Maastricht University Netherlands UM Brightlands Talent Scholarships

The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship programme offers two full coverage scholarships (including a tuition fee waiver and monthly stipend) per academic year for selected top-performing non-EU/EEA, non-Switzerland or non-Surinam students with personal development potential who have been (conditionally) admitted to a master's programme connected to the Brightlands campi. The scholarship includes a mandatory thesis-internship-programme (TIP), requiring recipients to write their thesis to an assignment for one of the companies on the respective Brightlands campus.

Applicants must be applying for a participating master’s programme at Maastricht University connected to the Brightlands campi. The Brightlands campi are located in Limburg in chemistry and materials, health, agrifood, data science and smart digital services, and programmes can be affiliated with the Chemelot campus or the Maastricht Health campus (with participation checked via the application procedure). Preference is given to candidates who have not yet obtained a master’s degree.

Selection is based on the stated eligibility and application materials, including meeting the admissions requirements of the specific UM master’s programme and submitting an application file in full before the programme deadline. Candidates are assessed using prior academic results (latest grade transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher) and supporting scholarship documentation, including a CV, a letter of motivation, proof of academic excellence, a personal statement of financial needs, and a reference letter.

Support duration depends on the master’s programme length: 13 months for a one-year master’s programme and 25 months for a two-year master’s programme. The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship includes tuition fees arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk, health and liability insurance at cost, visa application costs at cost, and pre-academic training costs at cost. Accepting the scholarship means accepting a room allocation; refusing the room results in cancellation. Additional ambassador activity is required during and after studies, including sharing experiences in at least one (information) session.

• Nationality: you hold a nationality of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
• If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must be still valid until at least 2 September 2027; if it expires before that, you can only apply from your home country via a MVV visa application.
• No dual nationality from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or Surinam.
• You have applied for admission to a participating master's programme at UM for the academic year 2027-2028 and submitted your application file in full, meeting all admission requirements, before 10 December 2026.
• You meet the specific admission requirements of the UM master's programme to which you have applied.
• You have never 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 1 September 2027.
• Prior education results: latest grade transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
• You agree to become an active Brightlands and UM ambassador during and after your studies by committing to share your experiences during at least one (information) session for students and/or other stakeholders.
• You can only submit an application once and for one scholarship only.
• Room allocation: accepting the scholarship means accepting the room; refusing the room means the scholarship will be cancelled.

• Tuition fees: arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk (tuition fee waiver included).
• Monthly stipend included as part of the scholarship coverage.
• Living expenses: € 20,150 for 13 months or € 38,750 for 25 months, paid by the UM International Services Desk.
• Health & liability insurance: at cost, 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.
• 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.
• Accommodation: a room allocation provided until a specified date (date omitted here due to formatting rules); accepting the scholarship means accepting the room.
• Air tickets are not included and must be paid by the candidate.
• Cleaning fee (approx. €75): not included in the scholarship and must be paid to Maastricht Housing upfront.

1. Apply for one of the participating master’s programmes at UM. After submitting your application via Studielink, you receive a student ID number for UM. You need the student number to complete and submit the Scholarship Application Form.
2. Submit the scholarship application form using your UM account login. Upload the required documents and submit your application once; documents and referee contact details cannot be added or replaced after submission.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), not longer than two A4 pages.
• Letter of motivation (template provided).
• Proof of academic excellence: (1) university transcript or official document showing the most recent GPA of 7.5 or higher; (2) a document explaining the grade system.
• Personal statement of financial needs.
• A reference letter (with scholarship reference letter guidelines provided).