Are you planning to study in Europe in 2027? The NL Scholarship Netherlands 2027 could be an excellent opportunity for international students who want to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree at a participating Dutch higher education institution.
The scholarship is designed for talented students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences. The official scholarship amount is €5,000, awarded during the first year of study.
Important: The NL Scholarship should not be described as a fully funded scholarship. The €5,000 is a financial contribution and does not cover all tuition fees or living expenses.
Why Study in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is one of Europe's most attractive destinations for international students. Dutch institutions offer a wide range of internationally oriented programmes, including many courses taught in English.
Depending on your chosen institution and programme, students can study areas such as:
Engineering and Technology
Business and Economics
Computer Science
Social Sciences
Arts and Design
Environmental Sciences
Agriculture
International Studies
Health-related fields
Humanities
Communication
Management
The country also has both research universities and universities of applied sciences, allowing students to choose between research-oriented and professionally focused education.
NL Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
Scholarship Details
Scholarship name : NL Scholarship
Country : Netherlands
Study level : Bachelor's and Master's
Target applicants : International students from outside the EEA
Award value : €5,000
Previous Dutch degree Not eligible under the general criteria
2027/28 deadline Must be checked with the selected institution
The official programme states that the scholarship is intended for non-EEA international students applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating Dutch higher education institution.
What Does the NL Scholarship Cover?
The headline figure for the programme is €5,000.
This amount can provide meaningful financial assistance during the first year of your studies. However, applicants should carefully understand what this means before applying.
The scholarship provides:
€5,000 in financial support during the first year.
The scholarship does NOT automatically mean:
- Full tuition coverage
- Full accommodation coverage
- Complete living-cost coverage
- Automatic payment of all travel expenses
- Automatic visa financing
For non-EEA students, tuition fees can be considerably higher than the statutory fee paid by eligible EU/EEA students. Study in NL currently reports average non-EEA tuition ranges of approximately €9,000–€20,000 per year for bachelor's programmes and €12,000–€30,000 for master's programmes, although the actual amount depends on the institution and programme.
Therefore, candidates should prepare a realistic financial plan in addition to applying for the scholarship.
Who Can Apply?
The general NL Scholarship eligibility requirements include the following:
1. You must be a non-EEA national
The scholarship is aimed at students whose nationality is outside the European Economic Area.
2. You must apply for a full-time programme
Your application must be for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating Dutch higher education institution.
3. You must meet the university's admission requirements
Each institution can establish its own academic and programme-specific requirements.
This means that meeting the general scholarship conditions does not automatically guarantee admission to your chosen university.
4. You must not already hold a degree from a Dutch educational institution
This is one of the general eligibility conditions published by Study in NL.
Which Universities Participate?
One important detail for applicants is that the participating institutions can change from one academic year to another.
For 2026–2027, the official Study in NL information lists participating research universities including:
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Maastricht University
- Protestant Theological University
- Radboud University
- Theological University Apeldoorn
- University of Groningen
- University of Twente
- Utrecht Theological University
- Utrecht University
- VU Amsterdam
- Wageningen University & Research
The 2026–2027 participating universities of applied sciences include institutions such as:
- Aeres University of Applied Sciences
- Amsterdam 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
- Hanze University of Applied Sciences
- HAN University of Applied Sciences
- HKU University of Applied Sciences
- HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht
- HZ University of Applied Sciences
- NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
- Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Saxion University of Applied Sciences
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences
- Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
Check the 2027–2028 list
Do not assume that every institution listed for 2026–2027 will participate in 2027–2028. Study in NL explicitly notes that the participating institution list changes every year. Applicants should therefore check the official list once the 2027–2028 information is published.
What Can You Study?
The NL Scholarship is not limited to one particular academic field.
The available programmes depend on the participating institution and its scholarship conditions.
Potential areas can include:
Technology → Business → Engineering → Economics → Social Sciences → Arts → Design → Environmental Studies → Agriculture → Humanities → International Studies
However, students should never assume that a specific programme is eligible simply because the university participates in the NL Scholarship.
The programme and institution should be checked individually before submitting an application.
How to Apply for the Netherlands Scholarship 2027
The application process is different from simply submitting one general government scholarship form.
A practical route is:
STEP 01 — Choose your study programme
Start by finding a suitable bachelor's or master's programme in the Netherlands.
STEP 02 — Check the institution
Confirm that your selected institution participates in the NL Scholarship programme for the relevant academic year.
STEP 03 — Review admission requirements
Check the university's academic, language and programme-specific requirements.
STEP 04 — Apply for admission
For many Dutch programmes, international students use Studielink, the official registration and application portal, although some institutions may use their own procedure.
STEP 05 — Apply for the NL Scholarship
After checking the institution's instructions, submit the scholarship application through the procedure specified by that university or university of applied sciences.
STEP 06 — Monitor your application
Keep checking your email and the university's application portal for admission and scholarship decisions.
NL Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There is no single universal deadline that should be assumed for every participating institution.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, Study in NL states that applications opened on 1 November 2025, while applicants were instructed to check their chosen institution for the specific closing date.
Therefore, candidates targeting the 2027–2028 academic year should verify the exact scholarship deadline directly with the institution they intend to attend.
Do not wait until the last moment, because university admission deadlines can also be earlier than the scholarship deadline.
Documents You May Need
The exact document list depends on your chosen institution and programme, but applicants should generally be prepared for documents such as:
- Valid passport or identification document
- Academic certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Curriculum vitae
- Motivation letter
- Proof of English-language proficiency, when required
- Recommendation letters, if requested
- Academic or professional documents required by the programme
- Admission application information
Study in NL recommends starting the scholarship process early because applicants may need documents such as motivation letters and English test results.
Why Consider the NL Scholarship?
Despite not being fully funded, the programme can still be attractive because it combines financial assistance with the opportunity to study at participating Dutch institutions.
Official Application
Apply and check the latest official instructions:
NL Scholarship – Official Application Page
Official scholarship information:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NL Scholarship 2027 fully funded?
No. The official scholarship amount is €5,000, and Study in NL explicitly states that the award is not a full-tuition scholarship.
How much is the NL Scholarship worth?
The NL Scholarship amounts to €5,000, paid during the first year of study.
Can international students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is intended for students from outside the EEA who want to pursue a full-time bachelor's or master's degree at a participating Dutch institution.
Can I apply for a bachelor's degree?
Yes. Bachelor's programmes are included, provided that the programme and institution meet the scholarship conditions.
Can I apply for a master's degree?
Yes. Master's programmes are also covered by the general NL Scholarship framework.
Does the NL Scholarship cover all tuition fees?
No. The €5,000 award is a contribution and does not automatically cover full tuition.