Maastricht University is one of Europe's most international universities — and its NL-High Potential Scholarship is one of the most generous Master's awards in the Netherlands. Every year, just 18 students from outside the EU/EEA are chosen for a fully funded package that covers tuition, living costs, insurance, and visa expenses.
The catch? It's brutally competitive. Only about 2% of applicants are selected, so this is a scholarship for students with genuinely excellent grades and a clear story. If that's you, read on — the application portal is open now.
In short: The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027 offers 18 fully funded Master's scholarships for non-EU/EEA students, covering full tuition, €20,150 in living expenses, health insurance, and visa costs. Applications close 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET — but your Master's programme application must be complete by 10 December 2026.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Netherlands
- Host Institution: Maastricht University (UM)
- Degree Level: Master's (full-time, participating programmes)
- Program Duration: 13 months (1-year Master's) or 25 months (2-year Master's)
- Funding Type: Fully Funded (tuition + living expenses + insurance + visa)
- Deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET (scholarship form); 10 December 2026 (Master's programme application file must be complete)
Benefits of the Maastricht University Scholarship 2027
This isn't a partial discount or a small stipend — it's one of the most complete Master's funding packages in Europe. The scholarship is actually two awards combined: the High Potential Scholarship (funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund) plus the NL Scholarship (funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science).
- Living expenses covered — €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme, roughly €1,550 per month, paid to you by the UM International Services Desk.
- Full tuition fees — your entire tuition is arranged and paid at cost by the International Services Desk.
- Health and liability insurance — €700 of coverage arranged and paid for you, which is a real saving since Dutch health insurance is mandatory.
- Visa and residence permit costs — arranged and paid at cost by the university, so no MVV headaches on your budget.
- Pre-Academic Training costs — covered at cost, so you arrive prepared for the Dutch education system.
- Housing arranged for you — a room is allocated to you until 16 July 2028 as a mandatory part of the scholarship. In the Netherlands' tight housing market, this alone is worth a fortune.
- International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP) — costs covered for the first study block, connecting you with a community of scholarship students from day one.
Be honest with yourself about two gaps: international airfare is not included, and a roughly €75 cleaning fee must be paid to Maastricht Housing upfront. Budget for those yourself.
Eligibility Criteria for the Maastricht University Scholarship 2027
Maastricht is strict on every single one of these. If you miss even one requirement, don't apply — save your energy for a scholarship that fits.
- Nationality outside EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname — you must hold such a nationality and meet the requirements for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
- No EU/EEA or Swiss dual nationality — if you hold a second passport from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you're not eligible.
- Admitted to a participating Master's — you must have applied for a participating full-time Master's programme at UM for the 2027–2028 academic year and submitted your application file in full, meeting all admission requirements, before 10 December 2026.
- Excellent academic record — your latest grade transcript must show a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher. Include a document explaining your grading system; equivalents like 75% of the maximum grade are accepted.
- Age limit — you must not be older than 35 years of age on 1 September 2027.
- No previous Dutch degree — you must never have participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Completed exchange programmes in the Netherlands are fine.
- Ambassador commitment — you agree to become an active UM NL-High Potential and UM ambassador during and after your studies, sharing your experience at information sessions for future students.
- Preference for first Master's — preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master's degree.
- One shot only — you can submit only one application, for one scholarship. Documents cannot be added or replaced after submission, so get everything right the first time.
How to Apply for the Maastricht University Scholarship 2027
The application is a two-step process, and the order matters — you cannot do Step 2 before Step 1.
1. Apply for a participating Master's programme at UM. Submit your application through Studielink and upload your complete application file. Once submitted, you'll receive a UM student ID number — you'll need it for the scholarship form. This must be done before 10 December 2026, and you must meet every admission requirement of your chosen programme. 2. Complete the Scholarship Application Form. Using your student number, fill in the scholarship application on the official UM page. Attach all required documents and double-check every field. 3. Submit once — no edits allowed. You can only apply once and for one scholarship. UM cannot add or replace documents after you submit, so review everything before hitting submit. 4. Wait for the selection. Results are announced in April–May 2027. If selected, you'll attend the Pre-Academic Training in August 2027 before your programme begins in September.
By the scholarship deadline of 1 February 2027, you must have met all registration requirements (except legal residence, tuition payment, and the hard copy of your diploma). If your programme charges a handling fee, pay it yourself by 10 December 2026 — UM doesn't cover it.
Required Documents
The official Scholarship Application Form specifies exactly what's needed. Have these ready before you start:
- Completed Scholarship Application Form (with your UM student number)
- Latest grade transcript showing GPA of 7.5/10 or higher, with a document explaining your grading system
- CV or résumé
- Motivation letter
- Proof of academic excellence (certified letter or award certificates, if applicable)
- Reference letter(s) from academic referees
- Copy of your passport or national ID
- Proof that your Master's programme application file is complete
Since documents can't be changed after submission, get a second pair of eyes on the whole file before you submit.
Maastricht University Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There are two deadlines, and missing either one kills your application. Your Master's programme application file must be complete by 10 December 2026. Then your scholarship application form must be submitted by 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET. The portal opens 1 October 2026.
After the deadline, UM reviews applications through spring and announces the 18 winners in April–May 2027. There is no waiting list round — if you miss February, the next cycle opens October 2027 for the 2028–2029 academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship really fully funded?
Yes — it's one of the most complete packages in Europe. Tuition, roughly €1,550/month living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, Pre-Academic Training, and arranged housing are all covered. The honest exceptions: international airfare and a ~€75 housing cleaning fee are on you.
How many scholarships are awarded each year?
18 full scholarships per academic year. With roughly a 2% award rate, it's one of the most competitive scholarships in the Netherlands — apply with your absolute best materials.
I'm from an EU country. Can I apply?
No. The scholarship is exclusively for students from countries outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname. EU/EEA students should explore UM's other funding options instead.
Does the GPA requirement of 7.5/10 apply strictly?
It's the stated minimum, demonstrated by your latest grade transcript. Equivalents such as 75% of your maximum grade are accepted, and you must include a document explaining your grading system. Given the 2% award rate, most successful applicants are well above the minimum.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
There's no separate scholarship language test. You must meet the English admission requirements of your chosen Master's programme — whatever UM requires for that programme is what counts.
Is housing really mandatory?
Yes. A room is allocated to you until 16 July 2028 and accepting the scholarship means accepting the room. The accommodation is single-occupancy — not suitable for partners, spouses, children, or pets. Refusing the room means your scholarship is cancelled.
I did an exchange semester in the Netherlands. Am I still eligible?
Yes. Students who completed exchange programmes in the Netherlands are welcome to apply. The restriction applies only to degree-seeking higher education programmes.
Can I apply if I already have a Master's degree?
You can, but preference is given to candidates who haven't obtained one yet. If you're applying for a second Master's, your motivation needs to make a compelling case.
What happens if I miss the 10 December Master's deadline?
You're out of the scholarship race for 2027, no exceptions. The complete application file is a hard eligibility requirement — the scholarship form itself closes 1 February 2027, but without the December Master's application you're not eligible.
Can I reapply next year if I'm not selected?
Yes, if you still meet the age and eligibility criteria. The cycle opens every October. Use the rejection as feedback — strengthen your grades, motivation letter, and programme fit before reapplying.
Final Words
The Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship is a rare thing: genuinely full funding in a country where a Master's degree would otherwise cost a non-EU student a small fortune. Eighteen spots, thousands of applicants — but someone has to win them, and with strong grades and a careful application, that someone could be you. Start your Master's application well before December so the February deadline never feels rushed.
