NL Scholarship 2027 at Utrecht University Application Process Guidance

For many international applicants, the words “NL Scholarship” create the impression that a Dutch Master’s degree has suddenly become fully funded. Utrecht University’s offer is more useful—and more demanding—than that shortcut suggests. The scholarship can provide €5,000, €10,000 or €15,000 in the first study year, but recipients must still prove that they can finance the remaining tuition and living costs.

That is why the strongest applicants will not treat this as a last-minute grant form. They will first identify an eligible Utrecht Master’s programme, meet its admission and English requirements, prepare a realistic financial plan and then submit the separate NL Scholarship form through OSIRIS before the February deadline.

What the Utrecht University NL Scholarship pays—and what it does not?

Utrecht University offers three possible NL Scholarship amounts: €5,000, €10,000 and €15,000. The selected amount is paid in the first year of study, including where an applicant enrols in a two-year Master’s programme.

The important limitation is equally clear: this is not a full scholarship and it is not a second-year award. Utrecht requires applicants to complete a Statement of Financial Resources because the university expects scholarship applicants to show how they will meet the remaining tuition and living costs for the full nominal duration of the programme. Personal savings, family support, a confirmed external scholarship or another dependable source may be part of that plan.

Do not submit a vague statement saying you will “find work after arrival.” A part-time job can supplement a student budget, but it is not a convincing replacement for confirmed funding when a selection panel is assessing whether your study plan is financially feasible.

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Who can apply for the Utrecht University NL Scholarship?

You should apply only if you satisfy every eligibility condition. Being an international applicant alone is not enough.

• You must not hold an EU/EEA passport. The EEA includes EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
• You must not be eligible for support under the Dutch study grant and loan system.
• You must not be eligible for statutory tuition fees.
• You must not previously have been enrolled at an educational institution in the Netherlands. Utrecht says participation in an exchange programme in the Netherlands does not create this ineligibility.
• You must apply for an international Master’s programme at Utrecht University that participates in the NL Scholarship.
• You must meet the academic, document and language requirements of that Master’s programme.

Do not confuse Utrecht University’s route with the wider national NL Scholarship description. The national scheme can include Bachelor’s or Master’s opportunities at other Dutch institutions, but Utrecht University’s published opportunity is for eligible international Master’s applicants. A Bachelor’s applicant should not rely on this Utrecht page.

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Check the Master’s programme before starting the scholarship form

Your first task is not to write a scholarship motivation letter. It is to choose a suitable course from the Utrecht University Master’s programme catalogue and open that course’s “Tuition fees and financial support” section.

The NL Scholarship must be listed there as an opportunity for the programme you want to study. Utrecht does not make every international Master’s programme eligible. If your selected course does not mention the NL Scholarship, do not assume the central scholarship page overrides the programme page.

At the same time, confirm that your Bachelor’s degree meets the subject-entry requirements. Utrecht’s Admissions Committee assesses whether your previous degree is equivalent to the required Dutch research-university level and whether your academic background fits the programme. Scholarship eligibility cannot compensate for a degree that does not meet the course’s admission standard.

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Is IELTS required for the Utrecht University NL Scholarship?

You must meet the English requirement of your chosen Utrecht Master’s programme, because admission to the programme is the first requirement of the scholarship route.

Utrecht uses three English Medium of Instruction levels: EMI-ready, EMI-experienced and EMI-advanced. Each Master’s programme states its required level on its admission page. As an example, Utrecht’s current EMI-ready level accepts IELTS Academic 6.0 with minimum component scores. A Master’s requiring EMI-experienced or EMI-advanced may require a higher result.

Utrecht currently does not accept IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake. Applicants should therefore check the exact accepted test and score on their course page before booking an exam. Do not assume that an English-medium Bachelor’s degree automatically removes the need for approved evidence; Utrecht applies specific published exemptions.

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How to apply through Studielink and OSIRIS?

1. Choose an NL Scholarship-eligible Master’s programme. Confirm that the course lists the scholarship and that you meet its academic and English requirements.
2. Start an enrolment application in Studielink. Utrecht uses Studielink as the national enrolment platform. Applicants outside the Netherlands can create an account without DigiD.
3. Use your OSIRIS Online Application account. After beginning in Studielink, Utrecht provides the instructions and access needed to submit the full university application in OSIRIS.
4. Upload a complete admission file. Utrecht’s core documents include a valid passport or EU ID, degree evidence and transcripts, English-language evidence, CV and motivation letter. Some programmes ask for further material.
5. Pay the admission application fee if it applies. Utrecht’s currently published application fee is €100 and is non-refundable. The payment is part of the admission process, not an NL Scholarship fee.
6. Complete the NL Scholarship application in OSIRIS. On the dashboard, locate “NL Scholarship”, select “View/Edit” for the chosen programme, answer all required questions and submit the form.
7. Show the funding plan behind your application. Complete the Statement of Financial Resources honestly, demonstrating how all costs beyond the scholarship will be covered.

Utrecht advises applicants to submit early. It specifically warns that applications submitted between 27 January and 1 February cannot be corrected or supplemented if information is missing or wrong. The scholarship deadline is not the day to upload documents, arrange payment or resolve a language-test issue.

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How Utrecht University selects NL Scholarship recipients?

Utrecht assesses applications on three connected points: your academic background as shown in the Master’s application, your motivation for studying in the Netherlands and at Utrecht University, and the quality and feasibility of your financial plan.

A strong motivation statement therefore needs to answer a practical question: why is this specific Utrecht Master’s necessary for your next academic, professional or public-impact goal? Generic sentences about enjoying international education do not show that connection. Explain the academic skills, research environment, curriculum or professional pathway you need and how you will use it afterwards.

Selection starts after the deadline. Utrecht aims to announce results by mid-April, allowing successful applicants time to deal with the financial, visa and enrolment steps that follow an admission offer.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Utrecht University NL Scholarship fully funded?

No. The award is €5,000, €10,000 or €15,000 in the first year. Utrecht requires applicants to show how their remaining programme costs will be financed.

Can an EU/EEA student apply?

No. The scholarship is for applicants outside the EEA who are not eligible for statutory tuition fees or the Dutch student grant and loan system.

Will a two-year Master’s student receive the scholarship twice?

No. Utrecht states that the selected amount is paid in the first year, even for a two-year Master’s programme. Plan for the second year separately.

Does an exchange semester in the Netherlands make me ineligible?

No. Utrecht specifically says an exchange programme in the Netherlands does not make an applicant ineligible. Previous enrolment at a Dutch educational institution outside that exception does.

Does Master’s admission automatically mean I will receive the scholarship?

No. Admission and scholarship selection are separate. You must apply to an eligible programme, submit the NL Scholarship form and then compete on academics, motivation and financial feasibility.

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Utrecht University NL Scholarship 2027 deadline

The last date to apply for the Utrecht University NL Scholarship is 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. The application portal closes at that time. Utrecht will begin selection after the deadline and aims to publish the results by mid-April.

Apply before the final week. First complete the Master’s admission application correctly, then submit the scholarship form through OSIRIS and make sure your financial plan covers the entire programme rather than only the scholarship shortfall. That is the difference between simply applying and presenting Utrecht University with a fundable study plan.