Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in the Netherlands for International Students 2025/2026. Although studying in the Netherlands is amazing, it’s also very expensive. University fees, housing and board, health insurance, meals, transportation and other expenses need to be covered.
Without figuring out how to get support and financial aid, this gets very costly. Luckily only gifted international students from other countries are eligible for the various scholarships that Dutch universities and governments offer.
With this funding for your studies and expenses, you can now pursue your dream of studying at one of the top universities in the Netherlands without worrying about money or finding it hard to pay the fees.
There are many scholarship options; some offer healthcare, others help with living expenses, some cover the entire tuition fee and more. There are special uses for the Netherlands’ fully funded scholarships.
But almost any intelligent but financially challenged student worldwide can pay for and succeed in a prestigious Dutch academic program in their field of interest if they plan ahead, focus their applications and persistently put together funding packages through various awards.
Disclaimer Notice: This is a general educational blog, giving out information concerning scholarship, school fees, Cut off marks, student results, admission form, and other school news guides. We are not affiliated with the Government or any educational institution.
Does the Netherlands Offer Fully Funded Scholarships?
For international students the Netherlands does offer a few fully funded scholarships. But it’s competitive. Scholarships from specific Dutch universities, the Dutch government and outside organizations are available.
Erasmus University Rotterdam and University of Amsterdam for example offer top notch scholarship programs that cover living expenses and tuition. For international students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees the Dutch Ministry of Education offers the prestigious Holland Scholarships.
Full scholarships for study in the Netherlands and Europe are offered by external funders like Erasmus Mundus, Gates Cambridge and Fulbright. Fully funded scholarships are available for exceptional students though they are rare.
Finding a program that fits your profile requires careful and early research. International students can get full funding to study at the Dutch university system if they are persistent and submit a strong application.
Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in the Netherlands for International Students 2025/2026
To attract top international talent to enroll in bachelor’s and master’s programs at Dutch universities the Netherlands offers a large number of competitive scholarships. The funding allows recipients to cover living expenses, travel, tuition and visa fees.
Here are the top 10 fully funded international student scholarships in the Netherlands:
1. The Holland Scholarship
The Holland Scholarship is administered by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This award gives €5,000 for bachelor’s and €10,000-15,000 for master’s students from non-EU countries.
2. Orange Tulip Scholarship
Individual Dutch institutions sponsor Orange Tulip Scholarships from €25,000. Awards include full tuition plus monthly stipends, visa fees, flights and other expenses. Universities nominate qualified applicants from selected fields.
3. TU Delft Excellence Scholarship
Two international awards are given by Delft University of Technology. To support excellent students pursuing master’s in architecture, nanotechnology and other flagship programmes, the Excellence Scholarship has more than €18,000 available each year. For recruited students, a different Orange Tulip track has similar benefits.
4. University of Groningen Talent Scholarship
The University of Groningen has the Talent Scholarship programme with €25,000 each for 50 non-EEA students annually. Supported fields are arts, physics, international business and more.
5. Maastricht University Scholarship
Maastricht University’s Holland High Potential Scholarship has €25,000 for exceptionally talented bachelor’s and master’s students in covered fields. The goal is to attract youth who can become future leaders in their field.
6. Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship
Similarly, the University of Amsterdam has the Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship pool of €25,000 to €35,000 per student. Awards cover full costs of English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes in highlighted disciplines.
7. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
Other options are the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Awards. The combined stipends from these EU-funded graduate scholarships is €25,000 which can be used to study eligible two-year master’s programmes run by consortia of European universities.
Dutch universities participate in many eligible fields such as global health, nanoscience and water resources.
8. DAAD Scholarships
International students can apply for programmes like Germany’s DAAD research grants of over €25,000 for collaborative projects with Dutch partners.
9. UNU-MERIT Scholarships
UNU-MERIT has a very generous scholarship programme for international students, covering tuition of €18,600 and a monthly stipend of €800 for living costs, totalling over €24,000. It supports development-focused graduate study.
10. Fulbright Scholarship
Americans get special consideration for US Fulbright awards of $20,000 to $40,000 for master’s and PhD studies in Holland.
How to Get Fully Funded Scholarships in the Netherlands as an International Student
For international students, the Netherlands has plenty of scholarship opportunities. Excellent academic records, including high grades from previous study programmes, are often possessed by successful applicants.Test scores and research experience from publications and internships are also taken into account.
But high achievers are not the only ones who can apply for scholarships. Talents in arts, music, sports or community service may be eligible for special treatment. Speaking Dutch gives you an extra bonus.
Applying for financial aid requires planning. For information on available funding and application procedures, contact the financial aid office of the university you are interested in.
Before the deadline, submit all required documents. Academic credentials and personal attributes and motivations should be mentioned in application letters and personal statements.
Strong letters of recommendation from your mentors can help.
Check out external scholarship programs from institutions like Fulbright or relevant industry partners.
Read each scholarship’s requirements carefully. Personal statements and supporting documents should be tailored to the sponsor’s interests and priorities.
With hard work and attention to detail, international students can get the funding to access top education programs in Holland.
The key is to explore all options, know the requirements and present yourself as the ideal scholarship candidate.
Standing Out as an Applicant
Meeting the eligibility will not be enough since it’s competitive with other global peers. You can go further by:
- Writing strong essays and interview presentations that tell your story
- Get credible recommendation letters that highlight your skills
- Learn to communicate how funding helps achieve your career goals
Conclusion
For international students, the Netherlands has fully funded scholarships. You can be eligible for these competitive awards by showing excellence in your previous studies, research, recommendations and essay writing. The best options are full coverage for living expenses, tuition, medical care and other expenses.
Although limited, any student worldwide can get full financial support to study at internationally recognized Dutch universities by searching carefully, combining funding sources and communicating your achievements. Plan ahead, stay focused and apply consistently to increase your chances of success.
Recommended:Â Top 10 Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students 2025/2026