Quick facts
| Host | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Dutch universities |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Level | Bachelor’s or master’s (full-time) |
| Funding | €5,000, paid in the first year (partial, not full tuition) |
| Deadline | Set by each university. The 2026/27 round opened on 1 November 2025; we expect the 2027/28 round to open around November 2026. |
| Who can apply | Non-EEA nationals without a previous Dutch degree |
| Official page | Study in NL |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
The Holland Scholarship gives international students from outside the European Economic Area €5,000 towards their first year at a participating Dutch university. It is not a full scholarship, but it can be combined with your own funds or other support, and it is open to applicants from every African country.
Who can apply
- You are a non-EEA national
- You are applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at a participating institution
- You meet that institution’s own requirements
- You don’t already have a degree from a Dutch institution
Participating universities
For 2026/27, 11 research universities took part, including Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Radboud University, the University of Groningen, the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and Wageningen University & Research, plus 23 universities of applied sciences. The list changes every year, so check the official page.
How to apply
- Pick a programme at a participating university.
- Apply for admission to the programme.
- Apply for the Holland Scholarship through that university, following its own process and deadline (often early in the year).
Tips from our team
- Plan your full budget. Dutch tuition for non-EEA students plus living costs is much more than €5,000. Universities and the Dutch immigration service will ask for proof you can pay.
- Look for university scholarships too. Many Dutch universities run their own excellence scholarships that you can apply for at the same time.
- Applied sciences universities (hogescholen) often have practical, career-focused bachelor’s degrees with lower entry barriers.
Source: Study in NL (Nuffic), checked 9 October 2026. We will update this page when the 2027/28 round opens. EuroPath Jobs is an information directory and is not connected to Nuffic or Dutch universities.