How to get a scholarship in Netherlands for Indian students?

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (now Erasmus+) This fully funded scholarship is available for Indian students who want to study in a joint master's program offered by a consortium of European universities, including Dutch universities. Every year, we update the list of sponsored master's and joint master's degrees.

Can I study in the Netherlands for free?

Education in the Netherlands is not generally free, but it is heavily subsidized and affordable compared to many countries. Primary and secondary education is free at public schools, but higher education (universities/applied sciences) requires tuition fees. Costs are significantly higher for non-EU/EEA students.

Is IELTS compulsory for the Netherlands?

Yes, IELTS is generally required for studying in the Netherlands to prove English proficiency for student visas and university admissions. A minimum overall score of 6.0 is commonly required for bachelor's and master's, with higher scores often needed (e.g., 7.0) at research universities.

Is the Orange Tulip Scholarship still available for Indian students in 2026?

The Orange Tulip Scholarship ended in 2024 and is not accepting new applications. According to GyanDhan , the program has been permanently discontinued. Any listing showing OTS as an active 2026 scholarship is outdated. Indian students who previously planned to apply for OTS should redirect to the NL Scholarship, Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, or university-specific awards at Radboud, Utrecht, or Leiden.

Can I apply for a scholarship in Netherlands without a university admission letter?

Most Dutch scholarships require you to apply to the university first, and your scholarship consideration begins once the university receives your application. To begin the scholarship process, you usually don't need a final admission offer, but you do need to have applied to universities. For the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, you apply for the program and the scholarship together in one application cycle. Check the specific instructions on your target university's scholarship page.

Can I apply for multiple scholarships in Netherlands at the same time?

You can apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously, provided you meet each one's eligibility criteria. Most programs don't let you combine scholarships, so you'll have to accept one and decline the others. Applying to 2–3 scholarships that fit your profile is a reasonable strategy. Applying to 8 scholarships with generic applications and no tailoring is a waste of time and reduces the quality of each application.

What should I do if I miss the scholarship deadline for my chosen university?

First, check whether the university has a second scholarship round; the University of Twente, for instance, runs two rounds. Second, check whether other participating universities for the same scholarship (such as the NL Scholarship) still have open deadlines; the window varies by institution from November through April. Third, contact the university's international student financial aid office directly; some discretionary funding is not publicly listed. If all scholarship options are closed for this intake, consider whether applying for the following intake with a well-prepared application is more strategic than rushing a current application.

How competitive are the scholarships in Netherlands for Indian students?

The NL Scholarship distributes 2,112 awards per year across all non-EEA nationalities and dozens of universities, making competition real but not impossible. University-specific scholarships are significantly more competitive: the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship awards a small number of seats per intake, and the Leiden LExS is similarly selective. Indian applicants are a significant share of the non-EEA applicant pool. A strong CGPA alone is not enough to secure a scholarship; the motivation letter, program fit, and early application timing matter equally.

What is the NL Scholarship, and how much does it cover?

The NL Scholarship, previously called the Holland Scholarship, is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with 47 Dutch higher education institutions . It offers Rs.4.54 lakh (EUR 5,000) as a one-time payment in the first year of study. It is not a full tuition scholarship — it covers part of your first-year fees. You must be a non-EEA national applying to a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating institution.

Is the Orange Tulip Scholarship still available for Indian students in 2026?

The Orange Tulip Scholarship ended in 2024 and is not accepting new applications. According to GyanDhan , the programme has been permanently discontinued. Any listing showing OTS as an active 2026 scholarship is outdated. Indian students who previously planned to apply for OTS should redirect to the NL Scholarship, Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, or university-specific awards at Radboud, Utrecht, or Leiden.

Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students 2026

11 min read

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Quick Read

The NL Scholarship gives Rs. 4.5 lakh (EUR 5,000) as a one-time first-year grant.
Maastricht NL-High Potential and Groningen Excellence are the only fully funded options for Indian students.
Scholarship deadlines for the September 2026 intake ran January to April 2026; plan for 2027 cycle now.
The Orange Tulip Scholarship was permanently discontinued in 2024 and is no longer accepting applications.

This article tells you which scholarships in Netherlands are actually open for 2026–27, what each one of them realistically covers, which one suits your profile, and what to do when your result gets delayed or you miss a deadline. For context on total costs and universities, read our guide on study in Netherlands for Indian students alongside this.

Table of Content

Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students: Full 2026–27 List

Quick note on the table below. “Partial” means you still have a tuition gap to fill. “Full” means tuition and sometimes living costs are covered, but at most of these, we are talking about 5 to 15 seats per intake, not 500.

Scholarship	Funding	Award Value	Level	Deadline (approx.)
NL Scholarship	Partial	Rs.4.54L (EUR 5,000) one-time	Bachelor’s / Master’s	Nov–Apr (varies by university)
Maastricht NL-High Potential	Full	Up to Rs.30L+ (EUR 34,000) per year	Master’s	1 Feb 2026
Radboud Scholarship	Partial	Tuition down to ~Rs.2.45L (EUR 2,695) + insurance + visa	Master’s	31 Jan 2026
Utrecht Excellence Scholarship	Partial or Full	Rs.5.4L–Rs.10.8L (EUR 6,000–12,000) or full tuition and living	Master’s	Jan–Feb (varies by program)
Leiden LExS	Partial or Full	Rs.9L / Rs.13.6L / full fees (EUR 10,000 / 15,000 / full)	Master’s	1 Feb (Sept start)
University of Twente Scholarship	Partial	Rs.4.5L–Rs.7.2L (EUR 5,000–8,000)/year	Master’s	Two rounds: Feb and Apr
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship	Partial or Full	Rs.1.8L–Rs.22.7L (EUR 2,000–25,000) by faculty	Bachelor’s / Master’s	Varies; often 15 Jan
Erasmus Mundus (EMJMD)	Full	Rs.9L–Rs.16.2L (EUR 10,000–18,000)/year + travel + insurance	Master’s (joint EU)	program-specific; Nov–Jan
Groningen Excellence Scholarship	Full	Full tuition + Rs.8.1L (EUR 9,000) stipend/year	Master’s	Jan–Mar (varies)
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation	Full	Up to Rs.45L (approx. USD 55,000 equivalent)	Master’s (worldwide, incl. NL)	Opens Jan–Feb each year

Exchange rate: Rs.90 per EUR. Verify the current rate before making any financial decisions.

A word on the NL Scholarship specifically: Nuffic runs it alongside 47 Dutch institutions and hands out 2,112 awards per year across every non-EEA country, not just India. That pool is large. Students who apply in the first two weeks after portals open, with motivation letters that actually speak to the university’s priorities, consistently have better outcomes than those who submit a generic application in March.

For universities offering these scholarships, see best universities in Netherlands for Masters.

How Much Do Scholarships in Netherlands Actually Pay Indian Students?

Annual tuition for non-EU students at Dutch research universities ranges from Rs. 5.4L to Rs. 16.2L (EUR 6,000–18,000). Monthly living in Amsterdam or Delft, rent, groceries, transport, and insurance come to roughly Rs.90,000–Rs.130,000 (EUR 1,000–1,450). Add that up and you are looking at Rs.16L–Rs.32L a year, minimum.

The NL Scholarship’s Rs.4.54L is roughly 25–50% of one year’s tuition at most universities. It does not touch living costs. It reduces your loan burden; it does not eliminate it.

Maastricht NL-High Potential, Groningen Excellence, and a handful of Erasmus Mundus programs are the only scholarships on this list that can honestly be called fully funded. The seats are few. Plan for partial funding, and if full funding comes through, great.

All INR figures use Rs.90 per EUR. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.

Which Scholarship in Netherlands Is Right for Your Profile?

Applying to every scholarship you technically qualify for is not a strategy. Each application needs a tailored motivation letter, and those take time. Pick 2–3 that fit your profile and do those properly.

If you are a final-year B.Tech. student graduating May–June 2026, with a CGPA above 8.5, from a Tier 1 or Tier 2 engineering college

Look at the NL Scholarship at TU Delft or the University of Twente first. If you are applying to a 2-year MSc, the Justus and Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship at TU Delft is worth your attention too. One thing to keep in mind: TU Delft runs rolling admission. M.Sc. programs in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering start filling in October–November. If you apply in January and scholarship funding is already allocated, you may still get admission but miss the funding round entirely. Submit your TU Delft or UT application by October 2025. Details on program requirements are at MS in Netherlands: universities, costs, and requirements.

If you are a working professional with 3–5 years of experience and a CGPA 7.5–8.0, looking at MSc Management, Data Science, or Sustainability

Maastricht NL-High Potential and the Radboud Scholarship both factor in professional experience and motivation, not just academic scores. The motivation letter is the key factor that determines the success of these applications. Dutch committees at this level seek a specific response: what precise problem are you aiming to address, and why is this degree the appropriate tool for it? “I want to grow professionally” does not get you through. If your CGPA is under 7.5, shortlist Groningen or Maastricht rather than TU Delft or Utrecht; the applicant pool is more varied, and a strong SOP and work history carry more weight.

If you have a first-class postgraduate degree in humanities, social sciences, or law, and you are under 30

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship is specifically for Indian nationals in non-engineering, non-CS, non-business, and non-medicine fields. It covers costs at top universities worldwide, the Netherlands included. Separately, the Leiden LExS is strong if Leiden is your target; they rank well in law, international relations, and social sciences. Full breakdown at Leiden University Excellence Scholarship.

Documents Required for Netherlands Scholarships: India-Specific Checklist

Core eligibility is the same across most Dutch scholarships: a non-EU/EEA passport, a decent academic record, and an active application to a qualifying program. What catches people out is the India-specific paperwork.

Document	Requirement	What Indian Students Need to Know
Academic transcripts	Official records for all years	Semester-wise marksheets, not just a consolidated transcript. Get university-attested copies.
Degree certificate	Proof of completed degree	Dutch universities and IND accept a provisional certificate on university letterhead with the registrar’s signature if you have not yet received your final degree.
English proficiency	IELTS 6.5+ overall (6.0 per band); TOEFL iBT 90+ also accepted at some universities	If your degree is in English, some universities offer a waiver. Check the program page specifically, not just the scholarship page.
SOP or Motivation Letter	500–1,000 words (varies)	Cover three things: the problem you are solving, why this program, and what you do with the degree in 5 years. One generic letter reused across 6 applications will not work.
Letters of Recommendation	2 references	Thesis supervisors are the strongest choice. One professional reference is allowed at some universities if you have relevant work experience.
CV	Academic and professional background	Dutch universities look for practical applicability. Include research projects, publications, and relevant internships.
Passport copy	Valid beyond program end date	Renew it before applying if it expires mid-program. Indian consulates for visas are in Amsterdam and The Hague.
Admission offer letter	Confirmation of acceptance	Apply to the university first. Most scholarships only kick in once your university application is received.
Financial documents	Bank statements for an IND visa	A scholarship award letter substitutes once you have funding. Until then, IND wants proof that you can cover the full study period.

Counsellor insight: The provisional certificate is the document that causes the most trouble for Indian applicants. If you are in your final year, email your examination section in March or April, not August. Ask for a provisional degree certificate on university letterhead with the registrar’s stamp, and get several certified copies. Students who wait until August, when Indian university offices slow down, often miss the deadlines for Dutch scholarship confirmation. Dutch universities deal with Indian applicants routinely, and they know what a provisional certificate is. It will not hold your application back if you have it ready.

For IELTS support, see IELTS preparation online.

Netherlands Scholarship Deadlines 2026: Month-by-Month Timeline for Indian Students

This is for the September 2026 intake. If you are in early 2026 and some of these months have passed, jump to the next section.

Month	What to Do
July–Aug 2025	Shortlist 3–5 universities. Check which scholarships each one offers for your program.
September 2025	Ask professors for LORs. Eight weeks minimum; do not wait until November.
October 2025	Take IELTS if not done. Please ensure the score is available by November. Start your SOP draft.
November 2025	Scholarship portals open at most Dutch universities. Per Nuffic, NL Scholarship applications open 1 November. Submit first university applications now.
December 2025	Apply to Leiden (LExS: 1 Feb deadline), Maastricht (1 Feb 2026), and Radboud (31 Jan 2026). Request a provisional certificate from your Indian university.
January 2026	Submit remaining applications. The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship deadline often falls on 15 Jan. Check UT Round 1.
February 2026	Maastricht and Radboud deadlines close. Confirm everything is submitted. Follow up on LORs that have not been sent.
March–April 2026	NL Scholarship closes at most universities. UT Round 2 closes.
April–June 2026	Results come in. Accept your scholarship offer and begin the IND visa process.
June–Aug 2026	IND residence permit application. Allow 8–12 weeks for processing.
September 2026	The program starts.

Counsellor insight: Rolling admissions for Dutch MSc programs are not a myth. Some TU Delft and University of Amsterdam programs fill in the first 4–6 weeks after opening. Scholarship consideration at many universities only applies to applicants who are admitted before an internal scholarship deadline, which sits 4–6 weeks before the general application deadline. If you apply in late January because the portal technically still shows “open,” the scholarship pool may already be allocated.

Missed a Netherlands Scholarship Deadline? Here Is What to Do

You missed the scholarship deadline

First, check whether a second round exists. The University of Twente runs two per year. The NL Scholarship window runs from November to April and varies by institution; missing one university’s deadline does not close the program everywhere. If all publicly listed deadlines have passed, call or email the university’s international financial aid office directly. Some discretionary funding never appears on the public scholarship page.

Your results are delayed

Submit your provisional certificate. Dutch universities accept it, it is routine. Put it on official letterhead with the registrar’s signature and seal. Email the admissions office, tell them your result date, and attach a letter from your Indian university confirming the expected timeline. Follow up with the final marksheet the day it is issued.

IELTS score came back below the requirement

If you are 0.5 short in one band, some Dutch universities offer conditional admission pending a retest. IELTS allows a retest after 5 days. Groningen and Maastricht tend to be more flexible than TU Delft or Utrecht when the rest of your profile is strong. Look for the conditional admission policy on your specific program page; not all universities publish this prominently.

IND visa is running late

Do not contact IND directly. Your university is the recognized sponsor and the correct channel. Get in touch with your university’s international student services office early. They have an established process for following up with IND and will do it through the right route.

Conclusion: How to Start Your Netherlands Scholarship Application This Week

1. Go through the comparison table and pick 2–3 scholarships that match your degree level and CGPA. Apply to each with a tailored motivation letter, generic applications are consistently screened out at Dutch universities.

2. Start your university application before your scholarship application. Admission comes first at nearly every Dutch university. Your scholarship consideration does not begin until the university has your application in hand.

3. Get your India-specific documents together now. Semester-wise marksheets, a provisional certificate if you are in your final year, and a confirmed IELTS score. Waiting until January, when scholarship deadlines are running, costs students 4–6 weeks they do not have.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get a scholarship in Netherlands for Indian students?

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (now Erasmus+)
This fully funded scholarship is available for Indian students who want to study in a joint master’s program offered by a consortium of European universities, including Dutch universities. Every year, we update the list of sponsored master’s and joint master’s degrees.
Can I study in the Netherlands for free?

Education in the Netherlands is not generally free, but it is heavily subsidized and affordable compared to many countries. Primary and secondary education is free at public schools, but higher education (universities/applied sciences) requires tuition fees. Costs are significantly higher for non-EU/EEA students.
Is IELTS compulsory for the Netherlands?

Yes, IELTS is generally required for studying in the Netherlands to prove English proficiency for student visas and university admissions. A minimum overall score of 6.0 is commonly required for bachelor’s and master’s, with higher scores often needed (e.g., 7.0) at research universities.
Is the Orange Tulip Scholarship still available for Indian students in 2026?

The Orange Tulip Scholarship ended in 2024 and is not accepting new applications. According to GyanDhan, the program has been permanently discontinued. Any listing showing OTS as an active 2026 scholarship is outdated. Indian students who previously planned to apply for OTS should redirect to the NL Scholarship, Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, or university-specific awards at Radboud, Utrecht, or Leiden.
Can I apply for a scholarship in Netherlands without a university admission letter?

Most Dutch scholarships require you to apply to the university first, and your scholarship consideration begins once the university receives your application. To begin the scholarship process, you usually don’t need a final admission offer, but you do need to have applied to universities. For the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, you apply for the program and the scholarship together in one application cycle. Check the specific instructions on your target university’s scholarship page.
Can I apply for multiple scholarships in Netherlands at the same time?

You can apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously, provided you meet each one’s eligibility criteria. Most programs don’t let you combine scholarships, so you’ll have to accept one and decline the others. Applying to 2–3 scholarships that fit your profile is a reasonable strategy. Applying to 8 scholarships with generic applications and no tailoring is a waste of time and reduces the quality of each application.
What should I do if I miss the scholarship deadline for my chosen university?

First, check whether the university has a second scholarship round; the University of Twente, for instance, runs two rounds. Second, check whether other participating universities for the same scholarship (such as the NL Scholarship) still have open deadlines; the window varies by institution from November through April. Third, contact the university’s international student financial aid office directly; some discretionary funding is not publicly listed. If all scholarship options are closed for this intake, consider whether applying for the following intake with a well-prepared application is more strategic than rushing a current application.
How competitive are the scholarships in Netherlands for Indian students?

The NL Scholarship distributes 2,112 awards per year across all non-EEA nationalities and dozens of universities, making competition real but not impossible. University-specific scholarships are significantly more competitive: the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship awards a small number of seats per intake, and the Leiden LExS is similarly selective. Indian applicants are a significant share of the non-EEA applicant pool. A strong CGPA alone is not enough to secure a scholarship; the motivation letter, program fit, and early application timing matter equally.
What is the NL Scholarship, and how much does it cover?

The NL Scholarship, previously called the Holland Scholarship, is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with 47 Dutch higher education institutions. It offers Rs.4.54 lakh (EUR 5,000) as a one-time payment in the first year of study. It is not a full tuition scholarship — it covers part of your first-year fees. You must be a non-EEA national applying to a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at a participating institution.
Is the Orange Tulip Scholarship still available for Indian students in 2026?

The Orange Tulip Scholarship ended in 2024 and is not accepting new applications. According to GyanDhan, the programme has been permanently discontinued. Any listing showing OTS as an active 2026 scholarship is outdated. Indian students who previously planned to apply for OTS should redirect to the NL Scholarship, Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship, or university-specific awards at Radboud, Utrecht, or Leiden.

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Verified by: LeapScholar’s Europe and Netherlands counselling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through Dutch university admissions, scholarship applications, and IND visa processes.

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