Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028, Netherlands (Fully Funded)

For gifted international students who want to pursue a master’s degree, Maastricht University in the Netherlands offers the coveted Holland-High Potential Scholarship, which is completely supported. For students from outside the EU, Maastricht University administers the Holland Scholarship, a national initiative financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.

The fellowship is intended to draw academically exceptional and highly motivated students from nations outside of Switzerland, the European Union (EU), and the European Economic Area (EEA). Applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time master’s program at Maastricht University in order to be taken into consideration.

The Holland-High Potential Scholarship offers chosen students full financial assistance for the duration of their studies. A tuition price contribution, monthly living expenses, visa and residence permit costs, health and liability insurance, and other eligible costs are included in the scholarship package. Because of this, the scholarship is a great chance for foreign students who want to study in the Netherlands with substantial financial support for tuition and living expenses.

Before applying, candidates should thoroughly understand the qualifying conditions and application process. Candidates are encouraged to visit the official Maastricht University scholarship page for the most recent information, since the application deadline, necessary documentation, qualifying master’s programs, and particular financial details may change.

Host Country: Netherlands, Holland
University: Maastricht University
Organized by: The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, in cooperation with Maastricht University
Opportunity Type: Master’s Scholarship
Eligibility Country: International Students, Non-European Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Admission Application Deadline: 10 December 2026
Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET

Degree Level

Full-time master’s degree programs at Maastricht University.
The scholarship is available for participating master’s programs.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their selected master’s program.

Available Subjects

The scholarship is available across eligible master’s programs offered by Maastricht University.
Students can select a field based on the university’s participating master’s programs.
The exact subject depends on the program to which the applicant is admitted.
Applicants should check the official participating program list before applying.

Eligibility Criteria for the Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028

To be eligible for the Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028 in the Netherlands, applicants should meet the following requirements:

Must be a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname.
Must not hold dual nationality with an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
Must meet the requirements for obtaining a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
Must apply for admission to a participating full-time master’s program at Maastricht University for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Must complete the master’s admission application and meet all admission requirements by the required deadline.
Must have never participated in a degree-seeking higher education program in the Netherlands. Applicants who completed an exchange program in the Netherlands may still be eligible.
Preference is given to applicants who have not previously obtained a master’s degree.
Must be 35 years old or younger on 1 September 2027.
Must have achieved excellent academic results in previous studies, with a latest GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, or an equivalent result according to the university’s grading system.
Must agree to become an active UM NL-High Potential and UM ambassador during and after the studies.
Applicants can submit only one scholarship application and apply for only one UM scholarship.
Must provide all required supporting documents and information before submission.

Benefits of Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028

Tuition Fee Support: Tuition fees are covered for the standard duration of the eligible master’s program.
Monthly Living Allowance: Scholarship recipients receive financial support for living expenses.
Living Expenses: The current scholarship information lists €20,150 for a 13-month program and €38,750 for a 25-month program, subject to change.
Health and Liability Insurance: Health and liability insurance is arranged and paid for during the scholarship period.
Visa Application Costs: Eligible visa application costs are covered.
Pre-Academic Training: Costs for the mandatory pre-academic training are covered.
Accommodation: A room is allocated to scholarship recipients as part of the scholarship package. For two-year programs, students must arrange housing for the second year themselves.
International Student Ambassador Programme: The first block of the International Student Ambassador Programme is covered.
Scholarship Duration: The scholarship lasts 13 months for a one-year master’s program and 25 months for a two-year master’s program.
Important: International airfare is not included in the scholarship and must be paid by the student.

Required Documents for Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028

Applicants should prepare the following documents:

Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than two A4 pages.
Motivation letter using the Maastricht University scholarship template.
Official university transcript or document showing the latest GPA.
Official document explaining the university’s grading system.
Proof of academic excellence showing a GPA of 7.5/10 or equivalent.
Personal statement of financial need explaining why the applicant requires scholarship support.
Reference letter from a former professor, lecturer, thesis supervisor, or employer.
Contact details of one referee.
Referee’s institutional or work email address and telephone number.
Any additional documents required for admission to the selected master’s program.
All scholarship documents must be uploaded in the required format, such as PDF, DOC, or DOCX.

Note: The reference letter must follow Maastricht University’s guidelines and should be dated no earlier than February 2026 for the 2027-2028 scholarship cycle.

Application Process

Step 1: Select an Eligible Master’s Program

Choose a participating full-time master’s program at Maastricht University for the 2027-2028 academic year.

Step 2: Apply for Admission

Submit your application through Studielink and complete the required admission file through Maastricht University’s application system.

Step 3: Complete the Admission Requirements

Make sure your academic documents, language requirements, transcripts, and other program-specific requirements are completed.

Step 4: Obtain Your Maastricht University Student Number

After submitting the master’s application through Studielink, you will receive a Maastricht University student ID number. This number is required for the scholarship application.

Step 5: Apply for the Scholarship

Step 6: Upload Required Documents

Upload your CV, motivation letter, academic records, proof of academic excellence, financial-needs statement, reference letter, and referee information.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

For the 2027-2028 intake, the complete admission application for scholarship consideration must be submitted by 10 December 2026. The separate scholarship application remains open until 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Applicants should not confuse these two deadlines.

Step 8: Wait for the Selection Process

After the scholarship application deadline, Maastricht University reviews complete applications and sends eligible applications to the relevant faculties for ranking and selection.

Selection Process

The Maastricht University International Services Desk first checks whether applications are complete.
Complete applications are forwarded to the relevant Maastricht University faculties.
Each faculty selects and ranks its strongest scholarship candidates.
Selected candidates may be invited for an online interview.
Final scholarship decisions are communicated to applicants.
Applicants may receive a status of selected, waitlisted, or rejected.
Scholarship awardees must sign and return the scholarship award letter to accept the scholarship.
Selected students also receive information about the mandatory UM pre-academic training, which takes place before the start of the academic year.

The scholarship is highly competitive, with Maastricht University stating that only around 2% of applicants receive the scholarship.

Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship Deadline 2027-2028

There are two important dates for applicants:

10 December 2026: Deadline to submit the complete master’s admission application for scholarship consideration.
1 February 2027, 23:59 CET: Final deadline to submit the Holland-High Potential Scholarship application.

Applicants should start the admission process as early as possible because the master’s admission requirements must be completed before the scholarship application can be considered.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship?

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship for talented international students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname who want to pursue an eligible full-time master’s degree at Maastricht University.

Is the Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The scholarship provides substantial financial support including tuition fees, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, accommodation, and other eligible expenses. However, international airfare is not covered.

Who can apply for the Holland-High Potential Scholarship?

International students from eligible countries outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname can apply if they meet the scholarship and Master’s admission requirements.

What GPA is required for the Maastricht University scholarship?

Applicants are required to have a latest GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, or an equivalent result according to their university’s grading system.

What is the age limit for the scholarship?

Applicants must be 35 years old or younger on 1 September 2027.

Do I need to apply for admission before applying for the scholarship?

Yes. Applicants must first apply for an eligible Master’s programme at Maastricht University and obtain a Maastricht University student number before completing the scholarship application.

What is the deadline for the Maastricht University Holland-High Potential Scholarship?

The scholarship application deadline is 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. However, applicants seeking scholarship consideration must complete their Master’s admission application by 10 December 2026.

Does the scholarship cover airfare to the Netherlands?

No. Maastricht University states that international air tickets are not included and must be paid for by the student.

How long does the scholarship last?

The scholarship lasts 13 months for a one-year Master’s programme and 25 months for a two-year Master’s programme.

How competitive is the Holland-High Potential Scholarship?

It is highly competitive. Maastricht University states that approximately 2% of applicants receive the scholarship.

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