NL Scholarship

The NL Scholarship is a scholarship for excellent students from non-EU/EEA countries, applying for a Master's programme at the University of Twente. The scholarship amounts to € 5,000 only for the first year of your studies.

The NL Scholarship (formerly known as Holland Scholarship) is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. This scholarship is meant for international students from outside the EEA who want to do their master’s programme in the Netherlands.

Andrea's story

My name is Andrea Garcia, I come from Quéretaro, México, and I studied MSc in Industrial Design Engineering. The Holland Scholarship (former NL scholarship) ave me the opportunity to follow this programme at the University of Twente.

I had the chance to study at the University of Twente when I was doing a year of exchange. Back then I saw and felt what an innovation playground the Twente area and the University itself are.  After every lecture, I urgently felt the rush to strive for better and I was enchanted by the stream of ideas and knowledge that popped in every alley of the University.  I truly believed that this conglomerate of cultures, brilliant people and tacit companies support were the most motivating creative environment one could ever ask for.  I felt so in love with daily breathing knowledge and culture, that  I committed every drop energy I had in order to be able to come back; and so I did.

Scholarship value

• € 5,000 only for the first year of your studies.
• Have a look at the overview of the estimated costs of living in the Netherlands (excluding tuition fees).

Please note: This scholarship is meant as a compensation for study related costs. It is up to the scholarship student to decide how to spend the money. No costs (e.g. tuition fees) will be paid on your behalf.

Application deadline

• 1 February 2025
• 1 May 2025

Application requirements

In order to be eligible for a NL Scholarship, you should meet all the requirements below.

• Your programme starts in the academic year 2025/2026
• You have not studied in the Netherlands before for a full degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree), or You do not have a degree from an education facility in the Netherlands;
• You are from a non-EU/EEA country;
• You are an excellent student (i.e. CGPA of 7.5 (out of 10)).
• You have been (provisionally) admitted to one of the qualifying study programmes (Please note: After completion of your application, it may take up to 8 weeks before you receive the results).
• You comply with the conditions for obtaining an entry visa in the Netherlands (if applicable);
• You comply with the general English language test requirement Academic IELTS 6.5 (or TOEFL iBT of 90) and an additional 6.0 (TOEFL iBT 20) on the subscore of speaking skills
• You are not eligible for a Dutch study grant;

Deadlines for application

Application deadline - round 1:

• Application form opens per 15 October 2024, 12.00 CET
• Application forms closes per 1 February 2025 16.00 CET (for programmes starting September 2025)
• Results will be announced per first week of March 2025

Application deadline - round 2:

• Application form opens per 1 February 2025, 16.00 CET
• Application form closes per 1 May 2025, 16.00 CEST (for programmes starting September 2025)
• Results will be announced per first week of June 2025

When you applied in round 1, and your application was rejected, an application in round 2 is not considered. 

Requests for further information contact: internationaloffice-scholarship@utwente.nl

How to apply

You have to apply for a Master's programme first. Once you have applied for a Master's programme, you can apply here with your student number.

Find out more about each step