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Netherlands Masters Fully Funded

Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Masters for Non-EU Students

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship offers 18 full scholarships annually for talented non-EU/EEA students to pursue master's degrees. The award covers tuition, living expenses (€1,550/month), health insurance, visa costs, and mandatory housing.

October 2, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: Feb 1, 2027

Quick Overview

Host CountryNetherlands
University/OrgMaastricht University
Degree LevelMasters
Funding TypeFully Funded
Fields of StudyVarious - see participating programmes list
DeadlineFebruary 1, 2027

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

The Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship is one of the most competitive fully funded scholarships for international students seeking graduate education in the Netherlands. Only 18 scholarships are awarded each academic year from over 900 applicants—an acceptance rate of approximately 2%.

This 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).

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What the Scholarship Covers

The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship is comprehensive, covering virtually all costs associated with studying and living in the Netherlands:

  • Living expenses: €20,150 (13 months) or €38,750 (25 months), paid monthly at €1,550
  • Tuition fees: Full waiver, arranged and paid by UM International Services Desk
  • Health and liability insurance: €700, arranged and paid by UM
  • Visa application costs: At cost, arranged and paid by UM
  • Pre-Academic Training costs: At cost, arranged and paid by UM
  • International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP): First block only, arranged and paid by UM
  • Mandatory housing: Room allocated until 16 July 2028 (second-year students must find their own housing)

Important exclusions: Air tickets are not included and must be paid by the candidate. A cleaning fee of approximately €75 must be paid upfront to Maastricht Housing. The provided accommodation is not suitable for partners, spouses, children, or pets.

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Living Expenses Breakdown

The monthly €1,550 stipend is allocated as follows (amounts subject to change):

  • 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

To qualify for the UM NL-High Potential Scholarship, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Nationality from a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Suriname
  • Meet requirements for Dutch entry visa and residence permit (MVV)
  • No dual nationality from any EU/EEA country or Switzerland
  • Applied for admission to a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University for 2027-2028
  • Submitted complete application meeting all admission requirements before 10 December 2026
  • Never participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands (exchange programmes are acceptable)
  • Preference given to candidates without a prior Master’s 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)
  • Willing to serve as an active UM ambassador during and after studies

Special note for applicants with Schengen residence permits: If you hold a valid residence permit for another Schengen country, it must remain valid until at least 2 September 2027. If it expires before this date, you must apply from your home country via an MVV visa application.

Duration

  • 13 months for one-year master’s programmes
  • 25 months for two-year master’s programmes

Application Procedure

Step 1: Apply for a Master’s Programme

Submit your application for a participating master’s programme via Studielink.nl. You must receive a UM student ID number to proceed. The deadline for complete programme applications is 10 December 2026.

Critical: By the scholarship deadline of 1 February 2027, you must have met all registration requirements except legal residence, tuition payment, and submission of hard copy diploma.

If your programme requires a handling fee, you are responsible for paying this by 10 December 2026—the scholarship does not cover handling fees.

Step 2: Submit Scholarship Application

Once you have your UM student ID, complete the scholarship application form using your UM account. Upload all required documents in .doc, .docx, or PDF format.

Important: The portal will be unavailable for upgrades from 22–26 October 2026. You can only submit once—no documents can be added or replaced after submission.

Required Documents

  • Curriculum vitae: Maximum two A4 pages, including awards and prizes
  • Letter of motivation: Use the official template provided by UM
  • Proof of academic excellence:
    • University transcript or official document showing GPA of 7.5/10 or higher
    • Document explaining your grade system
  • Personal statement of financial needs: Explain why you would benefit from the scholarship, including any circumstances such as financial difficulty, sole parenting, medical conditions, disability, or refugee status
  • Reference letter: From a (former) professor, lecturer, or employer—not family members. Must be dated no earlier than February 2026 and follow UM guidelines. You upload this yourself; referees cannot submit directly.
  • Referee contact details: Including relationship to you, work telephone with country code, and work/institutional email address (personal emails rejected)

Selection Procedure

  1. February 2027: UM International Services Desk checks application completeness
  2. February 2027: Complete applications forwarded to respective UM Faculties
  3. March 2027: Each Faculty selects and ranks their top 5 applicants
  4. End of March 2027: Final check by UM International Services Desk; selected candidates invited for online interview
  5. April 2027: Interviews conducted; all candidates informed of status (selected, waitlisted, or rejected) by early May 2027 at latest
  6. Upon selection: Sign and return award letter to accept scholarship

Scholarship awardees receive information about the mandatory UM Pre-Academic Training, a two-week programme beginning the first week of August 2027.

Advice for African and SADC Applicants

For applicants from Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this scholarship represents exceptional opportunity given the full cost coverage and monthly stipend in Euros. The 2% acceptance rate means preparation is critical:

  • Ensure your GPA conversion is clearly documented—contact your registrar for an official grading system explanation
  • Begin referee outreach early; academic references are preferred over employer references
  • Emphasize financial need authentically in your personal statement
  • Research your specific master’s programme thoroughly to demonstrate fit in your motivation letter
  • Prepare for the online interview by understanding Problem-Based Learning (PBL), UM’s signature teaching method

Contact Information

Email: hhp.scholarship@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Office: UM International Services Desk

Related scholarships

Official scholarship page: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/studeren/toelating-inschrijving/financing-your-studies/scholarships/maastricht-university-nl-high

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

Full tuition waiver; €20,150 (13 months) or €38,750 (25 months) living stipend; health and liability insurance; visa costs; Pre-Academic Training; mandatory housing until July 2028; ISAP first block. Excludes air tickets and €75 housing cleaning fee.

Eligibility Criteria

Non-EU/EEA/Switzerland/Suriname nationals; no dual EU nationality; applied to participating UM master's by 10 December 2026; never enrolled in Dutch degree programme; under 35 on 1 September 2027; GPA 7.5/10 or equivalent; willing to serve as ambassador

Required Documents

CV (max 2 pages); motivation letter (official template); transcript with GPA 7.5+/10; grade system explanation; personal statement of financial need; reference letter from professor/lecturer/employer (dated Feb 2026 or later); referee contact details

Application Process

1) Apply to participating master's via Studielink by 10 Dec 2026 to obtain UM student ID. 2) Complete scholarship application form with UM account by 1 Feb 2027, uploading all required documents. 3) Faculty review and ranking in March 2027. 4) Online interviews. 5) Final decision by early May 2027. 6) Sign and return award letter to accept.
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Frequently Asked Questions

The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship is extremely competitive. According to official figures, only 2% of applicants are awarded the scholarship—approximately 18 recipients from over 900 applications annually. Strong academic credentials (GPA 7.5+/10), compelling financial need, and alignment with UM's values as a future ambassador are essential.
You can apply, but preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master's degree. If you already hold a Master's, your application will be considered secondary to first-time Master's candidates with equivalent qualifications.
Yes, potentially. If your master's programme requires a handling fee for admissions, you must pay this by 10 December 2026—the scholarship does not cover handling fees. Additionally, you must pay approximately €75 cleaning fee to Maastricht Housing upfront if awarded the scholarship and accepting the mandatory room. Air tickets are also your responsibility.
Waitlisted applications are reviewed again and converted to either selected or rejected status by May 2027. If selected candidates decline their offers, waitlisted candidates may be advanced. You should prepare alternative funding plans while waiting, as no guarantee exists.
No. The mandatory housing provided through the scholarship is explicitly not suitable for partners, spouses, children, or pets. If you wish to bring family members, you must arrange separate housing and demonstrate sufficient additional funds for their support—this is not covered by the scholarship.
The UM Pre-Academic Training is a mandatory two-week programme for all scholarship awardees, beginning the first week of August 2027. Its costs are covered by the scholarship. The training prepares you for academic life at UM and Problem-Based Learning, and introduces you to the university community before regular classes begin.

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