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Scholarships in the Netherlands

Scholarships for students from India and Pakistan include the government-backed NL Scholarship. Universities give their own awards too, such as the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Netherlands Scholarship Overview

Most scholarships cover part of your costs, not all.

About Dutch Scholarships

Many Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences (more practical universities) offer scholarships to international students. Some are for the whole university, others for one programme.

Common criteria are a strong academic record, language skills, nationality, motivation and essays, and specific experience.

Scholarship Overview

  • TU Delft offers 16 full scholarships for its regular master of science (MSc) programmes from the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence foundation.
  • Leiden University has around 25 LExS scholarships a year, and over a thousand students apply.

Why Apply for Scholarships?

  • Pay part or all of your tuition.
  • Some also help with living costs.
  • A scholarship letter can count as money proof for the IND (the Dutch immigration office).

Types of Scholarships

Two main kinds for students from India and Pakistan.

Government-backed

Paid by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Dutch universities.

  • NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship)

University scholarships

Set by each university, often for top students from outside the EEA.

  • Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship (TU Delft)
  • Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)
  • Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (UvA)
  • Eric Bleumink Fellowship (University of Groningen)
  • TU/e Scholarship for Excellence
  • NL-High Potential Scholarship (Maastricht University)

NL Scholarship

Financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and several Dutch universities.

The list of universities taking part changes every year. For 2026-27, the universities taking part included TU/e, Maastricht University, the University of Groningen and Utrecht University. Check each university's own deadline.

NL Scholarship

EUR 5,000 in the first year, for students from outside the EEA at a university that takes part. You must not already have a Dutch degree.

Key Benefits of Netherlands Government Scholarships

EUR 5,000 in your first year.

For a full-time bachelor's or master's.

University Scholarships

Examples from the universities students from India and Pakistan often choose.

NL Scholarship or University Scholarship?

The NL Scholarship gives EUR 5,000 in the first year. Some university scholarships cover full tuition, and a few also help with living costs.

Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship (TU Delft)

16 full scholarships for regular MSc programmes at TU Delft, from the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence foundation. Deadline: 1 December 2026, 23:59 Dutch time (CET).

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

Takes EUR 10,000, 15,000, 17,500, 18,500 or 19,000 off the tuition fee, for students from outside the EEA. Deadline: 1 December 2026.

Eric Bleumink Fellowship (University of Groningen)

Covers tuition, travel, living, books and health insurance. You cannot apply directly: the university picks students and puts their names forward. Finish your master's application before 1 December.

How to Find University Scholarships

Where to Look

  • Your programme's page on the university website.
  • The university's scholarship page.
  • The scholarship pages of Study in NL (the Dutch government's study website).

Application Tips

  • Apply for admission early so you can meet the scholarship deadline.
  • Read each scholarship's eligibility rules.
  • Plan your money for the costs the scholarship does not cover.

Tips for Your Scholarship Application

Strong grades and a clear motivation matter most.

Write down the early deadlines

TU Delft and Leiden: 1 December 2026. Maastricht University: 10 December 2026. University of Amsterdam (UvA), for example Econometrics: 15 January 2027.

Finish your admission application first

At TU Delft, UvA and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the scholarship is judged with a complete admission application.

Check you are eligible

Most are for students from outside the EEA. Some are only for certain programmes.

Write a focused motivation letter

For LExS, you upload a motivation letter of at most 500 words.

Show strong results

LExS winners are usually among the best 10% of graduates in their previous programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

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