Start your study journey in the Netherlands. Good news! The Holland Scholarship is now open. In this article, we'll explain in detail the scholarship, its benefits, and the application steps.

The Dutch government is offering scholarships to international students for the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship is available for undergraduate and master's studies and provides recipients with €5,000 to cover tuition fees .

The Holland Scholarship accepts applications from international students from outside the European Economic Area to pursue undergraduate and master's studies at Dutch research and applied universities. The Holland Scholarship is offered by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and is awarded to outstanding students.

Scholarship Summary

• Study level: Bachelor's / Master's
• Institution(s): Participating research universities and Participating universities of applied sciences
• Study in:  Netherlands
• Courses Offered: Bachelor's or Master's program in eligible fields of study offered by participating institutions.
• Program Period: The scholarship is awarded for one year and can only be awarded once.
• Deadline: February 1, 2026 / May 1, 2026 / June 1, 2026 (Applications open for the 2026-2027 academic year)

Participating research universities

Below is an overview of the Dutch research universities participating in the Holland Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. You can find the application deadlines and fields of study for this academic year on the website of the institution to which you wish to apply.

• Utrecht University
• University of Groningen
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Maastricht University
• VU Amsterdam
• Radboud University
• Delft University of Technology
• Eindhoven University of Technology
• University of Twente
• Theological University Apeldoorn
• Theological University Kampen

Participating universities in applied sciences

Below is an overview of the Dutch universities of applied sciences participating in the Holland Scholarship for the upcoming academic year.

• Aeres University of Applied Sciences
• Amsterdam University of the Arts
• ArtEZ Institute of the Arts
• Breda University of Applied Sciences
• Codarts Rotterdam
• Design Academy Eindhoven
• Fontys University of Applied Sciences
• Gerrit Rietveld Academie
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences
• Hotelschool The Hague
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
• HAN University of Applied Sciences
• HKU University of Applied Sciences
• HZ University of Applied Sciences
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences
• University of the Arts, The Hague
• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Scholarship coverage

The NL scholarship provides the beneficiary with the following:

• The value of the grant is 5,000 euros.
• Please note that this is not a full scholarship.

Eligibility criteria for the Holland Scholarship

To qualify for an NL scholarship, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

• Required languages:  English
• Eligible countries:  International students from outside the European Economic Area
• You apply for a full-time Bachelor's or Master's programme at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.
• Your nationality is not from the European Economic Area.
• You must meet the requirements of your chosen institution. You can find them on the institution's website. For more click here.
• You do not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.

How to apply for a Holland scholarship?

Please follow the instructions below to benefit from the NL grant:

1. Apply for the NL Scholarship. Click here.
2. You can find an overview of participating research universities and participating universities of applied sciences and selected fields of study.
3. Write a motivational letter (maximum 500 words) to the university, describing why you are a talented student, taking into account your academic achievements and extracurricular activities (e.g., volunteer work).
4. Indicate in your online application that you are applying for a Holland Scholarship, then upload your motivation letter in the designated place. The university will contact you to inform you of your scholarship award.

Website

To learn more about the Holland Scholarship, please visit the official website: