Tilburg University’s Research Master Scholarship 2027 Admissions Open
A €20,500 tuition fee can put a Dutch research degree out of reach. For September 2027 entry, Tilburg University’s Research Master Scholarship could reduce that first-year fee to €2,771 for selected students—a potential saving of €17,729.
The important distinction is that this is a tuition-fee waiver, not a living stipend. Before applying, check which Research Master you qualify for and how you will cover your remaining costs.
Tilburg Research Master Scholarship 2027: Quick Applicant Facts
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How Much Does the Scholarship Cover?
The award reduces tuition; it does not pay students a cash allowance. Tilburg University lists a preliminary 2027–28 fee of €2,771 for scholarship holders instead of the €20,500 non-EEA institutional fee. These first-year figures are subject to confirmation, so applicants should not assume that the same amounts will apply in year two.
The waiver is intended to cover the standard two-year Research Master. In the two Social and Behavioral Sciences programs, second-year coverage depends on meeting study-progress requirements. For Communication, Cognition and Digital Culture, the waiver cannot be extended to cover study delay beyond the normal two years.
Living costs remain your responsibility. Tilburg currently estimates approximately €1,000–€1,200 per month for living expenses, separate from tuition. That makes a realistic funding plan essential even for a successful scholarship applicant.
Which Programs and Students Qualify?
Three Research Masters have specific routes described on Tilburg’s Research Master Scholarship page:
- Research Master in Social and Behavioral Sciences: Non-EEA students liable for institutional tuition may qualify, including applicants who earned their Bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands. Up to three first-year waivers are available.
- Research Master in Psychology: Individual Differences and Assessment: The same non-EEA institutional-fee rule applies. Up to three first-year waivers are available.
- Research Master in Communication, Cognition and Digital Culture: Eligible applicants include outstanding non-EEA students pursuing their first Master’s degree in the Netherlands. Exceptional applicants who already hold a Dutch Master’s degree may also qualify, whether they are Dutch, EEA or non-EEA citizens. Up to three waivers are available per cohort. Only September starters are eligible.
Applicants interested in the Research Master in Economics, Academic Economics track, should instead check Tilburg’s separate CentER and Koopmans scholarships. Their funding process has a different deadline.
What Are the Admission and English Requirements at Tilburg?
You must qualify for admission to your chosen Research Master before you can receive its tuition waiver. Tilburg assesses relevant previous education, academic performance, research preparation and motivation. Required documents vary by program but can include transcripts, a CV, motivation letter, thesis or research paper, and evidence of statistics training.
The listed programs publish an IELTS Academic minimum of 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in Writing and Speaking. TOEFL iBT and Cambridge qualifications are also accepted under the scores specified on each program’s admission page.
For September 2027 entry, Tilburg may exempt an applicant who completed an entire Bachelor’s or Master’s degree taught in English and supplies acceptable official evidence. The university decides whether that evidence meets its standard. Check the current English-language rules before assuming that an English-medium degree replaces a test.
How Do You Apply for Scholarship Admissions at Tilburg?
Submit a complete Research Master admission application and follow the scholarship instructions for that specific program. Studielink registration alone is insufficient: Tilburg also requires the supporting documents in OSIRIS Aanmeld.
- Select the right program. Read its admission requirements and prepare the academic documents, English evidence and research material it requests.
- Register in Studielink. Applications for September 2027 entry can be submitted from 1 October 2026.
- Complete your file in OSIRIS Aanmeld. Upload every required document and apply for Tilburg scholarship, request the Research Master exemption through OSIRIS and allow time for it to be processed.
- Follow your program’s waiver route. Studielink registration automatically enters applicants to the Social and Behavioral Sciences and Psychology programs into waiver selection, provided they complete the admission process. Communication, Cognition and Digital Culture applicants must follow that program’s waiver instructions and submit a complete application by its deadline.
A conditional admission letter can take at least six weeks. Submit well ahead of the scholarship deadline so that missing documents or an exemption request do not hold up your application.
How Are Recipients Chosen?
Admission makes you eligible for consideration, but the waiver is competitive. For Social and Behavioral Sciences and Psychology, Tilburg assesses prior education, research experience and study progress. If more than three candidates meet the applicable criteria for a program, a draw determines the final recipients. The university expects to notify applicants by May or June; award holders must confirm acceptance within two weeks.
Communication, Cognition and Digital Culture also considers academic promise, fit with the program and the motivation letter. Qualifying applicants may be invited to an online interview. The published schedule places final decisions in the third week of June, with award letters due back by 1 July, 2027.
What Is the Deadline?
The last date to apply for the Tilburg University Research Master Scholarship for September 2027 entry is 1 April 2027. Your admission application must be complete, including the required OSIRIS Aanmeld documents. For Communication, Cognition and Digital Culture, Tilburg specifies a deadline of 23:59 CET on 1 April.
