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NL Scholarship Eligibility 2027: Who Actually Qualifies?

Take the 60-second eligibility quiz, compare the rules for each Dutch scholarship type, and check that your documents are ready before your university's 2027–28 deadline.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 5 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Check Your Eligibility in 60 Seconds

Answer six quick questions to find out if you qualify for the NL Scholarship.

Result

You are likely eligible! You meet all core NL Scholarship criteria. Start your application now.

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Result

You may not be eligible. You answered No to question(s). Review the criteria below or explore alternatives.

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Eligibility by Scholarship Type

Each type of Dutch funding has its own rules. Here they are side by side.

NL Scholarship — €5,000, one-time, first year only

Non-EEA nationality
Full-time bachelor’s or master’s
At a participating institution (34 in the 2026–27 list)
No previous Dutch degree
No age limit
No work experience needed

University-specific scholarships — €10k to full funding

Tuition waivers plus living costs at top universities. Typical rules:

Non-EU nationality (typically)
Master’s level (mostly)
High GPA required (8.0/10+)
A strong motivation letter is essential

MENA Scholarship Programme

Managed by Nuffic and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It used to fund full master’s degrees as well as short courses; Nuffic now describes it as funding short courses in the Netherlands for young professionals, in rounds that open periodically.

Nationals of participating MENA countries only — Nuffic names Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman and Tunisia, among others; Syrian nationals living in another MSP country may also apply. Check the current list
Professionals with work experience (typically 2+ years)
Age limit: typically 45 — confirm in the current call
Covers course fees, living costs, travel and insurance for the course

DUO student finance (EU/EEA students)

EU/EEA nationality
Must work 56 hours a month in the Netherlands
Enrolled at a Dutch institution
Low statutory tuition: €2,694 a year in 2026–27

DUO pays a basic grant plus a supplementary grant of up to €491.08 a month in 2026 (depending on parental income), and a student travel product, renewed each year.

Document Readiness Checklist

Tick each item as you gather your documents.

0/7 ready · tap an item to tick it off

Valid passport — Must be valid 6+ months beyond your arrival date
Academic transcripts — Official, in English or Dutch, or a certified translation
Language test score — IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL 80–100, within 2 years
Motivation letter — 500–700 words (or the programme’s limit), tailored to each university
CV / resume — 1–2 pages, academic format preferred
Proof of finances — About €13,569+ in bank statements for the visa (2026 IND norm)
Diploma / degree certificate — Previous degree certificate, apostilled if required

Participating Institutions

Study in NL lists 34 institutions for 2026–2027: 11 research universities and 23 universities of applied sciences and arts. The list changes every year, and the 2027–2028 list is not yet on Study in NL, so confirm with your university.

Research universities (WO), 2026–27

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
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
Wageningen University & Research

Universities of applied sciences and arts (HBO), 2026–27

Aeres, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of the Arts, ArtEZ, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Codarts Rotterdam, Design Academy Eindhoven, Driestar Christian University, Fontys, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Hanze, Hotelschool The Hague, HAN, HKU, HU Utrecht, HZ, NHL Stenden, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Saxion, Thomas More Hogeschool, University of the Arts The Hague and Zuyd. Full list at studyinnl.org.

Not on the 2026–27 list

The University of Amsterdam, TU Delft, Leiden University, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tilburg University (and Avans and Wittenborg among applied sciences) appeared in earlier versions of this guide but are not on Study in NL’s 2026–27 list. They run their own scholarships instead — see Alternatives.

Important

Not every programme at a participating university is eligible. Some universities restrict the NL Scholarship to specific faculties. Always verify on the individual university’s scholarship page.

Edge Cases & Common Questions

Yes. Since Brexit in 2020, British citizens are non-EEA nationals and eligible for the NL Scholarship. They now pay non-EU tuition rates and can apply for the same scholarships as students from India, Brazil or Nigeria.

If you hold dual nationality and one passport is from an EEA country, you are classified as an EEA national. This means lower tuition (€2,694 in 2026–27) and access to DUO finance, but no NL Scholarship eligibility.

Turkey is not in the EEA, so Turkish students are eligible. The Orange Tulip Scholarship for Turkish students was discontinued in 2024. Check what is currently available at your specific university.

They are technically Dutch nationals but may pay different tuition rates. The rules are genuinely complex and have changed over the years. Check directly with the university’s international office.

No. The NL Scholarship is only for full bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. PhD positions in the Netherlands are typically paid employment. Exchange semesters and pre-master’s programmes do not qualify.

No official age limit. Whether you are 18 or 45, you can apply. Individual university scholarships may have implicit preferences, and the MENA Scholarship has typically capped at 45, but the NL Scholarship itself has no age restriction. This makes it one of the most accessible options for mature students.

Same scholarship, different name. It was renamed from “Holland Scholarship” to “NL Scholarship” in June 2023. Old forum posts may use the old name with outdated details. Always verify on studyinnl.org.

How NL Compares to Major Scholarships

Criterion	NL Scholarship	Fulbright	DAAD	Erasmus Mundus
Nationality	Non-EEA	160+ countries	Varies	All
Work experience	Not required	Preferred	Varies	Not required
Value	EUR 5k once	Full funding	EUR 992/mo	EUR 1,400/mo
Complexity	Low	High	Med-High	High