1 to 2 years, matching the length of the chosen Master's programme
Deadline
December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination)
Level
Master's
Acceptance
—
Difficulty
Highly Competitive
Quick Summary
Eric Bleumink Fund offers Eric Bleumink Fund (University of Groningen Excellence Scholarship), a fully funded opportunity designed for international students heading to Netherlands. The award covers €15,000 and is open to master's students studying all master's disciplines offered at the university of groningen. The scholarship runs for 1 to 2 years, matching the length of the chosen master's programme. Eligibility is generally based on eligibility runs through Groningen's own admissions pipeline rather than a standalone application: a candidate must first apply for and receive an admission offer to a Groningen Master's programme, and only students whose offer is provisional or unconditional before the university's internal review can be put forward for nomination by the Admission Office and faculty boards. Because the fund exists for students without alternative financing, demonstrated financial need is assessed alongside academic merit when nominations are decided. The application deadline is December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination). Competition for this scholarship varies year to year, so early preparation of required documents is recommended.
✨ Should I Apply for Eric Bleumink Fund (University of Groningen Excellence Scholarship)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
6/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
20-35 hrs
Time Required
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
€15,000
⏳
Duration
1 to 2 years, matching the length of the chosen Master's programme
📅
Deadline
December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination)
🌎
Fields
All Master's disciplines offered at the University of Groningen
🏆
Awards/Year
Typically 5 to 10 awards per year, though the fund states this can shift based on available funding
🌏
Study Country
Netherlands
🏛️
Provider
Eric Bleumink Fund
📊
Acceptance
—
Set up on 23 May 2000 and named after Prof. Eric Bleumink, a former chairman of the University of Groningen's Board, this fund exists specifically to bring talented students from low-income and lower-middle-income countries to Groningen who could not otherwise afford to study there. There is no separate scholarship application form; instead, the University of Groningen Admission Office nominates candidates from among students who already hold an admission offer, working in consultation with the relevant faculty boards. Since its founding, the fund has supported around 100 scholars from roughly 30 countries.
👥 Who Should Apply
Eligibility runs through Groningen's own admissions pipeline rather than a standalone application: a candidate must first apply for and receive an admission offer to a Groningen Master's programme, and only students whose offer is provisional or unconditional before the university's internal review can be put forward for nomination by the Admission Office and faculty boards. Because the fund exists for students without alternative financing, demonstrated financial need is assessed alongside academic merit when nominations are decided.
🏛️ Host University
University of Groningen
🤝 Sponsor
Eric Bleumink Fund, in partnership with the University of Groningen
🌎 Fields of Study
All Master's disciplines offered at the University of Groningen
✨ Key Benefits
The fellowship is worth €15,000 for a Master's programme and is built to cover tuition fees, international travel to and from the Netherlands, day-to-day subsistence, books, and health insurance in a single package, rather than paying these out as separate itemized allowances. Because it targets students who have no alternative source of financing, candidates must show they cannot otherwise afford Groningen's international tuition fees before being nominated for the award.
🎯 Target Students
International Students from designated developing countries
🏷 Tags
NetherlandsUniversity of GroningenMaster'sDeveloping CountriesFully Funded
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
—
Applicants Last Year
Typically 5 to 10 awards per year, though the fund states this can shift based on available funding
Winners
—
Acceptance Rate
Competitive
Competition Level
Win Probability
50%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Full
Living Stipend
Yes, included as subsistence costs within the award
Total Award
€15,000
✈️ Travel: Yes, international travel costs included🏠 Accommodation: No💊 Health Insurance: Yes🔄 Renewable: No💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Full
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes, included as subsistence costs within the award
🏡 Accommodation
No
✈️ Travel Allowance
Yes, international travel costs included
💊 Health Insurance
Yes
🎁 Other Benefits
Books and study materials are also covered.
🔄 Renewable
No
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Nationals of one of the Eric Bleumink Fund's designated low-income and lower-middle-income eligible countries (including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Rwanda, Uganda, and around 60 others) who hold, or are close to holding, a provisional or unconditional offer to a University of Groningen Master's programme, have an excellent bachelor's academic record, strong English proficiency, no other source of funding, and are able to commit to the full duration of the programme.
🎓 Academic Level
Master's
🗣️ English Requirement
Typically TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 6.5+, though the exact minimum is set by the receiving faculty
💼 Work Experience
None required
🏆 Leadership
Preferred
💰 Financial Need
Yes, applicants must have no alternative means of financing their studies
🎯 Target Students
International Students from designated developing countries
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes
Rec Letters
2 letters
Interview
Check website
Application Fee
Free
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
English Proficiency Proof
📋 Application Process
Apply for University of Groningen Master's admission as early as possible in the cycle, since only students with a provisional or unconditional offer before the university's internal deadline can be considered for an Eric Bleumink Fund nomination — there is no separate scholarship form to submit. Reach out to your target faculty's Bleumink coordinator directly once your application is submitted, since faculties compile their own shortlist before forwarding names to the central fund committee.
💡 Insider Tip: Because nominations are made by the Admission Office together with faculty boards rather than through self-application, make sure your admission file clearly documents financial need and academic strength, as these are the factors the university uses internally to decide who gets put forward for the limited number of grants. Reapplying in a later admission round after an unsuccessful nomination is possible, since the fund reviews a new cohort of files each cycle rather than maintaining a waitlist from prior years.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
Check website
⏰ Deadline
December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination)
🎤 Interview
Check website
🎓 Study Starts
September
Check website
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Check website
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
September
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic excellence, English proficiency, financial need, nationality from an eligible developing country, admission status
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
Eric Bleumink Fund (University of Groningen Excellence Scholarship)Current
Netherlands
Full Funding
Master's
—
🇳🇱 VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) - VU Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship
Eligibility runs through Groningen's own admissions pipeline rather than a standalone application: a candidate must first apply for and receive an admission offer to a Groningen Master's programme, and only students whose offer is provisional or unconditional before the university's internal review can be put forward for nomination by the Admission Office and faculty boards. Because the fund exists for students without alternative financing, demonstrated financial need is assessed alongside academic merit when nominations are decided.
The fellowship is worth €15,000 for a Master's programme and is built to cover tuition fees, international travel to and from the Netherlands, day-to-day subsistence, books, and health insurance in a single package, rather than paying these out as separate itemized allowances. Because it targets students who have no alternative source of financing, candidates must show they cannot otherwise afford Groningen's international tuition fees before being nominated for the award. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is December 1 (admission offer must be provisional or unconditional by this date to be considered for nomination). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Competitive. Acceptance rate: Varies. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
No
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Typically TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 6.5+, though the exact minimum is set by the receiving faculty, 2 letters recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.