The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is one of the most complete funding packages a non-EU student can win in the Netherlands, and unlike many awards that carry the word “full”, this one genuinely earns it. It covers your tuition, pays a substantial living allowance, and handles your insurance, visa costs and pre-academic training. For an African graduate with strong grades, it removes essentially every financial barrier to a Dutch master’s degree.
The living allowance is what sets it apart. Rather than a token contribution, the scholarship pays 20,150 euros across 13 months for a one year master’s, or 38,750 euros across 25 months for a two year master’s. That is real money designed to let you live in Maastricht without working, and it sits on top of a tuition waiver rather than replacing one.
There is one thing that makes this urgent and that nearly every scholarship listing buries. The scholarship deadline is 1 February 2027, but you cannot apply for the scholarship unless you have already applied for admission to a Maastricht master’s, and that admission deadline falls on 10 December 2026, nearly two months earlier. Miss the December date and the February one becomes irrelevant. If this scholarship interests you, the clock you are actually racing is the admission clock.
Scholarship benefits
- Living expenses of 20,150 euros across 13 months for a one year master’s programme, or 38,750 euros across 25 months for a two year master’s programme.
- Tuition fees covered for your Maastricht University master’s programme.
- Health and liability insurance covered, reported at around 700 euros.
- Visa application costs covered, which removes a real upfront barrier for African applicants.
- Pre-Academic Training costs covered, so you arrive prepared for the Dutch teaching style rather than paying for that preparation yourself.
- Membership of a small, deliberately selective cohort, since only a limited number of these full scholarships are awarded each academic year.
One obligation comes attached, and it is worth knowing before you apply rather than after. Recipients agree to act as an active UM NL High Potential and University ambassador, which includes sharing your experience at a minimum of one session. That is a reasonable ask for a package this size, but it is a commitment, not a formality.
Eligibility checklist
✔ You hold a nationality from outside the EU and EEA, and you are not a national of Switzerland or Surinam. African nationals fall squarely within the eligible group.
✔ You do not hold dual nationality with an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.
✔ You will not be older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
✔ Your most recent transcript shows a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, equivalent to roughly 75 percent or 3 out of 4.
✔ You have never taken a degree seeking, primary or secondary education programme in the Netherlands. Former exchange students in the Netherlands may still apply.
✔ You have applied for a full time Maastricht University master’s programme for 2027-2028 and meet its admission requirements. Only participating programmes qualify, so check the official list before you commit.
✔ You can meet the requirements for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
✔ You are willing to act as an active UM ambassador, including sharing your experience at a minimum of one session.
✔ Preference goes to candidates who have not already earned a master’s degree, so this suits applicants moving straight from a bachelor’s.
Application tips for African students
- Treat 10 December 2026 as your real deadline, not 1 February 2027. You must have applied for admission to a participating Maastricht master’s by the December date before you can submit the scholarship application. This two stage sequence is where most people lose the opportunity, because they discover the scholarship in January when the admission window has already closed.
- Check your programme is on the participating list first. Only certain master’s programmes take part, and the list is published as a separate document on the official scholarship page. Confirm yours is included before you invest weeks in an application.
- Calculate your GPA against the 7.5 out of 10 threshold honestly. This is a hard academic floor, not a guideline. If your grading system differs, work out the equivalent carefully, since roughly 75 percent or 3 out of 4 is the stated benchmark. If you fall short, your effort is better spent on a scholarship that weighs need or leadership more heavily.
- Register through Studielink early and record your student ID. You register for your chosen programme through Studielink, and the student ID number you receive afterward is what you need to proceed. Do this with time to spare, because registration systems and document checks can take days.
- Get your transcripts certified and translated well ahead of December. Your latest transcript carries the decisive GPA, so it must be complete, certified and where necessary translated. Documents issued by African institutions commonly take several weeks to certify, which puts the start of that process in October or early November.
- Prepare everything before you open the submission form, because you only get one attempt. You can submit the scholarship application only once, and you cannot add or replace documents afterward. Assemble and proofread the complete set first, then submit.
- Write with the ambassador role in mind. Since recipients commit to representing the university and sharing their experience, evidence of communication, leadership or community involvement strengthens your case. Name what you have actually done rather than asserting potential.
How to apply
The process runs in two stages across two different deadlines, and the admission stage comes first. Follow these steps:
- Step 1. Choose a participating full time Maastricht University master’s programme for 2027-2028 from the official list, and confirm you meet its admission requirements.
- Step 2. Register for that programme through Studielink by the admission deadline of 10 December 2026, and note the student ID number you receive after submitting.
- Step 3. Log in to the scholarship application form using your UM account and complete it in full.
- Step 4. Upload the required documents, including your latest transcript showing your GPA, and review everything carefully.
- Step 5. Submit online by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. You may submit only once, and documents cannot be added or replaced after submission.
The participating programme list, the current figures and the full conditions are on the official Maastricht University NL-High Potential scholarship page. Verify the figures and dates there before applying, since the university revises them between cycles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NL-High Potential scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers tuition fees, a substantial living allowance, health and liability insurance, visa application costs and Pre-Academic Training costs. It is one of the few Dutch awards that genuinely covers both study and living costs rather than only reducing tuition.
How much money do I actually receive?
Living expenses are paid at 20,150 euros across 13 months if you take a one year master’s, or 38,750 euros across 25 months if you take a two year master’s. Tuition, insurance, visa costs and pre-academic training are covered separately and in addition.
Who can apply?
Non-EU and non-EEA nationals, excluding Swiss and Surinamese nationals and anyone holding dual EU, EEA or Swiss nationality, who will be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027, hold a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, have never studied a degree programme in the Netherlands, and have applied to a participating full time Maastricht master’s for 2027-2028.
When are the deadlines?
There are two. You must apply for admission to your master’s programme by 10 December 2026, and you must submit the scholarship application by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. The earlier admission deadline is the one that catches people out.
Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?
You may apply, but preference goes to candidates who have not yet obtained a master’s degree, so you would be at a disadvantage against applicants coming directly from a bachelor’s.
I studied in the Netherlands on exchange. Am I excluded?
No. The restriction covers degree seeking, primary and secondary education in the Netherlands. Former exchange students in the Netherlands may still apply.
Can I edit my application after submitting?
No. You can submit only once, and you cannot add or replace documents afterward, so check everything thoroughly before you send it.
What is expected of me if I win?
Recipients agree to act as an active UM NL High Potential and University ambassador, which includes sharing their experience at a minimum of one session.