Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028: Full Master’s Funding for Non-EU/EEA Students in Globalisation and Law

Overview

The Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028 is a highly competitive full funding programme for talented international students who want to study the full-time Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The award is specifically aimed at applicants who have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to human rights or strengthening the rule of law through academic, extracurricular, professional, or community initiatives. Only one full scholarship is awarded each academic year.

Benefits

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for the entire 13-month programme, including:

• Full tuition fees at cost
• €20,150 in living expenses for 13 months (€1,550 monthly equivalent)
• Health and liability insurance (€700)
• Visa application costs at cost
• Mandatory pre-academic training costs
• Participation costs for the first block of the International Student Ambassador Programme
• Arranged accommodation until July 2028 (mandatory part of the package; unsuitable for partners, spouses, or children)

Please note that airfares, programme handling fees, and the approximate €75 accommodation cleaning fee are not covered.

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy all published conditions to be considered:

• Hold nationality in a country outside the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Surinam, and meet Dutch visa and residence permit requirements.
• Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Have applied for the full-time Globalisation and Law Master’s programme for the 2027–2028 academic year.
• Demonstrate a proven contribution to human rights, the rule of law, or social justice through intracurricular, extracurricular, or project initiatives.
• Possess a cumulative GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10 (or 75% / 3.0 out of 4.0 equivalent) with official grading scale documentation.
• Be 35 years old or younger as of 1 September 2027.
• Preference is given to candidates who do not already hold a Master’s degree.

How to Apply

The application process involves two main stages:

1. Apply for the Master’s Programme: Applicants must first apply for the full-time Globalisation and Law programme through Studielink and obtain a Maastricht University student ID number by 10 December 2026. Any required admission handling fees must be paid by this date.
2. Complete the Scholarship Application Form: After receiving a student account, applicants must submit the online scholarship application form along with supporting documents (uploaded in DOC, DOCX, or PDF format).

Required application documents include a current CV (maximum two A4 pages), the official Maastricht University scholarship motivation letter template, proof of academic excellence and grading scale, a personal statement of financial need, one reference letter dated no earlier than February 2026 (uploaded by the applicant), and the referee's professional contact information.

Deadline

Candidates must observe two critical deadlines for the 2027–2028 academic cycle:

• Master’s Programme Application Deadline: 10 December 2026
• Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 February 2027