10 Amsterdam Merit Scholarship Mistakes That Cost Applicants the Award

Each of these is avoidable. Most come from treating the AMS as a single university scholarship when it is really nine faculty schemes.

Timing mistakes

1. Using the programme deadline instead of the scholarship deadline

The most common and most final error. Non-EU applicants to many programmes have until 31 January or even 1 April. AMS candidates in most faculties must have the whole master’s application in by 15 January 2027. A complete file on 20 January gets a place, not a scholarship. See Deadlines.

2. Forgetting the second step

Some faculties need more than a tick-box. Humanities used a separate LLAMS form; Communication Science has a questionnaire by 7 February; Child Development and Education wants an email. Submitting the master’s application alone is not enough there.

3. Starting Studielink too late

You cannot reach SIS until Studielink registration is processed. Leave a few days for that, and more for certified documents.

Eligibility mistakes

4. Holding an EU passport as well

Dual nationals with an EU/EEA passport are excluded. Communication Science says this explicitly, and every faculty’s nationality rule has the same effect.

5. Applying for a second master’s or after Dutch study

Science and Social Sciences want your first master’s programme. Humanities excludes anyone who has studied at a Dutch university before, including pre-master’s and exchange. Check before you spend time on the letter.

6. Conditional admission

Social Sciences and Psychology consider only unconditionally admitted students. A missing English score or an unfinished degree statement can keep you out of the scholarship round even if you are admitted later.

File mistakes

7. Ignoring the word limit

Economics and Business allows 300 words. Science and Law allow 500. Communication Science allows one A4 page. Sending your 800-word general statement to all of them tells each panel you did not read its rules.

8. No proof of top-10% standing

Economics and Business requires a recommendation confirming you are in the top 10%. Elsewhere, a GPA alone may not show rank across grading systems. Ask a dean or supervisor to put your rank in writing.

9. Treating the AMS as full funding

Most awards are paid monthly while you pay full tuition, and several cover only part of the fee. Social Sciences and Child Development and Education ask for a financial or budget plan. A plan that assumes the AMS pays for everything is a weak plan. See Funding & Renewal.

10. Relying on old AES information

“€25,000, apply via the AES section, central committee” describes a scheme UvA no longer lists. Current amounts range from €4,000 to €37,500, selection is by faculty, and Law uses a lottery. Read your faculty’s current page.