Purpose of the Programme
Studying overseas is exciting — and yes, a bit daunting when you think of the bills. VU Amsterdam recognises that. Their goal with the scholarship programmes is two-fold: first, to bring in highly talented students from outside the EU/EEA who might otherwise be blocked by cost; second, to create an international learning environment where global perspectives matter.
By offering such scholarships, VU Amsterdam says: “We believe in you, we want you here, and we’ll do what we can to reduce the financial barrier.” It’s not just about getting a degree — it’s about enabling you to contribute, grow, and bring those insights back into the world.
Eligibility Criteria
This is where you’ll want to pay careful attention — because missing one detail could mean ineligibility. For the primary scholarship (the VU Fellowship Programme, VUFP) and the linked NL Scholarship, here are the key requirements:
What you must have:
- You hold a non-EU/EEA passport, and you are liable to pay the higher (international) tuition fee.
- You do not have Dutch nationality.
- You have been conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time, English-taught Master’s programme at VU Amsterdam, beginning in September of the intake year. (Note: February intake students are excluded.)
- The bachelor’s or other previous degree you’re basing the admission on was not obtained in the Netherlands.
- You do not need to complete a preparatory programme before your Master starts.
- You must demonstrate academic excellence — VU uses a grade conversion where a Dutch grade of 8/10 is considered a benchmark; only a small portion of students will meet this equivalence.
Additional conditions to note:
- For two-year Master’s programmes: the scholarship can be extended to the second year only if you complete 100% of ECTS credits in the first year.
- You can apply for only one Master’s programme when submitting your scholarship application — if you’ve applied to multiple programmes you must choose which one you’re targeting with the scholarship.
- The VUFP scholarship covers tuition fees only — it does not cover living costs, accommodation, travel, etc. You’ll need to finance those.
- Applying for the VUFP automatically considers you for the NL Scholarship (you don’t need to make a separate application).
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Fields of Study
The good news: the scholarship is not restricted to one narrow field. If you’re applying for a full-time English-taught Master’s at VU Amsterdam, you’re likely eligible — provided you meet the criteria above.
That means whether you’re drawn to social sciences, humanities, business, engineering, life sciences, or another field offered in English at VU — you have a shot. The key is that the programme must be administered by VU (joint programmes where the admission is handled elsewhere may be excluded).
Benefits of the Scholarship
So what do you get if you’re awarded this scholarship? Let’s break it down.
- Tuition fee waiver: The VUFP covers the full tuition fee for your Master’s programme at VU Amsterdam. You won’t have to pay the standard international tuition fees while you’re on the scholarship.
- NL Scholarship contribution: In many cases you’re automatically considered for the NL Scholarship when you apply for VUFP. That’s a contribution toward living costs — typically €5,000 or €10,000 for the first year of study. But note: this is awarded to only a subset of VUFP recipients.
- Extension possibility: For two-year programmes, if you complete the entire first year successfully (100% ECTS) you may have the tuition waiver extended into the second year.
In other words: you may still need to cover living costs, housing, travel etc., but the major cost barrier — tuition — is removed. That makes a big difference.
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Deadline & Important Dates
Being on time is critical. Here are the relevant dates for the scholarship cycle (for a September 2026 intake, as example):
- Scholarship application opens: 1 November 2025.
- Deadline for VUFP (and by extension NL) application: 1 February 2026 (23:59 CET).
- Recommended deadline for submitting your Master’s programme application: 1 December 2025 — you need to have applied (and ideally admitted) in order to submit the scholarship application.
- Expected decision date: mid-March 2026.
- Offer acceptance deadline: end of March 2026 (typically within ~2 weeks of decision email).
If you’re reading this and some deadlines have passed, look out for the next round — scholarship windows repeat each year.
How to Apply
Let’s walk through the steps so you know exactly how to approach this, without missing important sections.
- Choose your Master’s programme at VU Amsterdam. Confirm it’s full-time, English-taught, administered by VU, and begins September (since February intake isn’t eligible for this scholarship).
- Apply for admission to that Master’s programme via the VU application portal (and any national portal if required). Do this ideally by 1 December to stay safely within deadlines.
- Receive your applicant ID/admission decision (conditional or unconditional). You’ll need this to submit your scholarship form.
- Submit your VUFP scholarship application: starting from 1 November (according to call), fill in the application form in your personal VU dashboard, upload your GPA proof/transcript, grading scale description, motivation letter, etc. Ensure your application is for only one Master’s programme.
- Double-check completeness: Once you submit, you cannot resubmit or add documents later. Missing the GPA proof or grading scale may render your application incomplete.
- Await decision: If awarded, you’ll receive an email in mid-March. Accept the offer via your dashboard. If you don’t accept in time (within ~2 weeks), the offer may be withdrawn.
- If your programme is two years, ensure you complete all required credits in year one so that the scholarship can be extended into year two.
Why Study at VU Amsterdam?
Aside from the financial boost, why pick VU Amsterdam for your Master’s?
- VU Amsterdam is a well-established university in the Netherlands with a strong international reputation.
- You’ll be in Amsterdam — a vibrant, global city with lots of cultural, professional and academic opportunities.
- With the scholarship covering your tuition, you can focus more on learning, networking, research and growth — and less on the worry of fees.
- You’ll be part of an international cohort, which enriches your experience, your perspective and future opportunities.
- The process of applying, being selected, and excelling will in itself strengthen your profile — showing dedication, excellence and ambition.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a motivated student from outside the EU/EEA, with strong academic credentials, who’s seriously considering doing a Master’s abroad — then this scholarship programme at VU Amsterdam deserves your full attention. The cost barrier drops significantly, the opportunity ramps up.
Start early: pick your programme, check the admission criteria, prepare your documents (transcript, grading scale, motivation), hit the application window. Because once the deadlines pass, you might have to wait another year.
You’re ready for this step. Go ahead, make your plan, apply with ambition — and let this be the turning point of your international academic journey. Best of luck!
Official program website: https://vu.nl/en/education/more-about/scholarships-for-international-masters-students