Holland Scholarship, Now the NL Scholarship: Who Can Apply and When
TL;DR: The Holland Scholarship is now called the NL Scholarship. It pays €5,000 in the first year of a full-time bachelor's or master's at a participating Dutch institution, for students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who have no Dutch degree. You apply through the university, not through Nuffic, and each university sets its own deadline: for the September 2027 intake, dates run from 31 January to 1 May 2027.
Many students still search for the Holland Scholarship and miss the change of name, the change in which universities take part, and the fact that there is no single national deadline. This guide sets out who can apply, how much it is worth, how four universities run it for the September 2027 intake, and how it fits with your budget and residence permit. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.
Not sure your grades and English scores meet Dutch entry requirements? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What is the NL Scholarship?
Study in NL, the official Dutch study portal, describes it as "The NL Scholarship (formerly known as Holland Scholarship)". It is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating universities and universities of applied sciences. Nuffic says the programme supports 2,112 students per academic year.
The amount is €5,000, and Study in NL is direct about its limits: "Please note that this is not a full-tuition scholarship." It is paid for the first year only. Utrecht University says you receive it "in the first year of your studies, even if you are enrolled in a two year programme". Some institutions award more: in its 2026-2027 round, Utrecht offered amounts of €5,000, €10,000 and €15,000.
Who can apply?
Study in NL sets four general conditions:
- Your nationality is non-EEA.
- You are applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating institution.
- You meet the specific requirements of the institution you choose.
- You do not have a degree from a Dutch education institution.
Universities then add their own rules. Radboud University excludes anyone eligible for the lower EU/EEA tuition fee for other reasons. The University of Twente asks for a minimum grade average and IELTS 6.5. The University of Groningen looks for "excellent academic performance". Wageningen University and Research limits its award to a list of nationalities, so check that yours is on it before you plan around it.
How four universities run it for September 2027
| University | Deadline | Awards | Who it is for | Admission first? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Groningen | 1 February 2027, 11:59 PM CET | Not stated | Selected master's programmes | Yes: apply after your admission offer; results by 15 March |
| Radboud University | Submit by 31 January 2027, complete by 14 February 2027 (11:59 PM CET) | Up to 26 for 2027-2028 | English-taught master's | Yes: fully admitted; awarded with the Radboud Scholarship Programme |
| University of Twente | 1 April 2027, 4:00 PM CET | Not stated | Master's starting 2027-2028 | Apply for the master's first; results in early May 2027 |
| Wageningen University and Research | Invitations weekly from 1 February 2027; no applications after 1 May | 8 | On-campus MSc, September 2027 or February 2028 | Conditional or unconditional admission; invited, not a direct application |
Two points stand out. First, most deadlines depend on being admitted, so the real deadline is your programme application, weeks earlier. Second, Radboud's page shows awards for 2027-2028 but still mentions programmes "starting 1 September 2026" in its rules, so confirm the details with the university before you rely on them.
Want a second opinion on which Dutch programmes fit your profile and timeline?
Which universities take part?
Participation changes from year to year. The 2026-2027 list on Study in NL included Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Radboud University, the University of Groningen, the University of Twente, Utrecht University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Wageningen University and Research, plus 23 universities of applied sciences. Several large universities were not on it, and Leiden University says the scholarship "is not available at Leiden University for the academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028". Check the Study in NL list and your university's own page for the year you plan to start.
How it fits your budget and residence permit
€5,000 covers part of one year. Non-EEA tuition is higher than the EU/EEA rate, and our guide to Netherlands tuition fees for non-EU students shows the range. Wageningen states that the award "cannot be used to meet WUR's payment requirements", so plan to pay what the university asks on time without it.
For the residence permit, the IND accepts a scholarship as one way to show income: "You show this with a scholarship declaration." Your university collects this proof. Our guide to Netherlands proof of funds explains how the rest is shown.
A timeline that works
- October to December: shortlist programmes at participating institutions and check each one's NL Scholarship page.
- December to January: apply for the programmes; see our guide to the Netherlands September intake.
- January to April: apply for the scholarship once admitted, by each university's date.
- March to May: results, then the residence permit through your university.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is outside the EEA, so applicants from Sri Lanka meet the nationality condition in Study in NL's general rules.
- Wageningen's nationality list does not include Sri Lanka, so its NL Scholarship is not open to Sri Lankan nationals; choose another participating university if the award is part of your plan.
- Send degree certificates and transcripts in English with your programme application, because most scholarship decisions follow admission.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Holland Scholarship the same as the NL Scholarship?
Yes. Study in NL says the NL Scholarship was formerly known as the Holland Scholarship.
Does the NL Scholarship cover full tuition?
No. It is €5,000 for the first year, and Study in NL says it is not a full-tuition scholarship.
Do I apply through Nuffic?
No. Nuffic says you apply only through the participating institution's own website.
PS: Students who win this award apply for the programme early, then for the scholarship the week they are admitted. Shortlist three programmes this month. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will help you plan the dates.
Team Prosper
References
- NL Scholarship, Study in NL (Nuffic). https://www.studyinnl.org/finances/nl-scholarship (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship, Nuffic. https://www.nuffic.nl/en/nl-scholarship (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship), University of Groningen. https://www.rug.nl/education/master/international-students/financial-matters/holland-scholarship (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship for prospective students, Radboud University. https://www.ru.nl/en/education/scholarships/nl-scholarship-for-prospective-students (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship, University of Twente. https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/scholarship-finder/nl-scholarship-university-of-twente/ (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship, Wageningen University and Research. https://www.wur.nl/en/education-programmes/master/practical-information-masters/scholarships/nl-scholarship.htm (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship, Utrecht University. https://www.uu.nl/en/masters/general-information/application-and-admission/scholarships-and-grants/nl-scholarship (accessed 19 October 2026)
- NL Scholarship (incoming students), Leiden University. https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/nl-scholarship-incoming (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Income requirements for study, IND. https://ind.nl/en/income-requirements-study (accessed 19 October 2026)
