Scholarship Overview
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
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Overview
The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Excellence Programme is a competitive scholarship designed to attract excellent international students to its Master’s programmes. For African applicants from Zimbabwe and other SADC nations, this represents a significant opportunity—provided you hold nationality from one of the eligible countries listed below and do not hold EU or EFTA citizenship.
The scholarship covers only tuition fees for the full 24-month programme. Students must still pay approximately €16,500 for living costs, insurance, and residence permit fees before 1 July 2027.
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What the Scholarship Covers
- Tuition fee waiver: Full coverage for 24 months
- Student costs: Revised first-year invoice of approximately €16,500 covering living allowance, health and liability insurance, and residence permit fee
- Not covered: Travel costs, visa costs (separate from residence permit), or additional years beyond the standard programme duration
Eligible Countries
The Excellence Scholarship is restricted to nationals of specific countries selected to foster geographical diversity. Eligible countries include:
Argentina · Australia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Ecuador · Guatemala · Japan · Malaysia · Mexico · New Zealand · Peru · Singapore · South Korea · Thailand · Turkey · United Kingdom · United States of America
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Critical exclusion: Applicants who also hold nationality of any EU or EFTA country are ineligible, regardless of other citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements
- Nationality of at least one eligible country (and no EU/EFTA nationality)
- Unconditional admission to an eligible on-campus MSc programme at WUR
- High GPA of 80% or higher
- First Class Honours BSc degree or equivalent
- September 2027 start date only
- Not currently enrolled at Wageningen University
Application Timeline and Deadlines
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Complete MSc application deadline | 2026-12-01 |
| English test results deadline | 2026-12-01 |
| Bachelor’s diploma upload deadline | 2026-12-01 |
| Final stage notification | March–April 2027 |
| Scholarship offer date | 2027-04-07 |
| Payment deadline for remaining costs | 2027-07-01 |
Required Documents
A complete Master’s application must include:
- Official English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent) meeting WUR requirements
- Bachelor’s diploma confirming First Class Honours or equivalent with 80%+ GPA
- Complete application for eligible on-campus MSc programme
- All supporting documents as required for standard MSc admission
Important: English tests and diploma verification can take weeks. Plan testing and document procurement well in advance of the 1 December 2026 deadline.
Selection Process
The WU Scholarship Selection Committee coordinates a multi-stage process:
- Application review: All complete MSc applications submitted before 1 December 2026 are assessed
- Shortlisting: Around March–April 2027, selected applicants receive email notification advancing to the final stage
- Lottery: Final scholarship recipients are determined by lottery among finalists
- Offer: On 7 April 2027, scholarship offers are extended with remaining candidates placed on a waiting list
There is no separate scholarship application form. Eligibility is determined through the standard MSc admission process.
Comparison: Excellence vs. Africa Scholarship Programme
For African applicants, WUR offers the Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP), which provides more comprehensive funding including travel, living allowance, tuition, visa, and health insurance. However, ASP requires citizenship of an African country. Zimbabwean and SADC applicants should evaluate both programmes:
- Excellence: Tuition only; requires eligible country nationality; lottery selection
- ASP: Full funding; requires African citizenship; preference for first-time master’s students; lottery selection
Applicants cannot hold dual EU/EFTA nationality for either programme.
Alternative Funding at WUR
If ineligible for Excellence or ASP, consider:
- Anne van den Ban Fund (ABF): For developing countries; invitation-only; results May 2027
- NL Scholarship: €5,000–€15,000 for selected nationalities; not a full scholarship; separate application required by 1 May 2027
- Home country funding: Zimbabwean applicants should explore national scholarship programmes
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
