Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship programme is one of the most competitive masters funding opportunities in the Netherlands. Each academic year, just 18 full scholarships are awarded to exceptional students from outside the European Union, Switzerland, and Suriname.
The scholarship combines two funding streams: the High Potential Scholarship (funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund) and the NL Scholarship (financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science alongside Dutch higher education institutions). This dual structure ensures comprehensive financial support for recipients.
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For African applicants from Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this represents a rare opportunity for fully funded graduate study in Europe—with the caveat that competition is intense. Only 2% of applicants receive the award.
What the Scholarship Covers
The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship is a complete funding package:
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- Living expenses: €20,150 for 13-month programmes or €38,750 for 25-month programmes (paid monthly at approximately €1,550)
- Tuition fees: Full waiver, paid directly by UM
- Health and liability insurance: €700, arranged and paid by UM
- Visa application costs: Paid at actual cost by UM
- Pre-Academic Training: Mandatory two-week programme in early August 2027, costs covered
- International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP): First block costs covered
- Accommodation: Mandatory room allocation until 16 July 2028 (second-year housing not included for two-year programmes)
Important exclusions: Air tickets are not covered. A cleaning fee of approximately €75 must be paid upfront to Maastricht Housing. The provided accommodation cannot accommodate partners, spouses, children, or pets.
Living Expenses Breakdown
The monthly €1,550 living allowance is allocated as follows:
- Housing: €960
- Groceries and personal hygiene: €160
- Telephone: €60
- Travel: €100
- Books and study materials: €90
- Clothing, hobbies, and going out: €125
- Miscellaneous: €55
Eligibility Requirements
All candidates must satisfy every requirement below. Partial compliance results in automatic disqualification.
- Nationality in a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname
- Meet Dutch entry visa and residence permit requirements (MVV visa)
- No dual nationality from any EU/EEA country or Switzerland
- Applied for admission to a participating full-time masters programme at UM for 2027-2028
- Complete application file submitted before 10 December 2026, meeting all admission requirements
- Never previously enrolled in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands (exchange programmes are permitted)
- Preference given to candidates without an existing masters degree
- Not older than 35 years on 1 September 2027
- GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher (equivalent to 75% or 3.0/4.0 depending on grading system)
- Commitment to serve as UM ambassador during and after studies (minimum one information session)
- Only one application permitted per candidate
Special note for Zimbabwe/SADC applicants: If you hold a valid residence permit for another Schengen country, it must remain valid until at least 2 September 2027. Otherwise, you must apply from your home country via MVV visa application.
Application Procedure
Step 1: Apply for Admission
Submit your masters programme application via Studielink.nl. You must select from the list of participating programmes for 2027-2028. Upon submission, you will receive a UM student ID number required for the scholarship application.
Critical deadline: All admission requirements must be met and your file completed by 10 December 2026. By the scholarship deadline of 1 February 2027, you must have satisfied all registration requirements except legal residence, tuition payment, and hard copy diploma submission.
If your programme requires a handling fee, you are responsible for payment by 10 December 2026. The International Services Desk does not cover these fees.
Step 2: Submit Scholarship Application
Log in with your UM account and complete the online scholarship application form. Upload all documents in .doc, .docx, or PDF format. You may submit only once—no additions or replacements permitted after submission.
Required Documents
- Curriculum vitae: Maximum two A4 pages, current, including education, work experience, and any awards
- Letter of motivation: Must use the official template provided by UM
- Proof of academic excellence: University transcript showing GPA of 7.5/10 or higher, plus document explaining your grading system
- Personal statement of financial needs: Explanation of why you require scholarship support, including any relevant circumstances (financial difficulty, caretaking responsibilities, medical conditions, disability, refugee status, etc.)
- Reference letter: From a professor, lecturer, or employer (not family), dated no earlier than February 2026, following UM guidelines. You upload this yourself—referees cannot submit directly.
- Referee contact details: Name, relationship to you, work telephone with country code, and institutional email address (personal emails rejected)
Selection Procedure
- February 2027: International Services Desk verifies application completeness and forwards to faculties
- March 2027: Each faculty selects and ranks top 5 applicants; final check by International Services Desk
- Late March 2027: Selected candidates invited for online interview
- April 2027: All candidates notified of status (selected, waitlisted, or rejected)
- By early May 2027: Waitlist decisions finalized
Awardees receive information about the mandatory Pre-Academic Training (first week of August 2027) and arrival procedures. You must sign and return the award letter to accept the scholarship.
Participating Programmes
Only specific masters programmes participate in this scholarship. The full list for 2027-2028 is available on the official UM website. For 2028-2029 programmes, applications open from 1 October 2027.
Contact Information
Email: hhp.scholarship@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Office: UM International Services Desk
Official scholarship page: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/studeren/toelating-inschrijving/financing-your-studies/scholarships/maastricht-university-nl-high
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
