The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) 2026 is a prestigious opportunity for highly talented international students from outside the EU/EEA who aspire to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). This scholarship is designed to attract the world’s brightest minds and promote diversity within the university’s global classrooms.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the scholarship amount will be announced soon, but it typically includes partial or full tuition fee coverage for top-performing students.
About the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS)
The AMS Scholarship embodies the University of Amsterdam’s mission to encourage academic excellence and internationalization. Each year, the UvA’s Amsterdam Law School offers this scholarship to outstanding students who display remarkable academic merit, leadership potential, and motivation to make a difference through their studies.
The award helps outstanding students achieve their academic ambitions at one of Europe’s leading universities, situated in the vibrant and culturally rich city of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Eligible Master’s Programs
Students can apply for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) if they are admitted to one of the following full-time LL.M. programs at the University of Amsterdam:
- International and European Law
- European Private Law
- Law & Finance
- International Criminal Law.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the AMS 2026, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for Dutch financial aid (Studiefinanciering).
- Be applying to a Master’s program at UvA for the first time (those who already hold a UvA master’s degree are not eligible).
- Be able to meet all Dutch visa requirements as outlined by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
- Be enrolled as a full-time student for the academic year 2026–2027.
Selection Criteria
The selection committee evaluates applications based on academic merit and motivation. The key assessment factors include:
- Academic Excellence: Equivalent to a GPA of 4.0 (USA), First Class Honours (UK), or 8.0 (Netherlands).
- Motivation Letter (max 500 words): Explaining why you chose your program, your future goals, and why you deserve the AMS.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detailing your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and professional experience.
- Overall quality of your LLM application.
- Application form.
Application Timeline
The application process for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) 2026 begins on 1 December 2025, and all required documents must be submitted no later than 15 January 2026 (23:59 CET). Candidates are strongly advised to complete both their LLM application and AMS scholarship application by this date to be considered.
The Amsterdam Law School Selection Committee will announce the final scholarship results on a date yet to be confirmed. Successful applicants must ensure that their full enrollment at the University of Amsterdam is completed by 1 September 2026 to remain eligible for the award.