Overview

Start your academic journey in the Netherlands with the prestigious Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship! This program offers 21 full scholarships worth up to €34,000 each year to exceptional students from outside the EU/EEA. These scholarships cover tuition fees, monthly stipends, health insurance, and more, supporting highly talented students admitted to a master’s program at Maastricht University (UM).

Who Can Apply?

• You must be a national of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname and meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.

  • Check the website for the specific country where you need to collect your MVV visa.
  • If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must be valid until at least 2 September 2025 to apply.
  • If your residence permit expires before 2 September 2025, you must apply for the scholarship from your home country via an MVV visa.
  • Additional information is available on the Visa Office webpages.

• You must not have dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

• You must have applied for admission to a participating full-time master’s program at Maastricht University (for the 2025-2026 academic year).

• You must meet the specific admission requirements of the UM master’s program you are applying to.

• You must not have participated in a degree-seeking higher education program in the Netherlands (students who have completed exchange programs in the Netherlands are eligible).

• You must be no older than 35 years of age on 1 September 2025.

• You must have obtained excellent results during prior education, demonstrated by a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher on your latest grade transcript.

• You may only submit one application, so ensure all documents meet the requirements before starting.

  • Documents cannot be added or replaced after submission.

• This is a highly competitive scholarship, with only 2% of applicants receiving the award.

Application Procedure

Step 1: Register for a Participating Master’s Program at UM

• Apply for one of the eligible master’s programs at Maastricht University (UM) through Studielink.
• After submitting your application, you will receive a student ID number, which is required to complete the Scholarship Application Form (Step 2).
• Note: Only programs listed as eligible qualify for the UM NL-High Potential Scholarship.
• You must meet all admission requirements (except legal residence) of the master’s program before the scholarship deadline.
• If your program requires a handling fee, ensure it’s paid by 1 February 2025. Refer to your program’s webpage under the "Admission requirements" tab for fee details.
• You must provide an official document showing your most recent GPA and a document explaining your grade system. The GPA must be 7.5/10 or higher.

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

• Log in with your UM account to fill out the application form here. Only applications submitted via this form will be accepted.
• Upload documents in .doc, .docx, or PDF format, ensuring all information is up-to-date. Once submitted, the application can’t be modified.

Required Documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Should be up-to-date, not exceeding two A4 pages, and include relevant education, job experience, and any awards.
2. Motivation Letter – Use the provided template to explain why you are motivated to apply for the scholarship.
3. Proof of Academic Excellence – Upload your university transcript or an official document showing a GPA of 7.5 or higher, plus a document explaining your grade system.
4. Personal Statement of Financial Need – Describe why you need the scholarship, including any personal circumstances like financial difficulties, medical conditions, or family responsibilities.
5. Reference Letter – Ensure your referee is a professor, lecturer, or employer, not a family member. The letter should follow the scholarship guidelines and be dated no earlier than February 2024.
6. Referee Contact Details – Provide your referee's relationship to you, work phone number with country code, and institutional email address (personal email addresses will be rejected).

Ensure all documents and information are accurate before submitting, as you cannot add or replace documents afterward.

What Financial Support is Available?

• Living expenses: €15,925 (13 months) or €30,625 (25 months)
• Tuition fees: €13,800 - €16,800 (depending on the program)
• Health and liability insurance: €700
• Visa application costs: €210
• Pre-academic training costs

Other Details

Selection Procedure:

Step 1: The UM International Services Desk reviews applications for completeness after 1 February 2025.

Step 2: Complete applications are forwarded to the respective UM faculties in February 2025.

Step 3: Each faculty selects and ranks their top 5% of applicants, then sends them to the UM International Services Desk for final verification in March 2025.

Step 4: The UM International Services Desk confirms the faculty selections by the end of March 2025 and invites the shortlisted candidates for an online interview.

Step 5: After the interviews, candidates will be notified of their application status in April 2025. By early May 2025, applicants will be informed whether they have been selected, waitlisted, or rejected. Waitlisted applicants will receive updates by May 2025. Successful candidates will be provided details about the UM Pre-Academic Training, which is mandatory and takes place in the first week of August 2025.

Step 6: To accept the scholarship, you must sign and return the award letter to the UM International Services Desk.

For More Information

For more information click here.