Full tuition fee waiver (approx. €15,000 to €16,000 depending on program)
Duration
1 or 2 years (matching the duration of the Master's program)
Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
Level
Master's (MA, MSc, LLM)
Acceptance
Check official website
Difficulty
High
Quick Summary
Aimed at international students (non-eu/eea), VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – VU Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for study in Netherlands. The award covers The VU Fellowship Programme provides a full tuition fee waiver for the duration of the Master's program. It does not cover living expenses, health insurance, travel, or residence permit costs. and is open to master's (ma, msc, llm) students studying all english-taught master's programs offered by vu amsterdam. The scholarship runs for 1 or 2 years (matching the duration of the master's program) and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on applicants must hold a non-EU/EEA passport, not have Dutch nationality, not have previously studied in the Netherlands, and must have an excellent academic record (GPA equivalent to Dutch 8/10). The application deadline is February 1st (Annual), with an acceptance rate of approximately Check official website. Applicants are encouraged to review the official eligibility criteria carefully before starting their application.
✨ Should I Apply for VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – VU Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
60%
Eligibility Match
8%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
6/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
Low (Highly Competitive)
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Full tuition fee waiver (approx. €15,000 to €16,000 depending on program)
⏳
Duration
1 or 2 years (matching the duration of the Master's program)
📅
Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
🌎
Fields
All English-taught Master's programs offered by VU Amsterdam
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 20 to 30 awards per year
🌏
Study Country
Netherlands
🏛️
Provider
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
📊
Acceptance
Check official website
The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) is a prestigious scholarship for talented prospective students from outside the EU/EEA. It covers the full tuition fee for a Master’s degree at VU Amsterdam, supporting the university's goal to foster international diversity and academic brilliance.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must hold a non-EU/EEA passport, not have Dutch nationality, not have previously studied in the Netherlands, and must have an excellent academic record (GPA equivalent to Dutch 8/10).
🏛️ Host University
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
🌎 Fields of Study
All English-taught Master's programs offered by VU Amsterdam
✨ Key Benefits
The VU Fellowship Programme provides a full tuition fee waiver for the duration of the Master's program. It does not cover living expenses, health insurance, travel, or residence permit costs.
Full tuition fee waiver (approx. €15,000 to €16,000 depending on program)
✈️ Travel: No🏠 Accommodation: No💊 Health Insurance: No🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: €100 (Master's program application fee)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Yes (100% of the tuition fee)
🏠 Living Stipend
No
🏡 Accommodation
No
✈️ Travel Allowance
No
💊 Health Insurance
No
🎁 Other Benefits
Priority for VU Amsterdam housing (though not paid for), access to a network of international scholarship students, and exclusive invitation to VUFP events.
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
For two-year programs, the scholarship is renewed for the second year if the student earns 100% of the credits (60 ECTS) in the first year.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Non-EU/EEA international students applying for an English-taught Master's degree.
🎓 Academic Level
Master's (MA, MSc, LLM)
📊 Minimum GPA
Equivalent to 8.0/10 in the Dutch grading system (Top 10% of class)
🗣️ English Requirement
IELTS 6.5 - 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 92 - 100 (depends on the specific Master's program requirements)
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Recommended but not mandatory (to be highlighted in motivation letter)
💰 Financial Need
Not considered (purely merit-based)
🎯 Target Students
International students (Non-EU/EEA)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Motivation Letter for VUFP)
Rec Letters
Varies by program (usually not required for the scholarship itself but may be for program admission)
Interview
No (Selection is based on the application dossier)
Application Fee
€100 (Master's program application fee)
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Varies by program (usually not required for the scholarship itself but may be for program admission) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
IELTS 6.5 - 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 92 - 100 (depends on the specific Master's program requirements)
Interview: No (Selection is based on the application dossier)
Min GPA: Equivalent to 8.0/10 in the Dutch grading system (Top 10% of class)
📋 Application Process
Begin your Master's application in Studielink and Osiris early. Ensure your motivation letter specifically addresses why you are an 'excellent' candidate and how you will contribute to the VU community.
💡 Insider Tip: Check the equivalence of your GPA to the Dutch system; usually, an A-grade average or being in the top 10% of your graduating class is necessary.
🗾️ 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
October 1st (Annual)
⏰ Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
🎤 Interview
No (Selection is based on the application dossier)
🎓 Study Starts
September
October 1st (Annual)
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
February 1st (Annual)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
No (Selection is based on the application dossier)
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, quality of the motivation letter, and the reputation of the applicant's previous university.
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – VU Amsterdam Excellence ScholarshipCurrent
Netherlands
Tuition fee waiver
Master's (MA, MSc, LLM)
—
🇳🇱 Maastricht University High Potential Scholarship
Netherlands
Tuition fees, living expenses per month, health and liability insurance, and visa application costs
Applicants must hold a non-EU/EEA passport, not have Dutch nationality, not have previously studied in the Netherlands, and must have an excellent academic record (GPA equivalent to Dutch 8/10).
This scholarship covers: The VU Fellowship Programme provides a full tuition fee waiver for the duration of the Master's program. It does not cover living expenses, health insurance, travel, or residence permit costs.. Coverage may vary — check the official website for exact details.
The deadline is February 1st (Annual). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Low (Highly Competitive). Acceptance rate: Check official website. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, IELTS 6.5 - 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 92 - 100 (depends on the specific Master's program requirements), Varies by program (usually not required for the scholarship itself but may be for program admission) recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.