NL Scholarship Success Rate: How Competitive Is It?
How competitive is the NL Scholarship really, what are your actual chances, and how does it compare to Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, Chevening and Eiffel? Here is the honest picture.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Scholarship Acceptance Rates Compared
No official NL Scholarship rate exists. Here is how it stacks up against major scholarships, based on available data and credible estimates.
| Scholarship | Est. acceptance | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus Mundus | ~3% | Full tuition + stipend; multi-country joint master’s |
| Chevening | ~2–3% | Full tuition + living; UK; requires 2+ years’ work experience |
| Fulbright | ~20% | Full tuition + stipend; USA & 160+ countries |
| Eiffel Excellence | ~23% | Stipend + housing; France |
| DAAD | ~25% | Stipend + health insurance; Germany; no tuition at public universities |
| NL Scholarship | Moderate (est. 25–40%) | €5,000 one-time; Netherlands; distributed across 34 institutions |
Nuffic publishes no official rate. The NL Scholarship is relatively accessible compared to Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus or Chevening. The modest €5,000 value, distribution across 34 institutions and lower global awareness all reduce competitive pressure. University-specific Dutch scholarships (Amsterdam Excellence, TU Delft Excellence) are a different story — those are very selective.
NL Scholarship vs University Scholarships
The NL Scholarship
The NL Scholarship is distributed across 34 institutions, each with its own allocation. Usually there is no separate essay, interview or review panel: selection is based on your existing application — GPA, motivation letter and CV. Lower global brand recognition means a smaller applicant pool. Allocations can be small: VU Amsterdam, for example, awards around 20–25 NL Scholarships a year.
Apply to both the NL Scholarship and university-specific scholarships at the same time. The NL Scholarship is your realistic fallback; the excellence scholarship is your stretch goal.
University-specific scholarships
Up to €25,000.
Full tuition waiver.
€10,000–15,000 or tuition waiver. Leiden’s LExS now ranges €10,000–19,000, with around 25 awards for over a thousand applicants.
Was tuition + €12,000 living. Discontinued for programmes starting in 2026–27 or later.
University-specific scholarships offer much more money and are therefore much more competitive. They often require separate essays, stronger academic profiles (top 5–10% of the class) and sometimes interviews. They attract the strongest applicants internationally.
How Competitive Are You?
Tick the factors that apply to you. The score shows your approximate competitiveness based on weighted criteria.
Low chanceModerateStrong candidate
- Top 20% GPA in my class (30 pts) — the primary criterion at most universities. The last two years matter most.
- Programme-specific motivation letter (25 pts) — mentions specific professors, courses or research groups. See the guide.
- Relevant internship, research or work experience (15 pts) — anything beyond attending classes: TA roles, community projects, research contributions.
- IELTS 7.0+ or equivalent above the minimum (12 pts) — exceeding the minimum by a healthy margin signals stronger communication skills.
- Applying before the scholarship deadline (10 pts) — the #1 avoidable mistake. The scholarship deadline is often earlier than the admission deadline. Check deadlines.
- From an underrepresented country (8 pts) — Latin America, Africa or other regions with fewer applicants to Dutch universities. Not official policy but widely observed.
With this profile at a mid-popularity university, your chances are good. Apply to both the NL Scholarship and university-specific excellence scholarships.
Focus on strengthening your motivation letter and consider less popular universities (Twente, Tilburg, Wageningen) for better odds.
Address the unticked items above. Consider retaking language tests, strengthening your motivation letter and broadening your university choices.
Improve Your Chances
Write a programme-specific motivation letter
Selection committees read hundreds of letters. If yours could apply to any university with a few name swaps, it will not stand out. Mention specific professors, courses and research groups, and explain why the Netherlands specifically. See our Motivation Letter guide.
Consider smaller, less popular universities
Amsterdam, Delft and Leiden attract the most applicants. Competition at the University of Twente, Tilburg or Wageningen is naturally lower. The education is excellent; the only difference is the city vibe. Fewer competitors means better odds for the same scholarship — and Twente and Wageningen are on the 2026–27 NL Scholarship list.
Retake language tests for higher scores
IELTS 6.0 meets admission requirements but doesn’t help your scholarship case. IELTS 7.0+ signals stronger communication skills. If you have time before the deadline, this is one of the most actionable improvements you can make.
Don’t rely on the NL Scholarship alone
€5,000 won’t sustain you. Apply to home-country government scholarships, check employer sponsorship, explore university-specific scholarships, and budget for realistic living costs with or without the grant.
Considering Other Countries?
Fully funded. A more demanding application with essays, interviews and country-specific panels.
Most competitive in Europe. Full funding for joint master’s across multiple countries.
Full UK funding. Requires 2+ years’ work experience. Not for fresh graduates.
Germany. Monthly stipend + health insurance. No tuition at public universities.
Next Steps
- Check Eligibility to confirm you qualify
- Read How to Apply for step-by-step instructions
- Study Deadlines — don’t miss the scholarship-specific date
- Prepare a strong Motivation Letter — this is your best lever
- Plan Housing early — the crisis affects everyone