Full tuition fee coverage (valued between €15,000 and €23,000 depending on the program)
Duration
1 or 2 years depending on the duration of the Master's program
Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
Level
Master's Degree (MA, MSc, LLM)
Acceptance
Very Low (Competitive)
Difficulty
Extremely High
Quick Summary
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) / VU Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship, administered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is one of the funding options available to international students (non-eu/eea) in Netherlands. The award covers The scholarship covers the full tuition fee for the Master's program. It does not provide funds for living expenses, housing, or travel. and is open to master's degree (ma, msc, llm) students studying all english-taught master's degree programs at vu amsterdam. The scholarship runs for 1 or 2 years depending on 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, have an excellent academic record (GPA top 10%), and be admitted to an eligible Master's program at VU Amsterdam. The application deadline is February 1st (Annual), with an acceptance rate of approximately Very Low (Competitive). Competition for this scholarship varies year to year, so early preparation of required documents is recommended.
✨ Should I Apply for VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) / VU Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
Estimated at less than 5%
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Full tuition fee coverage (valued between €15,000 and €23,000 depending on the program)
⏳
Duration
1 or 2 years depending on the duration of the Master's program
📅
Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
🌎
Fields
All English-taught Master's degree programs at VU Amsterdam
🏆
Awards/Year
Varies; approximately 20 to 50 awards per year
🌏
Study Country
Netherlands
🏛️
Provider
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
📊
Acceptance
Very Low (Competitive)
The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) is a prestigious scholarship offered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to highly motivated and talented students from outside the EU/EEA. It covers the full tuition fees for one of the English-taught Master's programs at the university. The program aims to support international diversity and reward academic brilliance in students who wish to contribute to the global academic community.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must hold a non-EU/EEA passport, have an excellent academic record (GPA top 10%), and be admitted to an eligible Master's program at VU Amsterdam.
🏛️ Host University
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
🌎 Fields of Study
All English-taught Master's degree programs at VU Amsterdam
✨ Key Benefits
The scholarship covers the full tuition fee for the Master's program. It does not provide funds for living expenses, housing, or travel.
100% of the tuition fee for the duration of the program
Living Stipend
Not included
Total Award
Full tuition fee coverage (valued between €15,000 and €23,000 depending on the program)
✈️ Travel: Not included🏠 Accommodation: Not included💊 Health Insurance: Not included🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: €100 (Standard university application fee for international students)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
100% of the tuition fee for the duration of the program
🏠 Living Stipend
Not included
🏡 Accommodation
Not included
✈️ Travel Allowance
Not included
💊 Health Insurance
Not included
🎁 Other Benefits
Access to the VUFP alumni network, invitation to exclusive networking events, and academic mentoring
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
For 2-year programs, the scholarship is renewed for the second year if the student achieves 100% of the required credits (60 ECTS) in the first year.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Non-EU/EEA international students who are starting a new Master's program and have never studied in the Netherlands previously.
🎓 Academic Level
Master's Degree (MA, MSc, LLM)
📊 Minimum GPA
Equivalent to a GPA of 3.8/4.0 or top 10% of the graduating class
🗣️ English Requirement
Required (IELTS 6.5-7.0, TOEFL iBT 92-100, or Cambridge Advanced depending on the specific faculty)
🍢 Age Limit
No specific age limit
💼 Work Experience
Not mandatory, but relevant internships or work history can strengthen the CV
🏆 Leadership
Not mandatory, but leadership potential is considered during the motivation letter assessment
💰 Financial Need
Not considered (purely merit-based)
🎯 Target Students
International students (Non-EU/EEA)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Motivation letter and a specific VUFP essay describing academic ambition)
Rec Letters
Yes (Reference letters are typically required as part of the standard Master's admission process)
Interview
No (Selection is based solely on the submitted application documents)
Application Fee
€100 (Standard university application fee for international students)
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Yes (Reference letters are typically required as part of the standard Master's admission process) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
Required (IELTS 6.5-7.0, TOEFL iBT 92-100, or Cambridge Advanced depending on the specific faculty)
Interview: No (Selection is based solely on the submitted application documents)
Min GPA: Equivalent to a GPA of 3.8/4.0 or top 10% of the graduating class
📋 Application Process
Focus heavily on your academic achievements and ensure your motivation letter clearly explains why VU Amsterdam is the best choice for your career goals.
💡 Insider Tip: Ensure you apply for the Master's program through Studielink and the VU Dashboard before the February 1st deadline, as the scholarship application is separate.
🗾️ 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 (Previous year)
⏰ Deadline
February 1st (Annual)
🎤 Interview
No (Selection is based solely on the submitted application documents)
🎓 Study Starts
September
October 1st (Previous year)
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
February 1st (Annual)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
No (Selection is based solely on the submitted application documents)
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 (GPA), quality of the motivation letter, and the prestige of the previous educational institution.
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) / VU Amsterdam Excellence ScholarshipCurrent
Netherlands
Full Funding
Master's Degree (MA, MSc, LLM)
—
🇳🇱 Groningen University Excellence Scholarship (Eric Bleumink Fund)
Applicants must hold a non-EU/EEA passport, have an excellent academic record (GPA top 10%), and be admitted to an eligible Master's program at VU Amsterdam.
This scholarship covers: The scholarship covers the full tuition fee for the Master's program. It does not provide funds for living expenses, housing, or travel.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is February 1st (Annual). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Estimated at less than 5%. Acceptance rate: Very Low (Competitive). Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Required (IELTS 6.5-7.0, TOEFL iBT 92-100, or Cambridge Advanced depending on the specific faculty), Yes (Reference letters are typically required as part of the standard Master's admission process) recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.