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Scholarship Guides NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship): How to Apply

Netherlands · Application Guide

NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship): How to Apply

The NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) is the Netherlands' national scholarship for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), and for Dutch students who want to study abroad. It supports a full-time bachelor's or master's at a participating Dutch institution. There is no central application portal. You apply for the scholarship directly to the university you are applying to, and each university runs its own selection and deadlines.

Administered by: The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, administered by Nuffic

Written by Zain Aqdas, Founder and lead researcher, Scholarships AtlasLast updated 30 October 2026

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What it covers

  • A one-off payment of EUR 5,000 in the first year of study (paid by the participating institution)
  • No repayment required. It is a grant, not a loan.
  • In some cases the award can be combined with other scholarships (per the university's rules)

Eligibility

  • Not holding an EU/EEA nationality (for international applicants to the Netherlands)
  • Applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's degree program at a participating Dutch institution
  • Never previously studied in the Netherlands (per program rules)
  • Meet the admission requirements of the chosen program (including English proficiency)
  • Dutch students studying abroad apply through the separate 'study abroad' variant

Application — step by step

  1. 1

    Check the list of participating institutions

    Not every Dutch institution participates, and each sets its own number of awards and deadlines. Review the current NL Scholarship participant list on the Nuffic website and shortlist universities that offer it for your field.

  2. 2

    Apply for admission to the university

    Register for your program via Studielink (the official Dutch application portal) and complete the university's admission application with the required documents (diplomas, transcripts, English test, motivation).

  3. 3

    Apply for the NL Scholarship at the university

    Follow the university's scholarship application instructions. Some institutions include the scholarship request in the admission application, others use a separate form. Submit before the university's scholarship deadline (commonly around February for the autumn intake; confirm per institution).

  4. 4

    University selection

    The university selects its NL Scholarship recipients from eligible, admitted applicants based on academic merit and motivation. Award decisions are communicated with the admission outcome or shortly after.

  5. 5

    Enroll and receive the payment

    After enrollment, the university pays the one-off EUR 5,000, typically in the first academic year.

Typical documents needed

  • University admission application (via Studielink and the university's portal)
  • Academic transcripts and diplomas
  • English proficiency test scores (per program requirements)
  • Motivation statement (per the university's instructions)
  • Proof of non-EEA nationality where applicable

Annual cycle

Dates move every year — always confirm on the official portal before planning around them.

October-November
Start of application season for the next academic year
February (typical)
University scholarship application deadlines (vary by institution)
April-May
Admission and scholarship decisions
Late August / September
Enrollment and start of the program

Start your application

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