Netherlands VU Fellowship (VUFP) 2026 at Vrije University Amsterdam

International students, mark your calendars. The prestigious VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is officially on the horizon. With applications for Master’s programmes opening on 1 October 2025 and VUFP scholarship applications opening on 1 November 2025, this is the moment to start preparing your academic documents. The final deadline for scholarship applications is 1 February 2026 (23:59 CET).

About the VUFP Scholarship

The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) is one of the Netherlands’ most competitive scholarship opportunities. Designed for non-EU/EEA students of outstanding academic caliber, the programme attracts highly motivated candidates with the potential to become future leaders in their fields.

Each year, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam commits approximately €1 million to fund this initiative, making it an attractive option for international students who want to pursue a Master’s degree in the Netherlands.

VU Fellowship Funding Package

• VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP): Covers full tuition fees for a one- or two-year Master’s degree.
• NL Scholarship (automatic consideration with VUFP): Provides a one-time contribution of €5,000 or €10,000 toward living costs, available only for the first year of study. Around 20–25 of these scholarships are available each cycle.

Note: VUFP does not cover rent, insurance, food, or other living expenses. Students must secure additional funding for these costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants of this VUFP fellowship must meet the following conditions:

• Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and be ineligible for statutory tuition fees.
• Not hold Dutch nationality.
• Demonstrate academic excellence, with a Bachelor’s GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.0/10.
• Be conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master’s programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting in September 2026.
• Not be applying for February intake or joint programmes where VU does not handle admissions.
• The previous degree used for admission must not have been obtained in the Netherlands.
• Must not require a preparatory programme before starting the Master’s.

Required Documents for VUFP Fellowship Application

• Bachelor’s degree transcript with GPA proof and grading scale.
• Motivation letter and academic excellence evidence (within the scholarship form).
• Admission confirmation for your selected Master’s programme.
• Valid passport and supporting documents requested by the faculty.

Apply: https://vu.nl/en/education/more-about/incoming-master-scholarships.

Application Timeline

The application cycle for the VU Fellowship (VUFP) 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam begins on 1 October 2025 with the opening of Master’s applications. From 1 November 2025, students can officially submit their VUFP scholarship applications.

To stay on track, candidates are strongly advised to complete their Master’s admission process by 1 December 2025. The final deadline to submit the VUFP scholarship application is 1 February 2026 at 23:59 CET. Results will be announced in mid-March 2026, and successful applicants must confirm their acceptance by the end of March 2026. The selected students will then begin their programmes in September 2026.

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