The Holland Scholarships also Known as NL Scholarships is a government-backed initiative funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Netherlands) in cooperation with Dutch universities of applied sciences and research universities. It is aimed at students outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme in the Netherlands.
What It Covers
- The amount of the scholarship is € 5,000 (one-time payment in the first year of study) for eligible students.
- It is a contribution toward study costs; it is not a full-tuition or full-living-cost scholarship — students still need to cover tuition and other expenses.
- The scholarship is awarded for a period of 1 year and can only be received once.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Holland Scholarship, applicants must satisfy the following key requirements:
- Nationality: Must be a non-EEA national (i.e., from outside the European Economic Area).
- Programme Type: Must apply to an English-taught full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at a participating Dutch higher education institution.
- Prior Study in the Netherlands: Applicants must not have previously obtained a degree from a Dutch higher education institution. Some institutions also require applicants not to have lived in the Netherlands for more than a specific period.
- Admission Offer: Applicants usually need to hold an offer of admission to the institution’s programme before applying for the scholarship.
- Academic Merit & Other Institutional Requirements: Universities select candidates based on academic performance, motivation letter, and institution-specific criteria.
How to Apply & Deadlines
- First, apply for the study programme at the Dutch institution (Bachelor’s or Master’s) and obtain an admission offer.
- After receiving the admission offer, submit the scholarship application according to the institution’s deadlines and procedures (these vary by university).
- Typical deadlines are early in the calendar year (often February or by May) for many institutions.
- ReThe institution communicates resultsnce selection is complete.
Why It Matters
- The Holland Scholarship provides a meaningful partial financial benefit (e.g., €5,000) that can help reduce the cost of studying abroad.
- It opens access to the Netherlands’ high-quality higher education system, which includes many international English-taught programmes and globally recognised universities.
- For many non-EEA students, this scholarship helps make a Dutch Bachelor’s or Master’s education more financially feasible.
Important Considerations
- The Netherlands scholarships for international students does not cover full tuition or full living expenses, so recipients must plan for remaining costs.
- Because it is only awarded for the first year, students need to ensure financial planning for subsequent years (if applicable).
- Some high competition exists given limited Netherland scholarships for Pakistani students slots and high demand.
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