The NL Scholarship: EUR 5,000 Deep Dive
See how far EUR 5,000 goes, how universities pay it out, which institutions take part, and how it compares with the Dutch excellence scholarships.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
At a Glance
The grant is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with the participating research universities and universities of applied sciences. Study in NL is explicit: “this is not a full-tuition scholarship.”
How Far Does EUR 5,000 Go?
The NL Scholarship covers a fraction of total costs. Here is the share it covers at different tuition levels.
HBO bachelor’s at €8,000 tuition, a research master’s at €18,000 and a business MBA at €30,000. Total first-year costs (tuition plus living) run €18,000–45,000 depending on programme and city.
How the EUR 5,000 Is Paid
Universities use one of two models. Ask yours which applies.
Tuition invoice deduction (some universities)
The €5,000 is deducted from your tuition. If tuition is €15,000, you pay €10,000. You never see the money in your bank account.
Living-cost payments (several universities)
The €5,000 is paid to you during your first year, in one sum or in instalments depending on the university. Spread over 12 months it is about €416 a month. You still pay full tuition, but receive cash for living expenses. VU Amsterdam, the University of Groningen and Utrecht University, for example, describe it as a contribution towards living costs.
For 2026–27 Utrecht University awarded its NL Scholarship in three tiers — €5,000, €10,000 or €15,000 in the first year — with results by mid-April. Check whether the same tiers apply for 2027–28.
Participating Institutions
Eligibility →Study in NL lists 11 research universities and 23 universities of applied sciences and arts for 2026–2027. The list changes every year.
Research universities (11)
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, VU Amsterdam and Wageningen University & Research.
Applied sciences and arts (23)
Aeres, Amsterdam UAS, Amsterdam University of the Arts, ArtEZ, Breda UAS, Codarts Rotterdam, Design Academy Eindhoven, Driestar Christian University, Fontys UAS, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, The Hague UAS, Hanze UAS, Hotelschool The Hague, HAN UAS, HKU, HU Utrecht, HZ, NHL Stenden UAS, Rotterdam UAS, Saxion UAS, Thomas More Hogeschool, University of the Arts The Hague and Zuyd UAS. Full list at studyinnl.org.
UvA, TU Delft, Leiden, Erasmus Rotterdam and Tilburg are not on the 2026–27 list; they offer their own scholarships.
NL Scholarship vs Excellence Scholarships
One-time, first year. 34 institutions. Low competition and an easy application.
Covers tuition and living costs. UvA only, master’s; you must be in the top 10% of your class.
Used to pay tuition plus €12,000 living costs at Utrecht (master’s, under 5% acceptance, leadership required). Discontinued for programmes starting in 2026–27 or later because of budget cuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a one-time payment in the first year only. For a 3-year bachelor’s, you get €5,000 total, not €15,000.
No. You apply through your chosen university’s own portal. Nuffic coordinates but does not process individual applications.
No. The NL Scholarship is exclusively for non-EEA nationals. EU/EEA students pay statutory tuition (€2,694 in 2026–27) and can access DUO finance instead.
No. €5,000 covers about 17–62% of one year’s tuition, or 11–28% of total first-year costs of €18,000–45,000.
No. It was discontinued in 2024. Sources still listing it are outdated.
Same scholarship. Renamed in June 2023. Old sources use the old name. Always verify on studyinnl.org.
At most universities, yes. Some restrict combining. Read the specific terms for each scholarship.
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