NL Scholarship, formerly called the Holland Scholarship, is the Dutch government-backed award for international students from outside the European Economic Area who want to study a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the Netherlands. It gives EUR 5,000 for the first year of your studies, paid through the Dutch institution you join.
The award is not a full scholarship – it is a contribution towards your first-year costs – but it is one of the very few Dutch awards that any non-EEA student, including Indian students, can apply for directly. There is also no separate national application: you apply to the participating institution, and each institution runs its own round and sets its own closing date, usually in the months after applications open in November.
NL Scholarship 2027-28 (Holland Scholarship)
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. |
| Study level | Full-time bachelor’s or master’s programmes at participating Dutch higher education institutions. The award is paid in the first year of study. |
| Who can apply | Students whose nationality is non-EEA, who are applying to a participating Dutch institution, meet that institution’s own requirements, and do not already hold a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands. |
| What is covered | EUR 5,000, received in the first year of your studies. The official page states clearly that this is not a full-tuition scholarship. |
| Last date to apply | Set by each participating institution. Applications open in November each year (the 2026-27 round opened on 1 November) and the closing date and eligible fields of study differ from one Dutch institution to another. |
| How to apply | Through the participating Dutch institution you are applying to – there is no central NL Scholarship form. Follow that institution’s own scholarship instructions and deadline. |
| Official website | studyinnl.org – NL Scholarship (Study in NL, Nuffic) |
What the NL Scholarship pays
- EUR 5,000 towards your costs, paid in the first year of your bachelor’s or master’s programme.
- The official description is explicit: this is not a full-tuition scholarship, so plan the rest of your budget separately.
- The award is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science along with the participating universities.
- Because each institution funds part of the award, the amount is fixed but the number of awards and the eligible programmes vary by institution.
- You can combine the NL Scholarship with other funding you win, but not with another award that the same institution treats as its equivalent – check your institution’s rules.
Which Dutch institutions take part in the NL Scholarship
The participating list changes every year. For the 2026-27 academic year these research universities took part:
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Maastricht University
- Radboud University
- University of Groningen
- University of Twente
- Utrecht University
- VU Amsterdam
- Wageningen University & Research
The research university list also includes Protestant Theological University, Theological University Apeldoorn and Utrecht Theological University. A longer list of universities of applied sciences participates as well, among them Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Breda University of Applied Sciences and Hotelschool The Hague.
Not every Dutch university is on the list – for example, the official Study in NL page does not list the University of Amsterdam or Leiden University among the participating research universities – so always confirm your target institution on the Study in NL page before you apply.
NL Scholarship eligibility
- Your nationality must be non-EEA. Indian students meet this requirement.
- You must be applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.
- You must meet the specific requirements of that institution, which are set by the institution itself and can include academic marks, English language scores and programme admission.
- You must not already hold a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands.
- Applicants must follow the institution’s own instructions, including any motivation letter or financial-need statement it asks for.
- The institution decides the eligible fields of study for its own round, so check its scholarship page for your programme.
How to apply for the NL Scholarship
- Shortlist the participating Dutch institutions you want to apply to and confirm that your programme is covered by their NL Scholarship round.
- Apply for admission to the programme through the institution’s own application system – in the Netherlands this is normally the institution’s portal or Studielink, depending on the institution.
- Submit the institution’s NL Scholarship application by its own deadline, with the documents it asks for.
- Watch the institution’s own closing date – the official page repeats that the specific deadline is published by the institution, not centrally.
- If you are awarded the scholarship, the EUR 5,000 is released in your first year of study, usually after you enrol.
Important dates for the NL Scholarship
| Applications open | In November each year – the 2026-27 round opened on 1 November |
| Closing date | Set by each participating institution; the official page asks applicants to check the institution’s website for the specific deadline and fields of study |
| Award paid | In the first year of the bachelor’s or master’s programme |
| Academic year | Dutch institutions start their academic year in September |
Frequently asked questions about the NL Scholarship
Is the NL Scholarship the same as the Holland Scholarship?
Yes. The Holland Scholarship was renamed the NL Scholarship. The official Study in NL page describes it as the NL Scholarship, formerly known as the Holland Scholarship, and the eligibility and EUR 5,000 amount are unchanged.
How much is the NL Scholarship worth?
It is worth EUR 5,000, paid in the first year of your studies. The official page states that this is not a full-tuition scholarship.
Can Indian students apply for the NL Scholarship?
Yes. The requirement is non-EEA nationality and admission to a participating Dutch institution, so Indian students are eligible provided they meet their institution’s own requirements and do not already hold a Dutch degree.
What is the last date to apply for the NL Scholarship?
There is no single national deadline. Applications open in November and each participating institution sets its own closing date, so check the scholarship page of the institution you are applying to.
Do I need an IELTS or TOEFL score for the NL Scholarship?
Language requirements come from the Dutch institution and programme you apply to, not from the scholarship itself. You must meet the institution’s specific requirements to be eligible for the award.
Can I apply for the NL Scholarship after I get admission?
The institution’s deadline decides this. Most institutions run the scholarship round alongside or after admission, but some close the scholarship application earlier – check your institution’s page before you plan the order of your applications.
Yes, the Holland Scholarship has been renamed the NL Scholarship. The official Study in NL page describes it as the NL Scholarship, formerly known as the Holland Scholarship, and the award remains EUR 5,000 for the first year of study.
The NL Scholarship is worth EUR 5,000 and is paid in the first year of your studies. The official page states clearly that it is not a full-tuition scholarship, so you need other funding for the remaining costs.
Yes, Indian students are eligible because the requirement is non-EEA nationality. You must also be applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s at a participating Dutch institution, meet that institution’s requirements, and not already hold a degree from a Dutch institution.
Each participating institution sets its own closing date, so there is no single national deadline. Applications open in November each year and the institution’s website carries the specific deadline and eligible fields of study.
The list changes every year. For 2026-27 the participating research universities included Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Radboud University, University of Groningen, University of Twente, Utrecht University, VU Amsterdam and Wageningen University & Research, along with many universities of applied sciences.
No. The EUR 5,000 is received in the first year of your bachelor’s or master’s programme. Later years have to be funded separately.
Official links for the NL Scholarship
- Study in NL – NL Scholarship (amount, eligibility, participating institutions, deadlines)
- Study in NL – financing your studies in the Netherlands
- Nuffic – the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education
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Post graduation scholarships
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