Last updated: 6 Sept 2026
The Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship offers 18 full scholarships each academic year: tuition fee waiver plus a monthly stipend for highly talented non-EU/EEA students admitted to a master’s program at UM. It combines two funding sources: UM’s own High Potential Scholarship and the Dutch government’s NL Scholarship, jointly administered as one program.
Maastricht University scholarship
- Scholarship Sponsor: Maastricht University Scholarship Fund + Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (NL Scholarship)
- study in: Netherlands
- Study Level: Master’s
- Number of Scholarships: 18 per academic year
- Scholarship Worth: Tuition fee waiver + monthly stipend
- Excluded nationalities: EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Suriname
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
Eligibility
- Hold a nationality outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname
- Meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands
- Do not hold dual nationality with an EU/EEA country
- If you already hold a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must remain valid until at least 2 September 2027 to apply from within the Schengen area; otherwise you will need to apply via an MVV visa from your home country
- Hold an admission offer to a participating master’s program at Maastricht University
- Meet UM’s standard academic and English-language admission requirements for your chosen program
- Provide proof of financial need, since the scholarship is need-based as well as merit-based
Benefits
- Tuition fee waiver
- Monthly living stipend, covering housing, groceries, personal costs, travel, books, and other essentials
- Visa application cost coverage
- Health and liability insurance
- Pre-academic training costs, where applicable
- Access to UM’s global alumni and industry network, plus Career Services support for internships and job placement
Eligible Programs
Available across a wide range of Maastricht master’s programs, spanning Arts & Social Sciences, Law, Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Psychology & Neuroscience, and the School of Business and Economics: including specializations in European Law, Global Health, Digital Business and Economics, International Business, and Sustainability Science. Confirm the current list of participating programs directly on UM’s scholarship page, since eligible programs can change between cycles.
How to Apply
- Apply for and receive admission to a participating master’s program at Maastricht University via Studielink
- Once you have your student ID, apply for the NL-High Potential Scholarship through UM’s scholarship application process
- Prepare required documents: proof of financial need, academic transcripts, a letter of recommendation, CV, referee contact details, and a motivation letter
- Submit your motivation letter connecting your career goals to UM’s programs specifically; generic letters are a common reason for rejection
- Submit before the deadline. Check UM’s current scholarship page for the exact date, since it changes year to year
Our statement of purpose guide and recommendation letter guide can help you prepare these materials.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting incomplete documents
- Missing the scholarship deadline
- Writing a generic motivation letter not specific to Maastricht University
- Failing to first secure program admission before applying for the scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scholarships are actually available?
18 per academic year; not 24, correcting an earlier error on this page.
Are Swiss or Surinamese applicants eligible?
No: eligibility excludes EU/EEA, Swiss, and Surinamese nationals specifically.
Do I need admission before applying for the scholarship?
Yes: you must first apply for and receive an offer for a participating master’s program before applying for scholarship funding.
Is financial need required, or is it merit-only?
Both proof of financial need is part of the application alongside academic merit.
Related Reading
For other Netherlands-based funding, see the Wageningen University Africa Scholarship Programme or the University of Twente Scholarship.
Apply: Maastricht University – NL-High Potential Scholarship
Contact: hhp.scholarship@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Kukual verifies scholarship details against official sponsor pages at the time of publication and on each update. Confirm the current deadline, exact award count, and eligible programs directly on UM’s official page before applying.
