Holland-High Potential scholarship - Maastricht University

Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship is a scholarship programme offering 18 full scholarships. It provides tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend. The programme includes the High Potential Scholarship (funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund) and the NL Scholarship (financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences). Its aim is to support international students from outside the EU/EEA who wish to follow a full degree programme in the Netherlands.

Eligibility is for international candidates from outside the EU/EEA who have been admitted to a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University. Candidates apply for a specific participating master’s programme. Preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree, and the scholarship includes an obligation to become an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador during and after studies.

Selection is described as competitive: 2% of applicants receive the scholarship. The application must be submitted once and only for one scholarship. After accepting the scholarship, students commit to participate in at least one information session during and/or after their studies. Support duration depends on the master’s length: 13 months for a one-year programme and 25 months for a two-year programme, with a room allocated up to a stated end date; refusing the room results in scholarship cancellation.

• All candidates must have a nationality in a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and be able to obtain an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands (check the Visa Office website before applying).
• If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, you can apply only if that residence permit is still valid until at least the stated date; if it expires before that date, you must apply from your home country via a MVV visa application.
• You must not have dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• You must have applied for admission to a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University and submitted the application file in full, meeting all admission requirements, by the stated internal admissions submission deadline.
• You must meet the specific admission requirements of the UM master’s programme you apply to.
• You must not have participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands; exchange programmes in the Netherlands are welcome to apply.
• Preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree.
• You are not older than 35 years of age on the stated date.
• You must have obtained excellent results in prior education, demonstrated by your latest grade transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
• You must agree to become an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador during and after your studies, committing to share your experiences during at least one information session for students and/or other stakeholders.
• You can submit an application only once and only for one scholarship.
• By the scholarship deadline, you must have met all registration requirements (except legal residence, tuition payment and hard copy of a diploma).

• Living expenses: € 20,150 for a 13-month master’s programme, or € 38,750 for a 25-month master’s programme (paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Health & liability insurance: € 700 (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Visa application costs: at cost (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Tuition fees: at cost (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Pre-academic training costs: at cost (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP): at cost for the first block only (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Housing: a room allocated to the scholarship student until a stated end date; accepting the scholarship means you accept the room (students who receive a scholarship for a two-year programme must find housing for the second year themselves).
• Living expenses breakdown includes: housing € 960; groceries and personal hygiene € 160; telephone € 60; travel € 100; books and study materials € 90; clothing, hobbies and going out € 125; miscellaneous € 55.
• Air tickets are not included and must be paid by the candidate.
• A cleaning fee (approximately € 75) is not included and must be paid to Maastricht Housing upfront.

1. Apply for one of the participating master’s programmes at Maastricht University. Submit your application via Studielink; you will receive a student ID number for UM.
2. After you have the student ID, complete the UM NL-High Potential Scholarship application form by logging in with your UM account. Applications are only accepted via the application form.
3. Upload all required documents in .doc, .docx or PDF format and submit your application. You can submit your application only once, so ensure documents and referee contact details are up-to-date before submitting.
4. Meet the registration requirements by the scholarship deadline (except legal residence, tuition payment and hard copy of a diploma).

• Curriculum vitae (CV), up to two A4 pages.
• Letter of motivation (must use the template provided).
• Proof of academic excellence, including: (1) your university transcript or an official document from your home university showing your latest GPA of 7.5 or higher; and (2) a document explaining your grade system showing that your transcript indicates at least 75% of the maximum grade (or an equivalent conversion to 7.5 out of 10 at Maastricht University).
• Personal statement of financial needs (including personal circumstances such as financial difficulty, sole parent/caretaking responsibilities, medical condition, disability, refugee status, etc.).
• A reference letter (referees must be (former) professors, lecturers, or employers; not family members). The reference letter must follow the scholarship reference letter guidelines, and you upload it yourself.
• The contact details of one referee.
• An official document from your home university showing your most recent GPA, and a document explaining your grade system (only accepted with a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher).