Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship 2024

The Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship programme offers 24 full scholarships of € 30,000 (including tuition fee waiver and monthly stipend) each academic year for highly talented students from outside the European Union (EU) who have been admitted to a master’s programme at UM.

The Scholarship programme consists of both the High Potential Scholarship (funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund), and the NL Scholarship, which is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in conjunction with Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences. It is aimed at international students from outside the EU/EEA who wish to follow a full degree programme in the Netherlands.

• Table of Content
• About Maastricht University (UM)
• Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship
• Requirements for Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Maastricht University (UM)

Maastricht University (UM) is the most international university in the Netherlands and, with 18,000 students and 4,400 employees, is still growing. The university stands out for its innovative education model, international character and multidisciplinary approach to research and education. Thanks to its high-quality research and study programmes as well as a strong focus on social engagement, UM has quickly built up a solid reputation. Today it is considered one of the best young universities in the world.... read more... continue reading

Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship

Successful applicants for the Maastricht University NL-High Potentialscholarship will receive the following benefits:

• Living expenses
• Health & liability insurance
• Visa application costs
• Tuition fees
• Pre-Academic Training costs
• International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP)

Requirements for Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship Qualification

All candidates must meet the following requirements:

• You hold nationality in a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
• You do not hold a double nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. 

• You have applied for admission to a participating full-time master programme at Maastricht University (participating programmes) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

• You meet the specific admission requirements of the UM master programme to which you have applied.
• You have never participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Students who have completed exchange programmes in the Netherlands are welcome to apply.
• You are not older than 35 years of age on 1 September 2024.
• You have obtained excellent results during your prior education programmes, as demonstrated by your latest grade transcript or certified by academic excellence. If several applicants are equally qualified, UM will give preference to applicants whose academic transcript or certified letter of academic excellence demonstrate that they are among the top 5% of the 2024-2025 scholarship programme applicants.

Please note, this is a very competitive scholarship, only 2% of the applicants get awarded the scholarship.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship

Selection procedure

Step 1: The UM International Services Desk checks if all applications are complete after 1 February 2024.

Step 2: The UM International Services Desk sends all complete applications to each UM Faculty in February 2024.

Step 3: Each Faculty selects and ranks their top 5% of scholarship applicants and sends these to the UM International Services Desk for a final check in March 2024.

Step 4: The UM International Services Desk confirms the Faculty selections by the end of March 2024.

Step 5: The UM International Services Desk will inform all candidates of their application status in April 2024. Your status will be selected, waitlisted or rejected by the beginning of May 2024 at the latest. Waitlisted application statuses will be changed to selected or rejected by May 2024. Scholarship awardees will receive more information about the UM Pre-Academic Training programme and arrival in Maastricht upon receiving their award letters. The UM Pre-Academic Training is a three-week mandatory component of the UM NL Scholarship programme. The Pre-Academic Training takes place in August 2024.

Step 6: You must sign and return the award letter to the UM International Services Desk to accept the scholarship.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Step 1: Register for one of the participating master programmes at UM (participating programmes)

Step 2: Please fill in the application form, you need to log in with your UM account

Upload the following documents in .doc, .docx or PDF format, and submit your application:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation 
• Proof of academic excellence
• Personal statement of financial needs. 
• A reference letter. 
• The contact details of one referee

For more details, visit Maastricht University (UM) website.