NL Scholarship in the Netherlands for International Students

The NL Scholarship, formerly called the Holland Scholarship, supports international students at participating Dutch universities. It provides partial financial support rather than covering the full cost of tuition and living expenses.

Our take: calculate what you still need

Before applying, prepare a budget for your entire degree. Include tuition, accommodation, food, insurance, transport and travel. Deduct the scholarship only from your first-year budget, then calculate how you would pay for the remaining costs and later years.

A useful comparison is the total amount you would personally spend at each university after confirmed funding. The institution offering a scholarship is not necessarily your most affordable option.

Choose the course before chasing the award

Start with programmes that match your academic background and career plans. Then check whether the institution offers this scholarship for your chosen programme and intake.

Keep a separate checklist for admission and funding. Record the documents, submission instructions and deadlines for each. This reduces the risk of completing an admission application while overlooking a separate scholarship step.