Netherlands — €5,000 NL Scholarship Remains Available for Non-EEA Students

Netherlands €5,000 NL Scholarship Remains Available for Non-EEA Students

Indian students planning to study in the Netherlands for the 2027/28 academic year have another scholarship opportunity to consider.

The NL Scholarship, previously known as the Holland Scholarship, continues to support talented international students from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

The scholarship provides:

€5,000 for the first year of study

It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.

For Indian students considering the Netherlands for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, the scholarship can help reduce part of the first-year study cost.

However, students should understand one important point:

The €5,000 NL Scholarship is not a fully funded scholarship.

It does not automatically cover your complete tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses or other study-related costs.

Quick Summary

DetailInformationScholarshipNL ScholarshipFormer nameHolland ScholarshipCountryNetherlandsScholarship amount€5,000DurationFirst year onlyEligible nationalityNon-EEA studentsIndian students eligible?YesStudy levelBachelor's and/or Master's depending on universityIntakeIncluding participating 2027/28 programmesFull scholarship?No — partial scholarshipDeadlineVaries by institution

The national scholarship framework states that applicants generally need to be non-EEA nationals, apply for a full-time Bachelor's or Master's programme at a participating Dutch institution, satisfy that institution's requirements and normally not already hold a degree from a Dutch educational institution.

Are Indian Students Eligible?

Yes.

India is outside the EEA, meaning Indian nationals can potentially qualify for the NL Scholarship where they satisfy the requirements of the participating university.

For example, the University of Twente's current NL Scholarship information explicitly includes India among eligible countries.

However, nationality alone does not guarantee a scholarship.

Universities may assess factors such as:

• Academic performance
• Admission to an eligible programme
• Previous education
• English-language proficiency
• Motivation
• Academic excellence
• Individual scholarship criteria

Students therefore need to check both the programme admission requirements and the scholarship requirements of their chosen university.

How Much Is the NL Scholarship?

The scholarship amount is:

€5,000

The amount is provided for the first year of study.

The national Study in NL portal clearly states that the NL Scholarship is not a full-tuition scholarship.

This distinction is important.

For example, if your international tuition fee is significantly higher than €5,000, you will still be responsible for paying the remaining tuition amount as well as your living and other expenses.

At the University of Twente, the university also explains that the €5,000 award is intended as compensation towards study-related costs and that expenses are not automatically paid directly on the student's behalf.

Which Courses Are Eligible?

There is no single nationwide list of courses applicable at every Dutch university.

The NL Scholarship is offered through participating Dutch institutions, and each institution determines:

• Which Bachelor's programmes qualify
• Which Master's programmes qualify
• Academic requirements
• Number of available scholarships
• Selection criteria
• Application procedure
• Application deadline

This means students should not assume that every course at every Dutch university automatically qualifies.

Example: University of Twente

The University of Twente currently offers the NL Scholarship to excellent international students from non-EU/EEA countries applying for qualifying Master's programmes.

For the 2027/28 academic year, the scholarship is worth:

€5,000

for the first year.

Its listed requirements include being from a non-EU/EEA country, having qualifying admission, meeting academic standards and meeting applicable English-language requirements.

University of Twente 2027/28 Deadline

One of the clearest confirmed 2027/28 examples is the University of Twente.

Its scholarship application schedule states:

Applications open: 15 October 2026
Application deadline: 1 April 2027 at 16:00 CET
Results: Expected during the first week of May 2027

Students first need to apply for an eligible Master's programme. After applying for the programme, they can use their student number for the scholarship application.

This is especially useful for Indian students planning for September 2027 entry.

Radboud University: Up to 22 Scholarships for 2027/28

Radboud University has also published information for its 2027/28 NL Scholarship.

The university states that a maximum of:

22 NL Scholarships

will be available for eligible English-taught Master's programmes across selected faculties.

Each scholarship is worth:

€5,000

and is awarded for one year.

At Radboud, the NL Scholarship is combined with its Radboud Scholarship Programme, so applicants need to follow the university-specific procedure rather than treating the NL Scholarship as a completely separate national application.

Radboud deadline

For the 2027 scholarship cycle, Radboud states that applicants must submit the relevant online application by:

31 January 2027 at 23:59 CET

The university further states that the application should be complete by 14 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.

Is There One Common NL Scholarship Deadline?

No.

This is one of the most important points for applicants.

There is no single deadline applicable to every participating Dutch university.

For example:

University2027/28 scholarship deadlineUniversity of Twente1 April 2027Radboud University31 January 2027

Other institutions may have different timelines, eligible programmes and application procedures.

Students should therefore never wait for a supposed "Netherlands scholarship deadline" without checking their specific university.

Basic NL Scholarship Eligibility

At national level, applicants generally need to satisfy the following conditions:

1. You are from outside the EEA

Indian applicants satisfy the nationality aspect because India is outside the European Economic Area.

2. You apply to a participating institution

Not every university or programme necessarily participates under identical conditions.

3. You apply for an eligible full-time programme

Depending on the institution, this can include Bachelor's or Master's study.

4. You meet university-specific requirements

Universities may have additional academic, English-language and selection standards.

5. You normally should not already hold a Dutch degree

The national scholarship criteria state that applicants should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.

How to Apply for the NL Scholarship

The exact application procedure varies by university, but students can generally follow this sequence:

Step 1: Choose a Dutch university and programme.

Step 2: Confirm that the institution participates in the NL Scholarship.

Step 3: Check whether your selected course is eligible.

Step 4: Apply for admission to the university.

Step 5: Check the institution's scholarship portal and requirements.

Step 6: Prepare academic documents, English-language evidence and motivation documents where required.

Step 7: Submit the scholarship application before the university-specific deadline.

Some universities require a separate scholarship application, while others integrate scholarship selection into their admissions process.

Documents Students May Need

Requirements differ by university, but students should be prepared with documents such as:

• Passport
• Bachelor's or previous academic degree
• Academic transcripts
• English-language test result
• CV/resume
• Statement of purpose or motivation letter
• University admission application
• References where required
• Additional scholarship documents requested by the institution

Always follow the document list provided by the specific university.

Is the NL Scholarship Fully Funded?

No.

Students should not promote or interpret the NL Scholarship as a "fully funded Netherlands scholarship."

The official scholarship value is €5,000, normally for the first year.

Students may still need to finance:

• Remaining tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Food
• Health insurance
• Travel
• Residence permit or visa-related expenses
• Books and study materials
• Other personal expenses

The €5,000 should therefore be treated as partial financial support.

Why Indian Students Should Start Preparing Early

The Netherlands attracts international students for English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes across areas including:

• Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science
• Business
• Management
• Data Science
• Social Sciences
• Law
• Sustainability
• Technology

But competitive scholarships can have deadlines several months before the programme begins.

For instance, Radboud's current 2027 deadline is in January, while Twente's is in April.

Indian students targeting September 2027 should therefore begin researching programmes and preparing documents during 2026, rather than waiting until mid-2027.

Important: Scholarship and Admission Are Different

Being admitted to a Dutch university does not automatically mean you will receive the NL Scholarship.

Similarly, meeting the minimum scholarship eligibility conditions does not guarantee selection.

Universities can have limited awards and competitive selection procedures.

Radboud University, for example, explicitly states that programme admission and scholarship selection are separate processes.

Students should therefore build both a strong university admission application and a strong scholarship application.

Clear My Udaan Guidance for 2027 Applicants

For Indian students planning Netherlands study, the best approach is:

Choose programme → check university eligibility → apply for admission early → check NL Scholarship rules → prepare scholarship documents → apply before the institution-specific deadline.

Do not select a university only because the €5,000 scholarship is available.

Students should also consider:

• Total tuition fee after scholarship
• Living costs
• Course quality
• Admission requirements
• Career opportunities
• Scholarship competitiveness
• Financial capacity for remaining expenses

The scholarship should form one part of the overall study-abroad planning process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NL Scholarship available for Indian students?

Yes. Indian nationals are non-EEA students and may apply where they meet the requirements of a participating institution.

How much is the NL Scholarship?

The standard scholarship amount is €5,000, generally awarded during the first year of study.

Is the NL Scholarship fully funded?

No. It is a partial scholarship and does not automatically cover full tuition or living costs.

Is it available for Bachelor's students?

The national NL Scholarship framework covers eligible Bachelor's and Master's programmes, although individual institutions decide which programmes they offer the scholarship for.

Can Master's students apply?

Yes. Many participating institutions offer it for eligible Master's programmes.

Is there one deadline for all universities?

No. Deadlines vary by institution.

What is the University of Twente deadline for 2027/28?

The currently published deadline is 1 April 2027 at 16:00 CET for eligible programmes beginning in September 2027.

What is the Radboud University deadline?

The university states that the relevant application must be submitted by 31 January 2027 at 23:59 CET, with completion requirements following in February.

Final Takeaway

The €5,000 NL Scholarship remains an important opportunity for non-EEA students, including students from India who are planning to study in the Netherlands.

For the 2027/28 academic year, universities such as the University of Twente and Radboud University have already published scholarship information, confirming that the opportunity continues for eligible international applicants.

The key is to remember that this is not one central scholarship application with one common deadline.

Each student should:

Check the university → check the programme → check eligibility → confirm the deadline → apply early.

Clear My Udaan — Staying Grounded, Flying High.