The University of Amsterdam (UvA) offers international students an excellent opportunity to further their academic journey through the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) at the Faculty of Science. For the academic year starting in September 2025, one or two AMS scholarships will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing a Master’s degree at the Faculty of Science.
Benefits of the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2025
The exact financial benefits of the AMS will be announced in November 2024, but it is designed to support outstanding students in funding their studies at UvA. The scholarship aims to ease the financial burden for students from non-EU/EEA countries, enabling them to focus on their academic pursuits in one of Europe’s leading universities.
- Full or partial coverage of tuition fees (details to be confirmed).
- Renewal for second-year students: Students in a two-year program must achieve at least 40 ECTS in their first year to remain eligible for the second-year scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the AMS, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Nationality and Residency:
- Applicants must not hold the nationality of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- They must not be eligible for support under the Dutch study grants and loans system.
- They must not qualify for the reduced tuition fee rate for EEA students.
- They must not receive any full-coverage scholarship for the same study period.
- Program Admission:
- Applicants must submit a complete application to one of the MSc programs at the Faculty of Science and be admitted for the first time.
- The previous academic program must have been completed within the last three years.
- Visa Requirements:
- Applicants should be able to comply with visa conditions if applicable.
- Academic Excellence:
- Students must belong to the top 10% of graduates in their class. This typically requires:
- A GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4-point scale, American system),
- First class honours (British system),
- 8+ on the Dutch 10-point scale.
- The quality of the applicant’s previous academic institution will also be considered.
- Students must belong to the top 10% of graduates in their class. This typically requires:
Selection Criteria
Eligible candidates will be assessed based on:
- Academic records: Only students with exceptional academic performance will be considered.
- Letter of motivation: Candidates must submit a well-written motivation letter (maximum 500 words), explaining their reasons for choosing the MSc program and how the scholarship aligns with their academic and career aspirations.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Candidates should provide a comprehensive CV highlighting academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and international or volunteer experiences.
Application Process
Applying for the AMS is part of the standard MSc application procedure at UvA’s Faculty of Science. Follow these steps:
- Application for MSc Program: http://www.uva.nl/en/education/master-s/master-s-programmes/masters-programmes.html?t=fnwi
- AMS Consideration: On the MSc application form, check the box indicating that you wish to be considered for the scholarship as per this call letter https://gss.uva.nl/scholarships/amsterdam-merit-scholarship/ams-faculty-of-science.html.
- Motivation Letter: Include a specific paragraph in your motivation letter (500 words or less), explaining your desire to be nominated for the AMS and its relevance to your future career.
- Additional Documents: Submit your CV, detailing your academic background and extracurricular activities.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2025 is 15 January 2025.
