Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship in the Netherlands for International Students

Overview

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship programme combines the High Potential Scholarship funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund with the NL Scholarship financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Designed for exceptional international students from outside the EU/EEA, the award supports eligible full-time master's degree programmes at Maastricht University.

Benefits

The scholarship offers extensive financial assistance to cover major study and living expenses:

Full tuition fee coverage paid at cost.
A living expense allowance of €20,150 for a one-year programme (13 months) or €38,750 for a two-year programme (25 months).
Health and liability insurance coverage of approximately €700.
Visa application costs covered at cost.
Mandatory Pre-Academic Training costs and designated International Student Ambassador Programme expenses.

Note: International travel and air tickets are not included. Accepted recipients must also reside in the specific university-allocated accommodation as part of the scholarship terms.

Eligibility

Candidates must satisfy both university admission standards and scholarship-specific criteria:

Hold nationality outside the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Surinam, and meet Dutch entry visa and residence permit requirements.
Apply for and be admitted to an eligible full-time master's programme at Maastricht University.
Demonstrate high academic excellence with a GPA equivalent to at least 7.5 out of 10, backed by official grading system documentation.
Not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands (though prior exchange studies are permitted).
Preference is given to applicants who have not already earned a master's degree.

How to Apply

The application procedure requires two separate steps and careful preparation of documents:

Apply for a Master’s Programme: Submit an application via Studielink for a participating master's programme to receive a Maastricht University student ID number.
Submit the Scholarship Form: Complete the designated scholarship application form using the student number.

Required application documents include an up-to-date CV (maximum two pages), a motivation letter based on university templates, academic transcripts and grading explanations, a personal statement of financial need, a reference letter following official guidelines, and professional referee contact information.

Deadline

Applications are scheduled to reopen in October 2026 for the 2027–2028 academic cycle.

Overview

Benefits

The scholarship offers extensive financial assistance to cover major study and living expenses:

Full tuition fee coverage paid at cost.

A living expense allowance of €20,150 for a one-year programme (13 months) or €38,750 for a two-year programme (25 months).

Health and liability insurance coverage of approximately €700.

Visa application costs covered at cost.

Mandatory Pre-Academic Training costs and designated International Student Ambassador Programme expenses.

Note: International travel and air tickets are not included. Accepted recipients must also reside in the specific university-allocated accommodation as part of the scholarship terms.

Eligibility

Candidates must satisfy both university admission standards and scholarship-specific criteria:

Hold nationality outside the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Surinam, and meet Dutch entry visa and residence permit requirements.

Apply for and be admitted to an eligible full-time master's programme at Maastricht University.

Demonstrate high academic excellence with a GPA equivalent to at least 7.5 out of 10, backed by official grading system documentation.

Not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands (though prior exchange studies are permitted).

Preference is given to applicants who have not already earned a master's degree.

How to Apply

The application procedure requires two separate steps and careful preparation of documents:

Apply for a Master’s Programme: Submit an application via Studielink for a participating master's programme to receive a Maastricht University student ID number.

Submit the Scholarship Form: Complete the designated scholarship application form using the student number.