✨ Should I Apply for NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
🌍 Overview
⏱
Duration
1 Year (One-time payment)
🗓
Deadline
February 1 or May 1 (Varies by host university)
🎨
Fields
All academic fields offered by participating institutions
🏆
Awards/Year
Varies by university (Approximately 2,100+ globally)
🌏
Study Country
Netherlands
🏛️
Provider
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and participating Dutch Research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences
📊
Acceptance
Varies significantly by university and program
The NL Scholarship is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. The scholarship is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their bachelor’s or master’s in the Netherlands. It provides a contribution to your study costs in the first year of your program.
👥 Who Should Apply
Targeted at international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are high-achieving and have not previously obtained a degree from a Dutch educational institution.
🏛️ Host University
Participating Dutch Research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (e.g., Leiden University, TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, etc.)
🤝 Sponsor
Nuffic (The Netherlands Organisation for Internationalisation in Education)
🎨 Fields of Study
All academic fields offered by participating institutions
✨ Key Benefits
The scholarship is a one-time award of €5,000 meant to assist with living expenses or tuition fees during the first year of study in the Netherlands.
🎯 Target Students
International students (Non-EEA citizens)
🏷 Tags
Netherlands
International Students
Non-EEA
Bachelor
Master
Merit-based
💸 Funding Breakdown
✈️ Travel: No
🏠 Accommodation: No
💊 Health Insurance: No
🔄 Renewable: No
💳 App Fee: Varies by university (Typically €75 to €100 for admission)
🎁 Other Benefits
One-time financial grant for the first year of study
📋 Renewal Conditions
N/A - This is a non-renewable one-time grant
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Non-EEA nationality; applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s program; meeting host university requirements; never studied in the Netherlands before.
🎓 Academic Level
Bachelor's, Master's
📊 Minimum GPA
High academic standing (Top 10% of class recommended; varies by university)
🗣️ English Requirement
TOEFL iBT (usually 90+), IELTS (usually 6.5+), or Cambridge English (C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency)
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Not mandatory but considered a plus
💰 Financial Need
Not a primary criterion (Merit-based)
🎯 Target Students
International students (Non-EEA citizens)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Motivation letter/Statement of purpose)
Rec Letters
Varies by host university (Usually 1-2 required)
Interview
Occasionally (Depends on the university and program)
Application Fee
Varies by university (Typically €75 to €100 for admission)
Documents Required
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport / National ID
- Varies by host university (Usually 1-2 required) Recommendation Letters
- CV / Resume
- Personal Statement / Essays
- TOEFL iBT (usually 90+), IELTS (usually 6.5+), or Cambridge English (C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency)
- Interview: Occasionally (Depends on the university and program)
- Min GPA: High academic standing (Top 10% of class recommended; varies by university)
📋 Application Process
Focus heavily on your motivation letter; ensure you meet the university's specific admission criteria first; apply early as some universities close applications before the official deadline.
💡 Insider Tip: Verify if your chosen university is a participating member of the NL Scholarship scheme before applying.