Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship in the Netherlands for International Students

Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship offers international students an outstanding opportunity to pursue a fully funded master’s degree in Europe. The prestigious programme supports highly talented students from outside the EU/EEA who wish to pursue an eligible full-time master’s degree at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Offered by Maastricht University (UM), the NL-High Potential Scholarship programme is designed for highly talented international students who want to pursue a full-time master’s degree at Maastricht University. The programme combines the High Potential Scholarship, funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund, with the NL Scholarship, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in cooperation with Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences.

The scholarship is particularly significant because it provides extensive financial support covering major study and living costs. Based on the published scholarship structure, support includes a tuition fee waiver, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa-related costs, Pre-Academic Training costs and certain International Student Ambassador Programme costs.

Maastricht University states that the programme offers 21 full scholarships each academic year, making this an exceptionally attractive but highly competitive opportunity.

Prospective applicants should also understand that selection is extremely competitive. Maastricht University states that only around 2% of applicants are ultimately awarded the scholarship.

About Maastricht University

Maastricht University is located in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and provides undergraduate, graduate and research opportunities across a variety of academic disciplines.

Through the NL-High Potential Scholarship programme, the university seeks to attract academically outstanding students from outside the European Union and European Economic Area who demonstrate strong potential to succeed in one of its participating master’s programmes.

Successful scholarship recipients do more than receive financial assistance. Awardees are also expected to become active ambassadors for Maastricht University and the NL-High Potential Scholarship programme during and after their studies.

What Is the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship?

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is a competitive funding programme for talented international students admitted to eligible full-time master’s programmes at Maastricht University.

The programme consists of two scholarship components:

1. The High Potential Scholarship, funded through the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund.
2. The NL Scholarship, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating Dutch higher education institutions.

The programme is intended to make it possible for outstanding international students to undertake a full degree programme in the Netherlands.

The scholarship is comprehensive because it addresses several of the largest financial barriers international students encounter when studying overseas, including tuition, accommodation and everyday living expenses.

Number of Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarships Available

Maastricht University offers 21 full scholarships each academic year under the programme.

The limited number of awards is important for prospective applicants to consider when preparing their applications.

Maastricht University explicitly describes the programme as highly competitive and indicates that approximately 2% of applicants receive the scholarship.

Applicants should therefore devote substantial attention to academic performance, their motivation letter, CV, supporting documentation, reference letter and the overall quality and completeness of their application.

Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship provides substantial financial assistance to successful recipients.

Based on the currently published scholarship amounts, funding covers the following areas:

1. Living Expenses

For a one-year programme lasting 13 months, the published living-expense allowance is:

€20,150

For a two-year programme lasting 25 months, the published living-expense allowance is:

€38,750

The living allowance is paid to scholarship recipients by the Maastricht University International Services Desk.

The university indicates that the 13-month living allowance corresponds to approximately €1,550 per month.

Applicants preparing for the 2027–2028 academic year should note that the published financial amounts are subject to change.

2. Full Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are covered at cost and are arranged and paid by the Maastricht University International Services Desk.

This is one of the most significant benefits of the scholarship because successful recipients do not have to independently fund the applicable Maastricht University tuition fees covered by the award.

3. Health and Liability Insurance

The published scholarship package allocates approximately:

€700

towards health and liability insurance.

The insurance is arranged and paid for by the UM International Services Desk.

4. Visa Application Costs

Applicable visa application costs are covered at cost.

The Maastricht University International Services Desk arranges and pays these costs as part of the scholarship package.

5. Pre-Academic Training Costs

The cost of the required Pre-Academic Training is also covered at cost and arranged by the UM International Services Desk.

6. International Student Ambassador Programme

The scholarship also covers the applicable costs for the first block of the International Student Ambassador Programme.

Applicants should remember that scholarship amounts and financial arrangements published for one academic cycle can change for the following academic year. Candidates for the 2027–2028 cycle should therefore verify the final amounts when Maastricht University publishes the updated scholarship information.

How the Living Allowance Is Calculated

Maastricht University provides a useful breakdown illustrating how the published monthly living allowance may be allocated.

Based on the €1,550 monthly figure, the indicative expenses include:

• Housing: €960 per month
• Groceries and personal hygiene: €160 per month
• Telephone: €60 per month
• Travel: €100 per month
• Books and study materials: €90 per month
• Clothing, hobbies and going out: €125 per month
• Miscellaneous expenses: €55 per month

These figures demonstrate that the living allowance is intended to support both accommodation and normal day-to-day student expenses.

The amounts are subject to change, so future applicants should use them as an indication of the scholarship’s financial structure rather than assume that the exact figures will necessarily remain unchanged for the 2027–2028 academic year.

Are Air Tickets Covered?

No. Applicants should budget separately for international travel.

The scholarship information specifically states that air tickets are not included and must be paid for by the candidate.

Prospective students should therefore factor airfare and any other personal travel costs not included in the scholarship into their financial planning.

Important Accommodation Requirement

One particularly important condition of the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship concerns accommodation.

A room allocated to the successful candidate forms a mandatory part of the scholarship.

Accepting the scholarship means accepting the allocated accommodation.

Candidates cannot simply reject the room and keep the remainder of the scholarship. Refusing the allocated room results in cancellation of the scholarship.

Applicants should also understand that the accommodation provided to scholarship students is not suitable for partners, spouses or children.

The university indicates that relevant accommodation preferences, including preferences associated with religious beliefs, can be taken into account.

Candidates who intend to relocate with family members should therefore carefully consider this requirement before applying.

Duration of the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship

The duration of financial support depends on the length of the master’s programme.

The scholarship is provided for:

• 13 months for a one-year master’s programme.
• 25 months for a two-year master’s programme.

Applicants should therefore check the duration of their intended Maastricht University programme when considering the overall value and length of the scholarship.

Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy all applicable scholarship and university admission requirements.

Among the major requirements, candidates must have an eligible nationality and immigration status, apply for an eligible full-time Maastricht University master’s programme and demonstrate excellent previous academic performance.

Applicants must also meet the specific admission requirements of the master’s programme for which they are applying.

Candidates should pay particular attention to the following conditions:

Nationality Requirement

Applicants must hold the nationality of a country outside the European Union/European Economic Area, Switzerland and Surinam and satisfy the applicable requirements for obtaining a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.

Applicants must not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

Candidates should carefully check the visa and residence requirements applicable to their circumstances.

Master’s Programme Requirement

Candidates must apply for admission to a participating full-time Maastricht University master’s programme for the relevant academic year.

Not every master’s programme at Maastricht University is necessarily eligible for the scholarship.

Prospective candidates must therefore check the university’s official list of participating programmes for the academic year in which they intend to begin their studies.

Academic Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the specific admission requirements of their chosen Maastricht University master’s programme.

Applying for the scholarship does not replace the normal university admission process.

Previous Study in the Netherlands

Candidates must not previously have participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands.

However, students who previously completed an exchange programme in the Netherlands are permitted to apply.

Previous Master’s Degree

Preference is given to applicants who have not already obtained a master’s degree.

Age Requirement

For the published 2026–2027 cycle, applicants were required to be no older than 35 years of age on 1 September 2026.

Prospective applicants for 2027–2028 should confirm the corresponding age cut-off when Maastricht University publishes the updated application conditions.

Academic Excellence Requirement

Academic excellence is a central selection requirement.

Under the published criteria, candidates must demonstrate outstanding results from previous education through their latest academic transcript.

The required benchmark is a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, or its recognised equivalent.

Maastricht University explains that this can correspond to:

• At least 75% out of 100%, or
• Approximately 3 out of 4 under an applicable grading system.

Applicants must provide official evidence of their GPA and documentation explaining the grading system used by their university.

Ambassador Commitment

Successful candidates must agree to become active ambassadors for the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship and Maastricht University.

This commitment applies during and after their studies.

Recipients are expected to share their experiences during at least one information session for students and/or other stakeholders.

How to Apply for the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship

The application process involves both applying for an eligible master’s programme and submitting a separate scholarship application.

Candidates should not treat these as interchangeable processes.

Step 1: Apply for an Eligible Maastricht University Master’s Programme

The first major step is to select and apply for a participating master’s programme at Maastricht University.

Applicants submit their programme application through Studielink.

After the programme application has been submitted, the candidate receives a Maastricht University student ID number.

This student number is important because it is required to complete and submit the scholarship application.

Candidates should verify that their chosen master’s degree appears on the official list of programmes participating in the NL-High Potential Scholarship for their intended academic year.

For further details on how to apply for a master programme at UM, please see your prospective programme’s webpage

Step 2: Complete the Scholarship Application Form

Once the applicant has received a Maastricht University account/student number, the candidate can proceed with the dedicated scholarship application.

The scholarship application must be submitted through Maastricht University’s designated application form.

Candidates should carefully prepare all required materials before submission.

The university states that candidates can submit their application only once and for one scholarship only. Documents cannot simply be added or replaced after the application has been submitted.

This makes document preparation particularly important.

Please fill out the application form here

Documents Required for the Scholarship Application

Applicants should prepare a comprehensive application package.

The published requirements include the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae

Candidates must submit an up-to-date CV containing relevant information about their:

• Education
• Employment or professional experience
• Academic background
• Relevant accomplishments
• Awards and prizes, where applicable

The CV should not exceed two A4 pages.

Applicants who have received academic awards, professional recognition or other relevant prizes should include them.

2. Motivation Letter

Applicants must submit a scholarship motivation letter using the template provided by Maastricht University.

The letter is intended to explain the candidate’s motivation for receiving the scholarship.

Because competition is extremely high, applicants should ensure that their motivation is clearly expressed and supported by relevant evidence from their academic, professional or personal experiences.

3. Proof of Academic Excellence

Candidates must provide evidence demonstrating that they satisfy the scholarship’s academic standard.

This includes:

1. A university transcript or official document from the applicant’s home university showing the most recent GPA.
2. A document explaining the grading system used by the applicant’s university.

Under the published requirements, only candidates meeting the equivalent of at least 7.5 out of 10 are considered.

4. Personal Statement of Financial Needs

Applicants must submit a statement explaining why receiving the scholarship would benefit them financially.

Candidates may describe relevant personal circumstances that demonstrate financial need.

The purpose is to give the selection committee meaningful context about why scholarship funding is important to the applicant’s ability to pursue the programme.

Applicants should provide an accurate and genuine account of their circumstances rather than relying on generic statements.

5. Reference Letter

A reference letter is another mandatory part of the application package.

Eligible referees can include:

• Current or former professors
• Lecturers
• Employers

Family members cannot serve as referees.

Applicants must ensure that the reference letter follows Maastricht University’s scholarship reference-letter guidelines.

The published 2026–2027 requirements also specified that recommendation letters needed to be appropriately dated and compliant with the university’s guidelines.

Candidates applying for the next cycle should check the updated reference-letter date requirements when applications reopen.

Importantly, the applicant is responsible for uploading the reference letter.

The referee does not upload it separately.

6. Referee Contact Details

Candidates must also supply contact information for one referee.

The required information includes:

• The referee’s relationship to the applicant
• The referee’s work telephone number, including the relevant international calling code
• The referee’s work or institutional email address

The university may contact referees to verify authenticity.

Candidates should therefore ensure that the information is correct and that the referee is aware of the application.

A personal email address alone does not satisfy the published referee-email requirement; applicants should provide the referee’s professional or institutional email address.

Important Application Rules

Applicants should carefully follow all instructions because incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications can affect eligibility.

Important rules include:

1. Apply for a participating master’s programme before proceeding with the scholarship application.
2. Obtain the Maastricht University student ID required for the scholarship form.
3. Make sure the selected programme participates in the scholarship scheme.
4. Prepare all required documents before submitting the scholarship application.
5. Ensure academic documents clearly demonstrate the required GPA or equivalent.
6. Include official documentation explaining the applicant’s university grading system.
7. Follow the required motivation-letter template.
8. Follow the official reference-letter guidelines.
9. Provide legitimate professional or institutional referee contact information.
10. Review every uploaded document carefully before final submission.

Applicants should remember that the scholarship application can only be submitted once, so errors discovered after submission may not be correctable.

Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship Deadline

Applications are currently closed and are scheduled to reopen in October 2026.

Maastricht University states that information concerning participating programmes for the 2027–2028 academic year will be available from 1 October 2026 onwards.

Applicants interested in the 2027–2028 scholarship should therefore begin preparing their academic documents, CV, potential referee and other supporting information ahead of the reopening.

The previous published cycle required candidates to apply for a participating master’s programme by 8 December 2025, while the scholarship application deadline was 1 February 2026.

Those dates relate to the previous 2026–2027 cycle and should not automatically be treated as the final deadlines for 2027–2028.

Prospective applicants should check Maastricht University’s official scholarship announcement after applications reopen in October 2026 for the confirmed 2027–2028 deadlines.

Maastricht University Scholarship Selection Process

The published selection procedure provides useful insight into how Maastricht University evaluates scholarship candidates.

Although dates may change for future application cycles, the process demonstrates that scholarship selection involves several stages.

Stage 1: Application Completeness Check

The Maastricht University International Services Desk first checks scholarship applications to determine whether they are complete.

This reinforces the importance of submitting every required document correctly.

Stage 2: Applications Are Sent to Faculties

Complete applications are forwarded to the relevant Maastricht University faculties.

Stage 3: Faculty Ranking

Each faculty evaluates candidates and selects and ranks its strongest scholarship applicants.

Under the published process, each faculty selected and ranked its top five scholarship applicants before sending them to the International Services Desk for a final check.

Stage 4: Final Checks and Interview Invitations

Following the faculty selections, the UM International Services Desk performs the relevant final checks.

Selected candidates are then invited to participate in an online interview.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to discuss their academic background, motivation, ambitions and suitability for the scholarship if shortlisted.

Stage 5: Final Application Status

Following interviews, candidates are informed about the status of their scholarship applications.

Possible outcomes include:

• Selected
• Waitlisted
• Rejected

Waitlisted candidates may subsequently have their status changed to either selected or rejected.

Successful scholarship recipients receive additional information concerning the award, their arrival in Maastricht and the mandatory Pre-Academic Training programme.

Stage 6: Accepting the Scholarship

Successful candidates must formally accept the scholarship.

This requires signing and returning the scholarship award letter to the Maastricht University International Services Desk.

Candidates should carefully read all scholarship conditions before accepting the award, particularly requirements concerning accommodation, participation in training and ambassador responsibilities.

Mandatory Pre-Academic Training

The Maastricht University Pre-Academic Training programme forms a mandatory component of the NL-High Potential Scholarship.

For the published 2026–2027 cycle, this consisted of a two-week mandatory programme beginning in the first week of August 2026.

Candidates applying for 2027–2028 should check the updated dates once the next scholarship cycle is officially published.

How Competitive Is the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship?

The scholarship is exceptionally competitive.

Maastricht University states that only approximately 2% of applicants are awarded the scholarship.

This means meeting the minimum eligibility criteria should not be confused with being guaranteed an award.

Strong candidates should aim to present an application that demonstrates:

• Excellent academic achievement
• Clear motivation for their chosen master’s programme
• Strong reasons for pursuing study at Maastricht University
• Evidence of personal and professional potential
• A compelling case for scholarship support
• High-quality recommendations
• Careful attention to application instructions
• A complete and professionally presented application package

Candidates should also make sure that the information provided throughout their application is consistent.

Why International Students Should Consider This Scholarship

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship stands out because of the breadth of financial assistance provided.

Instead of offering only a partial tuition discount, the scholarship addresses several major expenses associated with international postgraduate study.

Successful candidates can receive support covering tuition fees, living expenses, insurance, visa costs, required training and specified programme expenses.

For talented students who might otherwise find studying in the Netherlands financially difficult, this level of funding can make postgraduate education substantially more accessible.

The opportunity also provides scholarship recipients with the experience of studying in an international university environment while participating in ambassador and academic-development activities.

Important Points Applicants Should Remember

Before preparing an application, prospective candidates should remember:

• Only participating Maastricht University master’s programmes qualify.
• Applicants need to apply for their master’s programme before completing the scholarship application.
• A Maastricht University student number is required for the scholarship application.
• Academic excellence is essential.
• The published benchmark is a GPA equivalent to at least 7.5/10.
• Supporting documentation explaining the applicant’s grading system is required.
• The scholarship is extremely competitive.
• Only around 2% of applicants are awarded funding.
• The allocated scholarship accommodation is mandatory.
• Airfare is not included.
• Scholarship recipients have ambassador responsibilities.
• Applicants must carefully prepare all documents before submission.
• Applications are currently closed and are expected to reopen in October 2026.
• Candidates interested in 2027–2028 should verify all updated requirements, amounts and deadlines once Maastricht University publishes the new application cycle.

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Conclusion

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028 represents an outstanding funding opportunity for academically excellent international students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the Netherlands.

With extensive support covering tuition fees, living expenses, insurance, visa application costs and other specified academic expenses, the programme removes many of the major financial obstacles associated with studying abroad.

However, applicants should not underestimate the competition. Maastricht University indicates that only around 2% of applicants ultimately receive the scholarship, meaning candidates need more than basic eligibility to succeed. Academic excellence, a compelling motivation, strong supporting documents, a credible reference and strict compliance with application instructions can all play an important role in the selection process.

Prospective applicants should begin preparing early. Applications are currently closed and are scheduled to reopen in October 2026, while information on participating programmes for the 2027–2028 academic year is expected to be available from 1 October 2026 onwards.

Because scholarship amounts, programme eligibility, age cut-offs, document dates and application deadlines can change between academic years, candidates should verify the official Maastricht University 2027–2028 scholarship information when the new cycle opens before submitting an application.

Read more about the NL Scholarship

Visit the OFY website for more Scholarship Opportunities.