Scholarships in the Netherlands international students can apply for this year

The Netherlands might not be among the most popular study abroad destinations, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great choice for international students.

Universities in the country are highly innovative and modern, and the education is of excellent quality. The majority of locals speak English, making it easier for foreign students to grasp, and it’s a beautiful country with canals, lakes, countryside and more.

Students can also conveniently travel to other European cities during their time abroad if they study in the Netherlands.

During the academic year 2017-18, over 122,000 international students studied in Dutch higher education – the highest number ever recorded in the country.

When it comes to living costs, students find that the Netherlands is not that expensive compared to other popular English-speaking study abroad destinations such as the UK and US. You can also work part-time to earn some additional money for expenses.

Cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht are student-friendly so there’s plenty of discounts offered for students there, as well as affordable student housing.

Annual tuition fees are also relatively lower than other countries in Europe. But if you still can’t afford to study there, you may be eligible for a scholarship, as there are quite a few offered by universities in the country.

Here are our top three picks for scholarships in the Netherlands that you can apply for as an international student. While there are others, we’ve selected the ones for which the deadline is still open this year (as of publish date).

Holland Scholarship

Holland Scholarships 2019 for Bachelor’s or Masters Study in the Netherlands- Apply https://t.co/g3I7U1hbxd pic.twitter.com/oIueE9liP7

— InfoPadi (@info_padi_ng) March 24, 2019

This partial scholarship is meant for international students from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.

It’s financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, as well as several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.

Since it’s not a full scholarship, it amounts to € 5,000 (US$5,647.83) that will be awarded during the first year of your studies.

The next deadline for this scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year is 1 May 2019, but it may differ according to your specific programme.

Who is eligible?

You can receive this scholarship if you’re from a country outside the EEA and you meet the specific requirements of the participating institution you intend to apply for. If you already hold a degree from a university or education institution in the Netherlands, you are not eligible.

Campus Fryslân BSc and MSc Scholarships 

Panorama of the Linnaeusborg building at the University of Groningen. Source: Shutterstock

Offered by the the University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân (CF) for non-EU/EEA students, this scholarship is meant for those who apply for either the BSc in Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL) or the MSc in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (SE) programmes at the university.

It’s a one-year scholarship (€ 4000) for living expenses during the first year of their studies. The deadline to apply is 1 May 2019.

Who is eligible?

To be considered for this scholarship, you must be a Non-EU/EEA resident who has applied to the BSc Global Responsibility & Leadership or the MSc Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

You must also provide proficiency of English and meet other application criteria set by the University of Groningen.

To apply, please click here.

Amsterdam Merit Scholarships for Excellent International Students

The University of Amsterdam, one of the biggest in Europe. Source: Shutterstock

Students outside the EEU can apply for this merit-based scholarship offered by the University of Amsterdam, intended for those applying for Master’s programmes.

Depending on the faculty, the scholarship varies between €2,000 – €25,000, and can sometimes be supplemented with the Holland Scholarship mentioned above, as the University of Amsterdam is a participating member.

The deadline dates depend on your specific programme, generally from January to May this year.

Who is eligible?

Besides being a non-EEU student, those who have applied for a Master’s degree offered by the participating faculties and who meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be awarded.

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