Last Updated on February 3, 2022
Are you searching for scholarships to study abroad in the Netherlands? To help you in your search, we have compiled a list of Free Scholarships in the Netherlands for international students.
Free Scholarships in the Netherlands are offered by the Dutch government and many higher institutions alongside grants, awards, and bursaries to international students in a bid to help them to finance their education.
There are application processes individual applicants must follow in order to forestall their scholarships. It is also necessary to note the deadlines and apply before the closure so as not to be rejected. Also, there are limited Netherlands scholarships.
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Why Study in the Netherlands?
There must be a reason why there are 90,000 international students in the Netherlands, a number that is increasing every year. In fact, there are several very good reasons.
International atmosphere
The Netherlands is well-known as an open society. A hub for business and commerce, according to the 2014 Global Connectedness Index, it is the world’s most internationally connected country (economically and geographically). Today, the country is home to over 200 nationalities. The national language is Dutch, but the Netherlands has the second-highest level of English proficiency in continental Europe, after Sweden. With little to no language barrier, the Netherlands is an excellent study destination.
High quality
To start with, you’ll get a great education and excellent value for money here. The high quality of the tuition offered by Dutch educational institutions is widely acknowledged and tuition fees and the cost of living in the Netherlands are considerably lower than in many English-speaking countries. Furthermore, the Netherlands also offers a range of scholarship opportunities.
Interactive and student-centred
To increase your chances on the job market, you’ll acquire and develop valuable skills, such as problem analysis and solving, and creative thinking. The Dutch teaching style is interactive and student-centred. You’ll learn how to form your own opinion, maintain an open mind and increase your international orientation.
International orientation
That international orientation will be underscored by the fact that every year the Netherlands welcomes students from over 160 different countries. Moreover, Dutch society is strongly connected to other cultures and the international business community. The Dutch are also open-minded and direct, making it easy to meet them and exchange ideas. Language need never be a problem in the Netherlands. Dutch universities offer the largest number of English-taught programmes in continental Europe. And with 95 per cent of Dutch people being able to speak English, you’ll never be lost for words here.
City life and nature
The Netherlands is quite a small country, and that is part of its charm. Amazing places and experiences are within reach. For those who favour city life, major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht are all close to Leiden and The Hague. They make for great destinations for day or weekend trips, with abundant opportunities to enjoy music, theatre, restaurants, cafés, architecture and art. But if you’d rather find relaxation and inspiration in nature, you also have many options. You could spend time at one of the sandy beaches that stretch along the Netherlands’ North Sea coast dotted across the country.
Happy people
As if all these weren’t reasons enough, the Netherlands is also one of the best countries in the world in which to live, as well as being a gateway to Europe. According to the 2016 Global Peace Index, the Netherlands is one of the world’s safest countries and the OECD’s Better Life Index cites it as one of the happiest. Finally, thanks to the country’s location and excellent transport links, most of Europe’s capital cities are no more than a few hours away.
Having the whole of Europe at my doorstep has been a great adventure for me. Last Christmas break I took a last-minute trip to Lisbon in order to soak up some winter sun! Rachel Quennell, Australia, BA International Studies, graduated 2017
Free Scholarships in Netherlands for International Students
The following are some of the free scholarships available in the Netherlands and the required information necessary for their application.
Holland Scholarships
The Holland Scholarship is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree at participating Universities in Holland. The scholarship amounts to € 5,000 which you will receive in the first year of your studies.
Orange Knowledge Programme
The Orange Knowledge Programme aims to advance the development of the capacity, knowledge and quality of both individuals as well as organisations both in the field of higher and vocational education and in other fields related to the priority themes in the programme countries. An OKP scholarship is intended to supplement the salary that you should continue to receive during the scholarship period. The scholarship is a contribution towards your costs of living and costs such as tuition fees, visa, travel, insurance etc.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships in Netherlands
Dutch Universities participate in quite a number of study programs that are funded by Erasmus Mundus Scholarships. The scholarships allow international students to pursue a participating Erasmus Mundus study program in the Netherlands.
Leiden University Excellence Scholarships
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship Programme (LExS) is open to outstanding non-EU/EEA students pursuing any MA, MSc and LL.M programmes offered at Leiden University. The scholarships come in the form of the following: €10,000 of the tuition fee, €15,000 of the tuition fee, or the total tuition fee minus the home fee.
University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships
Maastricht University (UM) offers the UM High Potential Scholarships to talented students from outside the EEA to follow any UM master’s programme or graduate programme for professionals offered at the University, except for the School of Business and Economics. The scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses per month, insurance, and visa costs.
Radboud University Scholarship Programme
The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers a selected number of talented prospective non-EEA students the opportunity to receive a scholarship to pursue a complete English-taught Master’s degree programme at Radboud University Nijmegen. The scholarship is not an amount of money that you will receive in your bank account but consists of a partial tuition waiver. The tuition fee will be waived to the level of an EEA student. In addition, the Radboud Scholarship also covers costs such as visas, residence permits, health insurance and liability insurance.
Utrecht University Excellence Scholarships
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship offers a number of outstanding prospective students the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a selected number of fields at Utrecht University. The Utrecht Excellence scholarship can be awarded as tuition fees OR tuition fees plus 11.000 euro living expenses.
Erik Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen
The Erik Bleumink Fund Scholarships are usually awarded for any 1 year or 2 years Master’s degree programme offered at the University of Groningen. The grant covers the tuition fees plus the costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.
TU Delft Excellence Scholarships
The Delft University of Technology offers a number of excellence scholarship programs for international students. The Justus & Louise van Effen scholarship is one of those programs and it aims to financially support excellent international MSc students wishing to study at TU Delft. The scholarship is a full scholarship – coverage of tuition fees and monthly allowance for living expenses.
Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (Netherlands)
The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship. Depending on the faculty, the scholarship can vary between €2,000 – €25,000.
University of Twente Scholarships
University Twente Scholarships (UTS) are scholarships for excellent students from both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries, applying for a graduate programme (MSc) at the University of Twente. The scholarship amount is from € 6,000 – € 25,000 for one year.
VU University Amsterdam Fellowship Programme
The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) offers talented prospective students from outside the EU/EEA the unique opportunity to pursue a degree in a selection of Master’s programmes at VU University. The fellowship awards €15.000 to students paying the tuition fee for non-EEA students.