YBB – Are you looking for a fully funded master’s scholarship in the Netherlands? The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028 offers 18 full scholarships each academic year to highly talented students from outside the European Union and European Economic Area.
The programme combines the High Potential Scholarship, funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund, with the NL Scholarship, which is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences.
For successful scholars, the scholarship can cover tuition fees, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, and pre-academic training. In addition, scholarship recipients receive accommodation for the first part of their study period.
Therefore, this opportunity can significantly reduce the financial burden of pursuing a master’s degree in the Netherlands. However, applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements and participating programmes before applying.
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About Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship supports talented international students who have been admitted to an eligible full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University.
The scholarship is available for the 2027-2028 academic year. Applicants must first apply for an eligible master’s programme and obtain their Maastricht University student ID before completing the scholarship application.
Moreover, the scholarship is highly competitive. According to Maastricht University, only around 2% of applicants receive the scholarship.
Scholarship Duration
The duration depends on the master’s programme:
- 13 months for a one-year master’s programme.
- 25 months for a two-year master’s programme.
Students enrolled in a two-year programme should note that the scholarship accommodation only covers the specified period of the first year. They will need to arrange housing for the second year themselves.
Benefits of Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
Selected scholars can receive extensive financial support throughout their studies.
The scholarship provides:
- Living expenses of €20,150 for 13 months or €38,750 for 25 months.
- Health and liability insurance worth approximately €700.
- Visa application costs.
- Full tuition fee coverage.
- Pre-Academic Training costs.
- Support for the International Student Ambassador Programme during the first block.
- Accommodation allocated to scholarship recipients until 16 July 2028.
The living allowance is calculated at approximately €1,550 per month. It covers expenses such as housing, groceries and personal hygiene, telephone costs, travel, study materials, clothing, hobbies, and miscellaneous expenses.
However, international airfare is not included in the scholarship. Students must also pay the cleaning fee for their accommodation separately.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Hold nationality from a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname.
- Meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
- Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- Have applied for a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University for the 2027-2028 academic year.
- Submit the complete master’s programme application and meet all admission requirements before 10 December 2026.
- Meet the specific admission requirements of the chosen master’s programme.
- Have never participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Students who completed an exchange programme in the Netherlands may still apply.
- Be no older than 35 years old on 1 September 2027.
- Have an excellent academic record, demonstrated by a latest transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
- Agree to become an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador during and after the programme.
- Submit only one scholarship application for one scholarship.
Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously obtained a master’s degree.
Academic Requirement
Academic performance is an important part of the application.
Applicants must provide an official document from their university showing their latest GPA. Maastricht University requires a minimum GPA equivalent to 7.5 out of 10, which can correspond to at least 75% or 3 out of 4, depending on the grading system. Applicants must also submit documentation explaining their university’s grading system.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae of no more than two A4 pages.
- Motivation letter using the Maastricht University scholarship template.
- University transcript or official proof of a GPA of 7.5 or higher.
- Document explaining the university’s grading system.
- Personal statement explaining financial needs and circumstances.
- Reference letter from a former professor, lecturer, or employer.
- Contact details of one referee.
The reference letter should follow Maastricht University’s guidelines. Referees cannot be family members, and their recommendation should use a work or institutional email address.
How to Apply for Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
The application process has two main stages.
Step 1: Apply for a Participating Master’s Programme
First, applicants must apply for one of the participating master’s programmes through Studielink.
Once the application is submitted, applicants receive a Maastricht University student ID. This student ID is required to complete the scholarship application.
Applicants must submit their complete master’s programme application and satisfy all admission requirements by 10 December 2026.
Step 2: Complete the Scholarship Application
After receiving a Maastricht University account and student ID, applicants can access the scholarship application form.
The scholarship application must include all required documents and referee information. Applicants can submit the scholarship application only once, so they should check every document carefully before submission.
Important Deadlines
Applicants should pay attention to two separate deadlines.
Master’s programme application deadline:
10 December 2026
Scholarship application deadline:
1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET
Applications for the scholarship open on 1 October 2026. Therefore, applicants should begin their master’s admission process early enough to receive their student ID and complete the scholarship application before the final deadline.
Scholarship Selection Process
After the scholarship deadline, Maastricht University reviews the applications in several stages.
First, the International Services Desk checks whether applications are complete. Then, the complete applications are sent to the relevant faculties. Each faculty selects and ranks its top scholarship candidates.
Next, Maastricht University confirms the faculty selections and invites selected candidates for an online interview. Finally, applicants receive their scholarship status in April 2027, while the final status of waitlisted candidates will be determined by May 2027.
Successful scholars will also receive information about the UM Pre-Academic Training Programme, which is a mandatory two-week component of the scholarship and begins in the first week of August 2027.
Why Consider This Scholarship?
Studying for a master’s degree abroad can involve significant tuition and living costs. However, the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship combines several forms of financial support in one award.
In addition to tuition coverage, recipients receive living expenses, insurance, visa support, accommodation, and pre-academic training. Furthermore, scholars become part of the UM NL High Potential community and commit to sharing their experiences as ambassadors.
As a result, the scholarship offers both financial assistance and opportunities to engage with the Maastricht University international community.
Conclusion
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028 provides 18 fully funded opportunities for talented students from outside the EU/EEA who want to pursue a master’s degree in the Netherlands.
With support for tuition, living expenses, insurance, visa costs, accommodation, and pre-academic training, the scholarship can help successful applicants focus on their academic journey. Nevertheless, competition is high, and applicants must carefully meet both the master’s admission and scholarship requirements.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, start by reviewing the participating master’s programmes and preparing your application early. The master’s application must be completed by 10 December 2026, while the scholarship application closes on 1 February 2027.
