Holland Scholarship (NL Scholarship) 2026: Deadline, Eligibility, Benefits

The Holland Scholarship, now also called the NL Scholarship, is a national scheme financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with more than 40 participating Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. It is open to students holding a nationality outside the European Economic Area who do not already hold a Dutch degree and who are starting a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating institution, subject to that institution's own academic and language entry requirements. The scholarship pays EUR 5,000 once, during the first year of study; it is explicitly a contribution toward costs rather than a full-tuition or full living-cost award, and it cannot be received more than once by the same student. There is no central application: candidates apply directly to their chosen Dutch institution's own Holland Scholarship page, and each institution runs its own selection and sets its own closing date, commonly 1 February or 1 May, with applications for the following academic year usually opening around 1 November. Applicants should check the specific university they want to attend for that institution's current deadline and any extra conditions.