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The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027/28 is fully funded. It covers your full tuition, a monthly living allowance of 1,550 euros, health and liability insurance, visa costs, and a room, for a master’s degree in the Netherlands. There are 18 of these scholarships each year, for students from outside the European Union.
Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | Netherlands |
| University | Maastricht University |
| Study level | Master’s (participating programmes) |
| Funding | Full tuition, 1,550 euros a month, insurance, visa costs, and a room |
| Places | 18 scholarships each year |
| Who can apply | Students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Surinam, aged 35 or under |
| Application fee | None for the scholarship |
| Deadline | Master’s file by 10 December 2026; scholarship by 1 February 2027. See the Deadline section. |
What is the NL-High Potential Scholarship?
It is Maastricht University’s flagship scholarship for talented students from outside the EU. It combines the university’s own High Potential Scholarship with the NL Scholarship from the Dutch Ministry of Education, and it covers the full cost of your master’s and your life in Maastricht.
You first get admitted to a participating master’s, then apply for the scholarship. Win it, and your tuition, living costs, insurance, visa, and housing are taken care of.
What the scholarship covers
- Full tuition fees, paid for you
- A living allowance of 1,550 euros a month (20,150 euros for a one-year master’s, 38,750 euros for a two-year master’s)
- Health and liability insurance
- Visa application costs
- A room, allocated to you, plus a two-week pre-academic training before you start
Air tickets are not included, so budget for your own flights.
Who can apply
- You hold a nationality from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Surinam. Most of West and Central Africa qualifies.
- You are 35 or younger on 1 September 2027.
- You have a strong academic record, with a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher (about 75 percent or more).
- You have never done a degree in the Netherlands. A past exchange is fine.
- You have applied to a participating Maastricht master’s for 2027/28.
Preference goes to those who do not already hold a master’s degree.
Is there an age limit?
Yes, a soft one. You must be 35 or younger on 1 September 2027. Within that, your grades and your story matter most.
Can I apply with average grades?
This one does set a bar. You need a GPA of 7.5 out of 10, which is about 75 percent, or the scholarship cannot consider you. If your grades meet that, apply. If they do not, look at the other fully funded master’s scholarships we post that ask for less.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Your master’s programme sets the English requirement, usually IELTS or TOEFL. Check your programme page and take the test early, since you must meet admission requirements by the December date.
Required documents
- Your CV, up to two pages
- A motivation letter, using the official template
- Proof of academic excellence, your transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 or higher, plus an explanation of your grading system
- A personal statement of financial needs
- One reference letter from a professor, lecturer, or employer, with their work contact details
How to write your motivation and financial-needs statements
Use the university’s motivation template and answer what it asks, no more. In the financial-needs statement, be honest and specific about your circumstances. Say why this scholarship changes what is possible for you. Keep both clear and plain.
How to apply, step by step
- Apply to a participating Maastricht master’s through Studielink and complete your file, meeting all admission requirements, by 10 December 2026.
- Get your UM student ID number from that application.
- Log in with your UM account and fill in the scholarship application form.
- Upload your CV, motivation letter, transcript, financial-needs statement, and reference letter.
- Submit before the scholarship deadline, 1 February 2027.
You can only apply once, and you cannot add documents later, so check everything before you submit.
Selection process
After 1 February 2027, the university checks that applications are complete and sends them to each faculty. Each faculty ranks its top five and returns them for a final check. Selected candidates are interviewed online in March, and everyone hears their result by early May 2027.
Deadline
Apply to your master’s and complete your file by 10 December 2026. The scholarship application closes 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.
The 10 December date is the one people miss. You must be admitted first, so start the master’s application now. Confirm both dates on the official Maastricht page before you submit.
Have a question?
Drop your question in the comments and we will help. Tell us your country and the master’s you want and we will point you in the right direction.
Related reading
More fully funded opportunities to explore on the site:
- Erasmus Mundus GLOCAL Scholarship 2027/29
- DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027/28 in Germany
- Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship 2027/28 at Oxford
- ARES Scholarship in Belgium 2027/2028
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