{"id":59035,"date":"2024-04-11T07:27:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T07:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/?p=59035"},"modified":"2026-09-01T13:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T13:13:19","slug":"nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Holland Scholarship (Now NL Scholarship): Amount, Eligibility and How to Apply for 2027-28"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"quick-read-box\">\n\n  <div class=\"qr-header\">\n    <span style=\"font-size:18px;\">\u26a1<\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"qr-title\">Quick Read<\/h3>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <ul>\n    <li>The Holland Scholarship was renamed the NL Scholarship in June 2023.<\/li>\n\n    <li>It pays Rs.5,48,750 (\u20ac5,000) toward your first year of study.<\/li>\n\n    <li>47 Dutch institutions award roughly 2,112 scholarships every academic year.<\/li>\n\n    <li>The 2027-28 national application window is expected to open around November 2026.<\/li>\n\n    <li>Indian applicants apply directly through their chosen university&#8217;s portal.<\/li>\n\n    <li>The Orange Knowledge Programme, a separate scholarship, ended in 2024.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n  <div class=\"qr-footer\">\n    \ud83d\udc49 Best for: Students planning a 2027-28 Netherlands intake researching the Holland Scholarship\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#A_Quick_Note_on_Timing\" title=\"A Quick Note on Timing\">A Quick Note on Timing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Is_the_Holland_Scholarship_Still_Active_for_2027-28\" title=\"Is the Holland Scholarship Still Active for 2027-28?\">Is the Holland Scholarship Still Active for 2027-28?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Holland_Scholarship_Amount_What_You_Actually_Receive\" title=\"Holland Scholarship Amount: What You Actually Receive\">Holland Scholarship Amount: What You Actually Receive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Holland_Scholarship_Eligibility_for_Indian_Students\" title=\"Holland Scholarship Eligibility for Indian Students\">Holland Scholarship Eligibility for Indian Students<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Which_Universities_Are_Likely_to_Offer_the_Holland_Scholarship_in_2027-28\" title=\"Which Universities Are Likely to Offer the Holland Scholarship in 2027-28?\">Which Universities Are Likely to Offer the Holland Scholarship in 2027-28?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Holland_Scholarship_Application_Deadline_for_2027-28\" title=\"Holland Scholarship Application Deadline for 2027-28\">Holland Scholarship Application Deadline for 2027-28<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Step-by-Step_Process_How_to_Apply_for_the_Holland_Scholarship\" title=\"Step-by-Step Process: How to Apply for the Holland Scholarship\">Step-by-Step Process: How to Apply for the Holland Scholarship<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Holland_Scholarship_vs_Other_Dutch_Scholarships\" title=\"Holland Scholarship vs Other Dutch Scholarships\">Holland Scholarship vs Other Dutch Scholarships<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#What_to_Do_If_You_Miss_the_Holland_Scholarship_Deadline\" title=\"What to Do If You Miss the Holland Scholarship Deadline?\">What to Do If You Miss the Holland Scholarship Deadline?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Key_Takeaways_on_Holland_Scholarship\" title=\"Key Takeaways on Holland Scholarship\">Key Takeaways on Holland Scholarship<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/nl-scholarship-holland-scholarship\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_Holland_Scholarship\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions About Holland Scholarship\">Frequently Asked Questions About Holland Scholarship<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Quick_Note_on_Timing\"><\/span><strong>A Quick Note on Timing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The 2027-28 national application window has not been officially opened by <\/strong><strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nuffic.nl\/en\/discover-the-power-of-internationalisation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nuffic<\/a><\/u><\/strong><strong> yet<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The most recently completed cycle (2026-2027) opened 1 November 2025, with most deadlines falling between January and February 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maastricht University has already confirmed its 2027-28 participating master&#8217;s programs open for applications from 1 October 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Based on this pattern, expect the broader 2027-28 window to open around October or November 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start your university admission application early so you&#8217;re ready the moment your target university&#8217;s scholarship page goes live.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bookmark your shortlisted universities&#8217; scholarship pages and check back from October 2026 onward for the confirmed date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Holland_Scholarship_Still_Active_for_2027-28\"><\/span><strong>Is the Holland Scholarship Still Active for 2027-28?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holland Scholarship<\/a> is the Dutch government&#8217;s national scholarship for non-EEA international students pursuing a bachelor&#8217;s or master&#8217;s degree in the Netherlands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was renamed the NL Scholarship in June 2023 by Nuffic, the Dutch body that oversees international education. Only the name changed, not the purpose or funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is jointly funded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.government.nl\/ministries\/ministry-of-education-culture-and-science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science<\/a> together with participating Dutch universities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both &#8220;Holland Scholarship&#8221; and &#8220;NL Scholarship&#8221; are still used interchangeably on university websites, which is why the older name keeps showing up in search results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yes, it remains active for 2027-28. Universities that participated in 2026-2027 are generally expected to continue, subject to each institution&#8217;s own confirmation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Students often assume a rebrand means a scholarship was quietly phased out. This one wasn&#8217;t. Two other Dutch scholarships genuinely did wind down around the same period: the Orange Knowledge Programme, and, at the national level, the Orange Tulip Scholarship&#8217;s centralised India coordination.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Holland_Scholarship_Amount_What_You_Actually_Receive\"><\/span><strong>Holland Scholarship Amount: What You Actually Receive<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The flat &#8220;\u20ac5,000&#8221; figure you&#8217;ll see everywhere is the baseline, not the ceiling, and it varies by both university and degree level. <strong>The clearest way to check what applies to you is by degree level, so that&#8217;s how the tables below are split.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bachelor&#8217;s Applicants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>University \/ Scheme<\/th><th>Amount<\/th><th>Payment Structure<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Baseline NL Scholarship (any participating university)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>One-time, paid in first year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (BBA)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>Covers the full first year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>HAN University of Applied Sciences (bachelor&#8217;s)<\/td><td>Up to \u20ac12,500<\/td><td>\u20ac2,500 in each of the first two semesters, then \u20ac2,500 per year for three further years, subject to credit requirements<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Saxion University of Applied Sciences (NL Scholarship)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>One-time, paid in first year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Saxion Talent Scholarship (university-funded, not the NL Scholarship)<\/td><td>\u20ac2,500<\/td><td>One-time, separate award from the NL Scholarship<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source: <\/em><\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Study in NL<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wittenborg.eu\/holland-scholarship.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wittenborg<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hanuniversity.com\/en\/study-and-living\/scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HAN<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saxion.edu\/studying-in-the-netherlands\/finance-your-studies\/finances-scholarships--insurances\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saxion<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Master&#8217;s Applicants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>University \/ Scheme<\/th><th>Amount<\/th><th>Payment Structure<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Baseline NL Scholarship (any participating university)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>One-time, paid in first year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Radboud University<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>Must be combined with the Radboud Scholarship Programme; capped at 12 scholarships for 2026-2027<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Utrecht University<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000, \u20ac10,000, or \u20ac15,000<\/td><td>Fixed tier by program; paid in first year even for two-year programs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (MSc)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>Covers the entire program, not just the first year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>HAN University of Applied Sciences (master&#8217;s)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000 maximum<\/td><td>\u20ac2,500 in each of the first two semesters only; does not extend into later years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Saxion University of Applied Sciences (NL Scholarship)<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000<\/td><td>One-time, paid in first year<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><strong>Exchange rate used: <\/strong>Rs. 109.75 per EUR (as of Aug 5, 2026); always verify the current rate before making any transaction. <\/em><br><em><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nuffic.nl\/en\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nuffic<\/a><\/em>,<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ru.nl\/en\/education\/scholarships\/nl-scholarship-for-prospective-students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Radboud University<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uu.nl\/en\/masters\/general-information\/application-and-admission\/scholarships-and-grants\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utrecht University<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wittenborg.eu\/holland-scholarship.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wittenborg<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hanuniversity.com\/en\/study-and-living\/scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HAN<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saxion.edu\/studying-in-the-netherlands\/finance-your-studies\/finances-scholarships--insurances\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saxion<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>The practical takeaway: <\/strong>A master&#8217;s applicant at HAN should budget for \u20ac5,000, not \u20ac12,500. The higher figure only ever applies to HAN&#8217;s bachelor&#8217;s students.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Students frequently plan their entire budget around the \u20ac5,000 headline number and get an unpleasant surprise when their university offers a fraction of that, or considerably more. Always confirm the number on your target university&#8217;s own page, not a generic aggregator listing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Holland_Scholarship_Eligibility_for_Indian_Students\"><\/span><strong>Holland Scholarship Eligibility for Indian Students<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Requirement<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Nationality<\/td><td>Non-EEA passport (Indian nationals qualify)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Program type<\/td><td>Full-time bachelor&#8217;s or master&#8217;s at a participating Dutch institution<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prior Dutch education<\/td><td>None. You must not hold a Dutch degree or have previously studied or worked in the Netherlands (a short exchange program within your existing degree is fine)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Language and admission<\/td><td>You must meet the specific English-language and admission requirements of your chosen program<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institution-specific add-ons<\/td><td>Example: Radboud University requires a combined application with the Radboud Scholarship Programme. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences requires IELTS 7.0 overall (no band below 6.5) and a GPA of 7.5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<\/em><\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Study in NL, NL scholarship<\/a><\/u>, Radboud University and Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> If you&#8217;re applying to more than one Dutch university, don&#8217;t assume the eligibility bar is identical everywhere. It&#8217;s common for a student to comfortably meet Groningen&#8217;s requirements and fall short of Wittenborg&#8217;s IELTS threshold, or the other way round. Check each university&#8217;s page individually before you invest time in an application.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you&#8217;re specifically eyeing a master&#8217;s degree, our<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/ms-in-netherlands-universities-cost-and-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/ms-in-netherlands-universities-cost-and-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MS in Netherlands guide<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> covers program-level admission requirements that sit alongside these scholarship criteria.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Universities_Are_Likely_to_Offer_the_Holland_Scholarship_in_2027-28\"><\/span><strong>Which Universities Are Likely to Offer the Holland Scholarship in 2027-28?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The list below reflects the most recently confirmed roster, for 2026-2027, sourced from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/nl-scholarship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Study in NL, NL scholarship<\/a>. Nuffic typically confirms the new list only once a cycle opens, so treat this as a strong starting point for shortlisting rather than a confirmed 2027-28 list until each university updates its own page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>University Type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Participating Institutions (confirm 2027-28 status on each page)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Scholarship Amount<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Research universities<\/td><td>Radboud University,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rug.nl\/education\/master\/international-students\/financial-matters\/holland-scholarship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rug.nl\/education\/master\/international-students\/financial-matters\/holland-scholarship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Groningen<\/a>, Utrecht University,<a href=\"https:\/\/vu.nl\/en\/education\/more-about\/incoming-master-scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/vu.nl\/en\/education\/more-about\/incoming-master-scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VU Amsterdam<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.maastrichtuniversity.nl\/support\/your-studies-begin\/coming-maastricht-university-abroad\/um-scholarships-students-abroad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maastrichtuniversity.nl\/support\/your-studies-begin\/coming-maastricht-university-abroad\/um-scholarships-students-abroad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maastricht University<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.utwente.nl\/en\/education\/scholarship-finder\/holland-scholarship-university-of-twente\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.utwente.nl\/en\/education\/scholarship-finder\/holland-scholarship-university-of-twente\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Twente<\/a><\/td><td>\u20ac5,000 (up to \u20ac15,000 at Utrecht for select master&#8217;s)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Universities of applied sciences<\/td><td>Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, HAN University of Applied Sciences,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saxion.edu\/studying-in-the-netherlands\/finance-your-studies\/scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saxion.edu\/studying-in-the-netherlands\/finance-your-studies\/scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saxion University of Applied Sciences<\/a><\/td><td>\u20ac5,000 to \u20ac12,500 depending on structure<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Across all participating institutions combined, Nuffic awards roughly 2,112 Holland Scholarships (NL Scholarships) each academic year, spread across 47 institutions. No institution publishes an official acceptance rate, but selection numbers per faculty are small, often single digits to low dozens, which is why a strong motivation letter genuinely matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Don&#8217;t shortlist a university purely because it appeared on last year&#8217;s participation list. Confirm directly on the university&#8217;s current scholarship page before you build your 2027-28 timeline around it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Our<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/top-universities-in-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/top-universities-in-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guide to top universities in the Netherlands<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> is a useful starting point for comparing programs once you&#8217;ve narrowed your list.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Holland_Scholarship_Application_Deadline_for_2027-28\"><\/span><strong>Holland Scholarship Application Deadline for 2027-28<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>University \/ Scope<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Status<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Date or Expected Window<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>National application window (2027-28)<\/td><td>Not yet officially opened<\/td><td>Expected around November 2026, based on the 1 November 2025 opening for 2026-2027<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maastricht University (2027-28)<\/td><td>Confirmed<\/td><td>Applications open 1 October 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>University of Groningen (2026-2027, most recent confirmed)<\/td><td>Passed<\/td><td>Deadline was 1 February 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Radboud University (2026-2027, most recent confirmed)<\/td><td>Passed<\/td><td>Application by 31 January 2026, complete by 14 February 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Utrecht University (2026-2027, most recent confirmed)<\/td><td>Passed<\/td><td>Deadline was 1 February 2026, 23:59 CET<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Universities of applied sciences (general pattern)<\/td><td>Expected<\/td><td>May accept applications later, up to May or June 2027<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source: <\/em><\/strong><em>Study in NL, NL scholarship; Maastricht University; University of Groningen; Radboud University; Utrecht University.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If you&#8217;re targeting a September 2027 intake at a research university:<\/strong> Submit your program application well before October 2026, since the scholarship application only opens once you hold an admission offer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you&#8217;re considering universities of applied sciences:<\/strong> You&#8217;ll likely have more time, but you still need a confirmed admission offer first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If your target university hasn&#8217;t published its 2027-28 date yet:<\/strong> Bookmark the page and check back from October 2026 onward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step-by-Step_Process_How_to_Apply_for_the_Holland_Scholarship\"><\/span><strong>Step-by-Step Process: How to Apply for the Holland Scholarship<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no central Holland scholarship application form that covers every university. You apply directly through your chosen institution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Apply for and secure admission to an eligible bachelor&#8217;s or master&#8217;s program first. Scholarship eligibility depends on holding a formal admission offer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Log into the university&#8217;s own application system. At Utrecht, this happens inside your <a href=\"https:\/\/osiris.ru.nl\/application\/WelkomPagina.do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OSIRIS Application account<\/a>, where you&#8217;ll find an &#8220;NL Scholarship&#8221; option linked to your program dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete the scholarship-specific form, which usually asks for a motivation letter, academic transcripts, and your admission letter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit before the university&#8217;s specific deadline, and follow up if any document needs resubmission, since some universities, Radboud included, build in a document-correction window before the final deadline.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Documents you&#8217;ll typically need:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Document<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Why it matters for Indian applicants?<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/statement-of-purpose-format-and-meaning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motivation letter<\/a><\/td><td>Explains your academic goals and why the Netherlands fits them; carries real weight in selection<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/academic-transcript-certificates-meaning-sample-university-colleges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Academic transcripts<\/a><\/td><td>All undergraduate (or relevant prior) coursework, often needs official attestation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Admission or conditional admission letter<\/td><td>Proof you&#8217;ve been accepted into an eligible program<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English proficiency proof<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/exams\/ielts\/practice-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IELTS<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/html-sitemap\/toefl-exam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TOEFL<\/a> score meeting your specific program&#8217;s threshold<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Passport copy<\/td><td>Confirms non-EEA nationality, a core eligibility requirement<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The motivation letter is where most Indian applicants underperform, not because their English is weak, but because they write generically about &#8220;wanting to study abroad&#8221; instead of connecting their specific background to the specific program. Once you&#8217;ve secured admission and a scholarship, the next practical step is usually your visa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Check out our blog on<\/em><em><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/netherlands-student-visa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> the <\/a><\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/netherlands-student-visa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Netherlands student visa guide<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> for more details on visas and eligibility for Indian students.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Holland_Scholarship_vs_Other_Dutch_Scholarships\"><\/span><strong>Holland Scholarship vs Other Dutch Scholarships<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Scholarship<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Current Status<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Key Detail<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship)<\/td><td>Active<\/td><td>\u20ac5,000 baseline, nationally and university funded, remains available for 2027-28<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Orange Knowledge Programme<\/td><td>Ended in 2024<\/td><td>Was for working professionals from specific developing countries, not degree-seeking students; no new rounds since<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Orange Tulip Scholarship<\/td><td>Not on Nuffic&#8217;s current centrally administered list<\/td><td>Some universities may still run their own OTS-branded awards independently; confirm directly with the institution<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/utrecht-excellence-scholarship-2025-study-in-netherlands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utrecht Excellence Scholarship<\/a><\/td><td>Active (university-specific)<\/td><td>Merit-based, for top master&#8217;s applicants at Utrecht<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/justus-and-louise-van-effen-excellence-scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justus &amp; Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships<\/a><\/td><td>Active (university-specific)<\/td><td>For engineering and science master&#8217;s applicants at TU Delft<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyinnl.org\/finances\/scholarships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Study in NL, Scholarships overview<\/a><\/u>, Orange Knowledge Programme, and Orange Tulip Scholarship.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note that Wittenborg explicitly states its Holland Scholarship cannot be combined with any other Wittenborg scholarship, so always check a university&#8217;s stacking rules before assuming you can add scholarships together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_If_You_Miss_the_Holland_Scholarship_Deadline\"><\/span><strong>What to Do If You Miss the Holland Scholarship Deadline?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Missing a deadline feels like the end of the road, but it usually isn&#8217;t. If your target university&#8217;s window has already closed, check first whether it runs a second round or a later intake, since quite a few universities of applied sciences do. If there&#8217;s genuinely nothing left this cycle, don&#8217;t write the scholarship off altogether. Cycles typically reopen 10 to 12 months later, so you have real time to put together a stronger application next round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re worried \u20ac5,000 won&#8217;t stretch far enough even once you get it, plenty of international students in the Netherlands lean on part-time work to close the gap, within whatever hours their visa allows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways_on_Holland_Scholarship\"><\/span><strong>Key Takeaways on Holland Scholarship<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>It&#8217;s still active, just renamed.<\/strong> The Holland Scholarship has been officially called the NL Scholarship since June 2023, and nothing about its eligibility or funding changed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dates aren&#8217;t fixed yet for 2027-28.<\/strong> Only Maastricht has confirmed its opening (1 October 2026); check your target university&#8217;s page from October 2026 onward rather than assuming last cycle&#8217;s exact dates will repeat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It&#8217;s partial funding, not a free ride.<\/strong> The \u20ac5,000 baseline (Rs.5,48,750) covers only part of your first year, so budget the rest of your costs before committing to an intake.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Verified by:<\/em><\/strong><em> LeapScholar&#8217;s Netherlands counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through Dutch university and scholarship applications.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Have questions about your Holland Scholarship application? <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/webflow_progressive_form?utm_source=Counselling_SEO&amp;utm_medium=Blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor<\/a><\/u><\/em><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_Holland_Scholarship\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About Holland Scholarship<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<ul class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932464373\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is the Holland Scholarship the same as the NL Scholarship?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, they&#8217;re the same thing. Nuffic renamed the Holland Scholarship to the NL Scholarship back in June 2023, but nothing about who it&#8217;s for or how it&#8217;s funded actually changed. Plenty of Dutch universities still use both names on their websites, so don&#8217;t be surprised if &#8220;Holland Scholarship&#8221; keeps showing up in search results even now.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932472390\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How much money does the Holland Scholarship provide?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The standard amount is \u20ac5,000, which works out to roughly Rs.5,48,750 at today&#8217;s exchange rate. A few universities go higher though: Utrecht&#8217;s version can reach \u20ac15,000 for certain master&#8217;s programs, and HAN&#8217;s structure adds up to about \u20ac12,500 spread across four years. Either way, treat it as partial support, not a full ride.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932473405\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can Indian students apply for the Holland Scholarship for 2027-28?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You can, as long as you hold an Indian passport, you&#8217;re applying full-time for an eligible bachelor&#8217;s or master&#8217;s program, and you haven&#8217;t studied or worked in the Netherlands before. You&#8217;ll still need to clear whatever academic and English-language bar your specific program sets, and that part hasn&#8217;t changed across cycles.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932474505\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the Holland scholarship application deadline for 2027-28?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Nobody&#8217;s confirmed it nationally yet. Going by past cycles, expect the window to open sometime around November 2026, with most research universities closing applications between late January and February 2027. Maastricht has already announced 1 October 2026 for its programs, so from around October onward, it&#8217;s worth checking your own university&#8217;s page directly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932475491\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the Holland Scholarship acceptance rate?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>There isn&#8217;t an official number that Nuffic publishes anywhere. What we do know is that around 2,112 scholarships get awarded each year across 47 institutions, and individual faculties often only have a handful of spots. So it&#8217;s genuinely competitive, just not something you can reduce to one clean percentage.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932476606\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is the Holland Scholarship the same as the Holland America Scholarship?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No, and this one catches people off guard. The Holland America Scholarship comes from Holland America Line, the cruise company, and it&#8217;s meant for their employees&#8217; families. What we&#8217;re talking about here is the Dutch government&#8217;s NL Scholarship for international students, completely unrelated despite the similar name.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932477773\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Do I need to submit a separate Netherlands scholarship application, or is it part of my university application?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a separate step. You first secure admission to an eligible programme, and only then submit the scholarship application, usually through the same university portal. Expect to attach a motivation letter, your transcripts, and your admission letter alongside it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932478839\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What happens if my Holland scholarship application is incomplete near the deadline?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Some universities, Radboud among them, give you a short window to fix incorrect or missing documents. That grace period has its own hard cutoff though, and anything still incomplete after that won&#8217;t be considered. The safer move is simply not waiting until the last few days to submit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1785932481773\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Are the Orange Knowledge Programme and Holland Scholarship connected?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Not really. They&#8217;re two different Dutch scholarship programmes built for two different groups: the Orange Knowledge Programme was aimed at working professionals from specific countries and closed for good in 2024, while the Holland Scholarship is for degree-seeking bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s students and is still very much running for 2027-28.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span> \u26a1 Quick Read The Holland Scholarship was renamed the NL Scholarship in June 2023. It pays Rs.5,48,750 (\u20ac5,000) toward your first year of study. 47 Dutch institutions award roughly 2,112 scholarships every academic year. The 2027-28 national application window is expected to open around November 2026. Indian applicants apply directly through their chosen university&#8217;s portal. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":81713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59035"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59035"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83243,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59035\/revisions\/83243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}