited number of Excellence Scholarships each year to outstanding prospective students, covering full tuition and up to €11,000 in living expenses for select bachelor’s and master’s programs.
- Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s
- Benefit: Full tuition, or full tuition + €11,000 for living costs
- Apply: Utrecht University — official scholarships portal
9. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees
Several Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programs are hosted (in part or fully) by Dutch universities. These are EU-funded, cover tuition, a monthly stipend, travel, and insurance, and are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious fully funded routes into Europe.
- Level: Master’s (joint programs, often 2 countries+)
- Benefit: Full tuition, monthly stipend, installation and travel costs
- Apply: European Commission — Erasmus Mundus Catalogue
10. Orange Tulip Scholarship
Managed by Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, the Orange Tulip Scholarship is available to students from specific Nuffic Neso partner countries (including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Vietnam) and is customized by individual Dutch institutions.
- Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s
- Benefit: Ranges from partial tuition waivers to full funding, depending on the partner institution
- Apply: Nuffic — scholarships overview
11. VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam runs a PhD Fellowship Programme that funds doctoral research positions across faculties. Unlike master’s scholarships, PhD positions in the Netherlands are typically salaried employee contracts rather than stipends, making this one of the most financially secure fully funded routes for research-focused applicants.
- Level: PhD
- Benefit: Full salary, benefits, and research funding (varies by vacancy)
- Apply: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam — official site
12. Erasmus University Rotterdam Scholarships
Erasmus University Rotterdam (including Rotterdam School of Management) offers a range of scholarships for non-EU/EEA master’s applicants, from partial MBA awards to fully funded Erasmus Trustfonds grants for exceptional students.
- Level: Master’s
- Benefit: Partial to full tuition coverage, depending on program and award
- Apply: Erasmus University Rotterdam — official site
For a wider net beyond the Netherlands, our roundup of 60 fully funded scholarships for international students covers additional country-specific and global options worth comparing against your Dutch shortlist.
How to Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships in Netherlands
Image Prompt: A student’s desk viewed from above, showing a laptop open to a university application portal, a passport, a printed motivation letter, and a small Dutch flag pin, flat-lay photography style — alt text: “How to apply for fully funded scholarships in Netherlands”
- Shortlist programs, not just scholarships. Most Dutch scholarships require you to be admitted (or conditionally admitted) to the degree program first — the scholarship application is usually a second, separate step.
- Check institution-specific deadlines. Unlike national scholarship databases in some countries, the Netherlands’ system is decentralized: the NL Scholarship, Radboud Scholarship, and Utrecht Excellence Scholarship all run on different calendars set by each university.
- Prepare a tight motivation letter. Most Dutch scholarship committees weigh your statement heavily — focus on program fit, not a generic “why I want to study abroad” narrative.
- Gather your documents early. Transcripts, English proficiency scores, two reference letters, and a CV are standard across almost every scholarship on this list.
- Apply to more than one. Combining scholarships is often restricted (for example, the Radboud Scholarship cannot be combined with the Orange Tulip Scholarship), but applying to multiple institutions in parallel is allowed and recommended.
If you’re specifically targeting a master’s degree, our guide to fully funded master’s scholarships walks through how to structure applications across several countries at once, and our fully funded undergraduate scholarships guide covers the bachelor’s-level equivalent.
Eligibility Requirements You’ll See Repeated
Across almost every fully funded scholarship in Netherlands, you’ll encounter the same recurring criteria:
- Non-EU/EEA nationality (most Dutch scholarships explicitly target this group)
- Admission — or conditional admission — to a full-time program at the host institution
- A strong academic record, often “top 10%” language for the more competitive awards
- English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or an accepted university-specific test)
- A complete scholarship-specific application (motivation letter, references, CV) submitted before the institution’s internal deadline
If you don’t yet meet the English test requirement, revisit our scholarships without IELTS guide before assuming you’re ineligible — several Dutch programs accept alternatives.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
- Applying for the scholarship before securing program admission. Most Dutch scholarships require an active or conditional offer first.
- Missing the internal faculty deadline, which is often weeks earlier than the university’s general application deadline.
- Submitting a generic motivation letter that doesn’t reference the specific program, faculty, or research group.
- Assuming “scholarship” means fully funded. Several well-known Dutch awards (NL Scholarship, some Radboud tracks) are partial — pair them with savings, a part-time work permit, or a second scholarship where allowed.
- Ignoring African-student-specific routes. If you’re applying from Africa, cross-check our dedicated list of fully funded scholarships for African students, since several global programs on that list also fund Dutch universities.
People Also Ask
Is it hard to get a fully funded scholarship in the Netherlands?
Yes, relative to Dutch government grants like the NL Scholarship, fully funded institution-specific awards (such as the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships or Eric Bleumink Fund) are highly competitive, often awarding fewer than 20–50 places per year across the entire applicant pool.
Can I study in the Netherlands for free as an international student?
Not entirely for free in most cases, but scholarships like the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships, Eric Bleumink Fund, and Amsterdam Merit Scholarship cover full tuition plus living costs, which functions the same way for the recipient.
What GPA do I need for Dutch university scholarships?
Most competitive Dutch scholarships expect you to be in the top 10–20% of your previous graduating class, though minimum GPA requirements vary by university and faculty.
Are there fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands without IELTS?
Some are — certain Dutch institutions accept Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, or proof of prior English-medium education instead of IELTS. See our full scholarships without IELTS guide for specifics.
When should I apply for Netherlands scholarships for the next intake?
Most fully funded scholarships in Netherlands have deadlines between November and February for a September intake, so it’s best to start your program application at least 8–10 months in advance.
Which is the most generous fully funded scholarship in the Netherlands?
The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at TU Delft are among the most generous, covering full tuition plus roughly €30,000/year in combined support for two-year master’s programs.
Related Scholarship Guides
- 25+ Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada 2027
- Fully Funded Scholarships for African Students (45 Best)
- Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS: 20+ Best Options
- Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships: 70+ Best Options 2027
- Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships: 50+ Best Picks
- 60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarship: Win up to €19,000
Final Thoughts
Every entry above links either to a full LicensureHub guide (where the eligibility, benefits, and application steps are already broken down) or directly to the scholarship’s official page, so you can move from research straight into applying. Bookmark this page — we update the deadlines and amounts each intake cycle without changing the URL, so it will keep working as your yearly reference for fully funded scholarships in Netherlands.
