Maastricht University UM Global Studies Scholarship

The Maastricht University UM Global Studies Scholarship offers one full coverage scholarship (including a tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend) per academic year for selected top-performing bachelor students from eligible countries with personal development potential who have been (conditionally) admitted to the Global Studies study programme. The scholarship is tied to the Global Studies bachelor-level programme, which trains students to understand and develop solutions for complex global issues.

The scholarship targets incoming bachelor students with demonstratable financial need from eligible countries and with strong personal development potential that can be uniquely supported by the Global Studies study programme. Applicants must be (conditionally) admitted to the Global Studies bachelor programme at Maastricht University. The Global Studies programme includes opportunities for a local or international field study, developing an intervention for a societal problem, and writing an interdisciplinary bachelor thesis.

Selection is based on the requirements stated for eligibility and on the application material submitted for the scholarship. Applications require uploading a curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation, proof of academic excellence, a personal statement of financial needs, a scholarship reference letter, and referee contact details. A referee must be a (former) professor, teacher, principal, college counsellor, lecturer, or employer (not a family member), and reference letters must follow the scholarship guidelines to be considered.

Support lasts for 36 months for the bachelor programme in Global Studies. Living expenses are provided as a monthly amount paid by the UM International Services Desk. Health and liability insurance, visa application costs, tuition fees, pre-academic training costs, and the International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP) are arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk as described. Accepting the scholarship includes acceptance of allocated accommodation; refusing the room results in scholarship cancellation. Recipients also agree to become active Global Studies and UM ambassadors during and after studies by sharing experiences during at least one information session for students and/or other stakeholders.

• You hold the nationality of a country eligible to receive Official Development Assistance from the OECD, excluding Surinam, and you meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
• You must check the website before you apply to see in which country you have to collect your MVV visa for the Netherlands.
• If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, you can only apply if this residence permit is still valid until at least the date stated on the Visa Office webpages; if it expires earlier, you can only apply from your home country via a MVV visa application.
• You do not have a dual nationality from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or Surinam.
• You have applied for admission to the Global Studies bachelor’s programme at UM for the academic year stated in the scholarship information, and you have submitted your application file in full, meeting all admission requirements as stated on the website, before the date stated.
• You meet the specific admission requirements of the UM bachelor programme to which you have applied.
• You do not have a diploma from a higher education institution; you are not eligible for a scholarship if you have completed a degree programme equivalent to a bachelor degree.
• You are not older than 35 years of age as stated on the scholarship page.
• You agree to become an active Global Studies and UM ambassador during and after your studies by committing to share experiences during at least one (information) session for students and/or other stakeholders.
• You can only submit an application once, and you must ensure documents and referee contact details are up-to-date; you cannot add or replace documents after submission.

• Living expenses: €20,150 per academic year (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).
• Tuition fees: at cost per academic year (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 first block only (arranged for and paid by the UM International Services Desk).
• Accommodation: a room allocated as part of the scholarship, with acceptance required to keep the scholarship.
• Living expenses breakdown (amounts subject to change): 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 (approx. €75) is not included in the scholarship and has to be paid to Maastricht Housing upfront.

1. Apply for the Global Studies programme at Maastricht University. Submit your application via Studielink and obtain your UM student ID number.
2. Use your UM student number to complete and submit the scholarship application form.
3. Log in with your UM account, complete the application form, and upload the required documents in .doc, .docx or PDF format.
4. Submit your scholarship application once and ensure all documents and referee contact details are up-to-date (documents cannot be added or replaced after submission).

• Curriculum Vitae (not longer than two A4 pages).
• Letter of motivation (use the template provided).
• Proof of academic excellence (latest grade transcript showing at least 75% of the maximum grade).
• Personal statement of financial needs.
• A reference letter uploaded by the applicant (referee must follow the scholarship reference letter guidelines).
• Contact details of one referee (including relationship to applicant, work telephone number with country calling code, and a work or institutional email address).