The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027–2028 offers an excellent opportunity for talented international students to pursue a master’s degree at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The scholarship provides full tuition coverage, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, and other specified study-related expenses. Two scholarships are available for outstanding non-EU/EEA, non-Swiss, and non-Surinamese applicants admitted to participating master’s programmes linked to the Brightlands innovation campuses. Eligible candidates must demonstrate excellent academic performance, personal development potential, and a strong motivation to contribute to the Brightlands community. Applications close on February 1, 2027.

UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027: Overview

• Host Country: Netherlands
• Host University: Maastricht University
• Scholarship Name: UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship
• Academic Year: 2027–2028
• Degree Level: Master’s degree
• Number of Scholarships: 2
• Eligible Nationalities: Applicants from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname, subject to the official eligibility rules
• Scholarship Type: Fully funded
• Tuition Fees: Fully covered
• Living Expenses: €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme
• Health and Liability Insurance: Covered according to the scholarship terms
• Visa Costs: Covered according to the scholarship terms
• Participating Campuses: Chemelot Campus and Maastricht Health Campus for 2027–2028
• Scholarship Application Opens: October 1, 2026
• Master’s Admission Deadline: December 10, 2026
• Scholarship Deadline: February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET

About the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship

Maastricht University established the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship to support academically outstanding international students with strong personal development potential and a commitment to contributing to the Brightlands innovation community.

Brightlands consists of four innovation campuses in the Dutch province of Limburg. These campuses connect students, researchers, businesses, and entrepreneurs to encourage innovation in areas such as chemistry and materials, health, agrifood, data science, and smart digital services.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, eligible master’s programmes associated with the Chemelot Campus and Maastricht Health Campus are participating in the scholarship competition. Applicants must check the university’s official list to confirm that their chosen programme qualifies.

A mandatory feature of the scholarship is the Thesis Internship Programme (TIP). Scholarship recipients must complete their master’s thesis based on an assignment from a company located on the relevant Brightlands campus.

The university awards only two scholarships each academic year, making the selection process highly competitive.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Nationality: Applicants must hold nationality outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname.
• No Ineligible Dual Nationality: Applicants must not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, or Suriname.
• Master’s Admission: Applicants must apply to an eligible master’s programme at Maastricht University for the 2027–2028 academic year.
• Admission Deadline: The complete master’s application must be submitted by December 10, 2026, with all admission requirements satisfied.
• Academic Performance: Applicants must have a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, or the equivalent under their university’s grading system.
• Age Limit: Applicants must be no older than 35 on September 1, 2027.
• Previous Study in the Netherlands: Applicants must not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Previous exchange-study participation is permitted.
• Master’s Degree Preference: Preference is given to candidates who have not already obtained a master’s degree.
• Visa and Residence Requirements: Applicants must meet the applicable Dutch entry visa and residence permit requirements.
• Brightlands Commitment: Applicants must demonstrate a substantiated motivation to contribute to the development of the Brightlands campuses.
• Ambassador Commitment: Scholarship recipients must agree to represent Maastricht University and Brightlands during and after their studies, including participating in at least one information session.
• Participating Programme: The selected master’s programme must appear on the official list of eligible programmes for 2027–2028.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection. Only two scholarships are available, and applicants are assessed competitively.

Benefits of the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for selected international master’s students.

1. Full Tuition Fee Coverage

The scholarship covers tuition fees for the eligible master’s programme. Tuition costs are arranged and paid through the Maastricht University International Services Desk.

2. Living Allowance

Recipients receive funding for living expenses based on the duration of their programme:

• 13-month master’s programme: €20,150 in total.
• 25-month master’s programme: €38,750 in total.

For a 13-month award, the living allowance is equivalent to approximately €1,550 per month. The total amount for a 25-month programme is determined by the official scholarship terms.

The living allowance is intended to help with housing, groceries, personal hygiene, telephone costs, local travel, study materials, clothing, and other personal expenses.

3. Health and Liability Insurance

Health and liability insurance is arranged and paid for by the university according to the scholarship conditions.

4. Visa Application Costs

Eligible visa application costs are covered through the university’s International Services Desk.

5. Pre-Academic Training

The scholarship includes the cost of mandatory pre-academic training. This two-week programme is scheduled to take place in the first week of August 2027.

6. International Student Ambassador Programme

The scholarship covers the International Student Ambassador Programme for its first block, according to the official funding terms.

7. Brightlands Thesis Internship

Recipients participate in the mandatory Thesis Internship Programme and complete their thesis using an assignment from a company located on the relevant Brightlands campus. This offers an opportunity to connect academic research with real-world innovation.

8. Accommodation Support

Scholarship recipients are allocated a room until July 16, 2028. Students enrolled in a two-year master’s programme must arrange their own accommodation for the second year.

Accepting the scholarship means accepting the allocated room. The accommodation is not suitable for partners, spouses, children, or pets. Refusing the allocated room results in cancellation of the scholarship.

Expenses Not Fully Covered

Applicants should plan their finances carefully because some expenses are not included:

• International flight tickets are not covered and must be paid by the candidate.
• An initial accommodation cleaning fee of approximately €75 is payable upfront.
• Additional housing costs for the second year of a two-year programme must be arranged by the student.
• Any programme handling fee is the applicant’s responsibility if applicable.

Funding amounts and conditions may be subject to change. Always confirm the final award details with Maastricht University.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare all required documents before submitting the scholarship form. The official application instructions specify the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): An up-to-date CV of no more than two A4 pages, highlighting academic achievements, work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, and active citizenship.
• Motivation Letter: A scholarship motivation letter prepared using the university’s required template.
• Academic Transcript: An official transcript or document from the applicant’s university showing the most recent GPA.
• Grading-System Explanation: An official document explaining the grading scale used by the applicant’s university.
• Financial-Need Statement: A personal statement explaining why financial assistance is needed and describing relevant personal circumstances.
• Reference Letter: A recommendation from a former or current professor, lecturer, or employer, following the university’s reference guidelines.
• Referee Contact Details: The referee’s relationship to the applicant, work telephone number with country code, and institutional or work email address.
• Master’s Admission Documents: All documents required for admission to the selected master’s programme.

The reference letter must be dated no earlier than February 2026. Family members cannot act as referees. Applicants should check the official guidance for any template or formatting requirements.

Important: You can submit only one scholarship application, and the university does not allow documents to be added or replaced after submission. Check every document carefully before applying.

How to Apply for the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027

Follow these steps to apply successfully.

Step 1: Select an Eligible Master’s Programme

Visit Maastricht University’s website and check the participating master’s programmes for the 2027–2028 academic year. Only eligible programmes associated with the Chemelot Campus and Maastricht Health Campus qualify.

Step 2: Apply for Master’s Admission

Submit your programme application through Studielink and follow the university’s admission procedure. You must submit a complete admission application that meets the programme requirements by December 10, 2026.

If your programme charges an admission handling fee, you are responsible for paying it by the applicable deadline.

Step 3: Obtain Your Maastricht University Student Number

After submitting your master’s application through Studielink, you will receive a Maastricht University student number. You need this number to access and submit the scholarship application.

Step 4: Prepare the Scholarship Documents

Prepare your CV, motivation letter, academic transcript, grading-system explanation, financial-need statement, reference letter, and referee contact details.

Use the university’s required templates and ensure that your documents meet the published instructions.

Step 5: Submit the Scholarship Application

Log in with your Maastricht University account and complete the online scholarship application. Upload all the required documents in an accepted format, such as DOC, DOCX, or PDF.

Submit the application only after verifying that all information and supporting documents are complete.

Step 6: Complete Registration Requirements

By the scholarship deadline of February 1, 2027, you must have met the university’s registration requirements, except for the specified outstanding items relating to legal residence, tuition payment, and the physical copy of your diploma.

Step 7: Attend the Selection Interview if Invited

Complete applications are reviewed for eligibility and forwarded to the relevant faculty. The faculty ranks candidates and proposes a shortlist of five applicants to the Brightlands Talent Scholarship selection committee.

Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview before the final decision is made.

Step 8: Receive the Selection Decision

The university expects to inform applicants of their status by the beginning of May 2027 at the latest. Candidates may be selected, waitlisted, or rejected.

Successful candidates must sign and return the award letter to the International Services Desk to accept the scholarship.

Application Deadline

There are two important deadlines for the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027–2028:

• December 10, 2026: Deadline to submit a complete application for admission to an eligible master’s programme.
• February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET: Final deadline to submit the scholarship application.

Applicants should not wait until the scholarship deadline to begin their master’s admission application. An incomplete or late admission application may make the candidate ineligible for the scholarship.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027?

The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship is a fully funded master’s scholarship offered by Maastricht University in the Netherlands for selected international students admitted to participating master’s programmes linked to the Brightlands innovation campuses.

2. Is the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The scholarship provides tuition fee coverage, a living allowance, health and liability insurance, visa application costs, pre-academic training, and other specified programme expenses. International flight tickets and certain additional costs are not covered.

3. How many scholarships are available for 2027–2028?

Maastricht University offers two scholarships through the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship programme for the 2027–2028 academic year.

4. How much is the scholarship allowance?

The living allowance is €20,150 for a 13-month master’s programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme, subject to the official award terms.

5. Can Pakistani students apply?

Pakistani applicants may be eligible because Pakistan is outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname. They must also meet the academic, age, programme-admission, visa, and other scholarship requirements.

6. What is the minimum GPA required?

Applicants must have a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10 or the equivalent under their university’s grading system. An official transcript and a document explaining the grading scale are required.

7. What is the age limit?

Applicants must be no older than 35 years on September 1, 2027.

8. Can students who already have a master’s degree apply?

Applicants who already hold a master’s degree are not automatically excluded under the stated eligibility criteria, but preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained one.

9. Can I apply if I previously studied in the Netherlands?

Applicants who have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands are ineligible. Students who participated in an exchange programme in the Netherlands may still apply.

10. Is IELTS required for the scholarship?

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen master’s programme, including its English-language requirements. Whether IELTS is required or an exemption is available depends on the programme and the university’s rules.

11. What is the final application deadline?

The scholarship application closes on February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET. However, the complete application for admission to the eligible master’s programme must be submitted by December 10, 2026.

12. Does the scholarship cover air tickets?

No. International flight tickets are not included in the scholarship and must be paid for by the student.

13. Is accommodation provided?

Yes. A room is allocated to scholarship recipients until July 16, 2028. Students enrolled in a two-year master’s programme must arrange accommodation for their second year themselves.

14. Is the Thesis Internship Programme compulsory?

Yes. Scholarship recipients must participate in the Thesis Internship Programme and write their master’s thesis based on an assignment from a company located on the relevant Brightlands campus.

15. When will scholarship results be announced?

The university expects to notify candidates of their application status by the beginning of May 2027 at the latest. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online interview before the final decision.