Scholarships That Make Studying in the Netherlands Even Cheaper: The Ultimate Guide to Funding Your Dutch Degree (2026)

Studying in the Netherlands has become an increasingly popular choice for students around the world, thanks to its high-quality education system, strong research environment, English-taught programs, and strategic location within Europe. Yet for many prospective international students, the primary barrier to attending Dutch universities isn’t academic—it’s financial. Tuition and living costs in the Netherlands, while often lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom, can still be significant when compared with local incomes in many countries. The Netherlands recognises this challenge and, over the years, has developed a robust ecosystem of scholarships, grants, and financial support schemes designed to cut costs dramatically for those who qualify.

These scholarships are offered by the Dutch government, individual universities, international consortia, and foundation-funded programmes, and they range from partial support that reduces tuition fees or offers living expenses, to fully funded awards that cover tuition, travel, insurance, and everyday costs of living for the duration of a degree.

At the heart of the scholarship ecosystem is the Netherlands’ commitment to internationalisation of education, overseen in part by organisations such as Nuffic, the Dutch education support service that works to attract top-talent students globally. One of the most recognisable outcomes of that effort is the Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme, a multilayered array of awards customised for students from countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Vietnam, in partnership with Dutch universities, governmental institutions and industry sponsors. The magnitude and flexibility of this programme mean that for many talented students, the Orange Tulip Scholarship isn’t just a reduction in cost—it is the gateway that makes Dutch study feasible at all.

Beyond programmes like Orange Tulip, there are a host of government–link scholarships designed to encourage excellence and global exchange. Examples include the NL Scholarship or Holland Scholarship, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education and participating institutions, which provides a one-off contribution of €5,000 toward tuition and costs in the first year of study for non-EEA students—a significant and meaningful sum toward easing the initial financial burden. This scholarship is sometimes used in combination with institutional awards to reduce net expenses substantially.

Dutch universities themselves also offer a variety of institutional scholarships that make education in the Netherlands more affordable. These include fully funded excellence awards such as the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship, the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship at TU Delft, the Eric Bleumink Scholarships at the University of Groningen, and various university merit awards that cover full or partial tuition and often include living stipends. Each of these demonstrates how Dutch higher education institutions are taking direct action to reduce cost barriers as part of talent attraction and global competitiveness strategies.

When understood in their full depth, these programmes are not merely “discounts” on tuition; they are strategic financial instruments that can completely reshape the economics of studying in the Netherlands. Properly leveraged, they can reduce expenses dramatically, make opportunity affordable even for students from lower-income nations, and in some cases cover virtually all educational and living costs. In the sections that follow, we explore five major scholarship categories that make studying in the Netherlands far cheaper—each unpacked with detailed context, examples, eligibility nuances and practical understanding of how students can access these funds.

1. Government-Sponsored Scholarships — National Funding for Global Talent

At the center of many opportunities to make studying in the Netherlands cheaper are scholarships funded or co-funded by the Dutch government through its Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and in collaboration with institutions. One of the most common examples is the NL Scholarship (often referred to as the Holland Scholarship), which provides a one-time grant of €5,000 to international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) aiming to pursue bachelor’s or master’s programs at Dutch higher education institutions. While this award does not cover tuition in full, it is explicitly designed to help offset initial living and academic costs, which are often the largest financial hurdle when a student begins studying abroad. Most universities administer this scholarship through their admissions process, meaning candidates often don’t need to file a separate application—if they’re admitted, they’re automatically considered for the award.

The philosophy behind government-linked funding like the NL Scholarship is to encourage academic mobility and global exchange. It signals that the Netherlands wants to be accessible and appealing to international students by reducing the financial friction associated with relocation and study. Structurally, the scholarship is funded both by the Dutch Ministry and participating institutions, which share the goal of expanding global connections and diversity on campus. For students from countries where the local currency is significantly weaker than the euro, the €5,000 support can represent a large proportion of a year’s living budget, making the Netherlands a more realistic study destination than many would otherwise afford.

In addition to the NL Scholarship, the Dutch government supports other international scholarship programmes documented by organisations like The Netherlands Education Group (TNEG). These include the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP), which are government-funded international scholarships for short courses, master’s degrees or PhD studies that prioritise capacity building in developing regions. Such programmes often include travel, tuition and living expenses in their support packages, allowing students and professionals to come to the Netherlands for tailored academic experiences without the full burden of costs.

Another national initiative sometimes overlooked is the MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP), which offers short-course study opportunities for professionals from Middle Eastern and North African countries. While not a full degree scholarship, MSP often covers tuition, travel and stay for short academic training—making quality education accessible to learners who might otherwise confront prohibitive cost barriers. This expands the range of funding beyond traditional degree programmes and demonstrates how governmental approaches to scholarships can be diversified and strategic.

Government-sponsored scholarships are particularly impactful because they are backed by public policy priorities: boosting educational diplomacy, building strategic international partnerships, and promoting the Dutch higher education brand globally. For students, access to this tier of funding can mean the difference between paying full costs out of pocket and studying in a world-class environment at a fraction of the price.

2. University-Level Excellence Scholarships — Fully Funded or Substantial Awards

While government programmes lay the foundation, many Dutch universities have developed their own high-impact scholarship funds that directly reduce or eliminate major portions of tuition and living expenses. These institutional scholarships often target international master’s students with exceptional academic records, leadership potential, or specialised research interests and can be fully funded or significantly supported.

Among the most prominent is the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES), offered by Utrecht University to outstanding international bachelor’s and master’s applicants. The excellence scholarships typically include full tuition coverage and additional grant for living costs, which, in the context of Dutch study expenses, can add up to tens of thousands of euros annually. By combining academic merit and financial support, this programme enables high-performing students to focus on their studies without the financial stress that often accompanies international education.

Similarly, the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) are designed to make postgraduate study more affordable for international students in flagship technical programs. Recipients commonly receive support that encompasses full tuition waivers, stipends to assist with living costs, and sometimes additional research funding associated with specialised projects. The prestige and financial breadth of this scholarship not only reduce direct cost barriers but also signal academic recognition that can enhance subsequent career prospects or doctoral study applications.

At the University of Groningen, the Eric Bleumink Scholarships are among the country’s most generous master’s awards for international students. These scholarships are traditionally fully funded, covering tuition, health insurance, travel costs, living expenses, and books for the duration of the degree programme. By addressing both direct educational expenses and indirect daily living costs, the Eric Bleumink Scholarships transform the financial landscape of study for recipients — allowing talented students to pursue advanced degrees without the burden of significant out-of-pocket spending.

Many other universities have similar schemes: Radboud University offers highly selective scholarship awards that significantly reduce or partially cover tuition and various ancillary costs, and Maastricht University Scholarships often include living stipends, visa cost assistance, and health insurance support alongside tuition coverage. Amsterdam Merit Scholarships at the University of Amsterdam, VU Fellowship Programme at VU Amsterdam, and World Citizen Talent Scholarship at The Hague University of Applied Sciences also illustrate the breadth of institutional scholarship strategies across the Netherlands.

Institutional scholarship support is often competitive and merit-based, but when successfully obtained, it can dramatically lower the total cost of a degree. In a country where tuition and living costs are significant portions of international budgets, these university-sponsored awards can push the cost well below what many students would expect to pay without support.

3. Regional and Targeted Scholarships — Scholarships for Specific Audiences

Another dimension of financial support that makes studying in the Netherlands cheaper lies in regional and targeted scholarship programmes that focus on specific populations, fields of study, or developmental goals. These scholarships may be offered in collaboration with Dutch institutions, foreign governments, or private foundations, and they often address specific strategic objectives—such as fostering diplomatic ties, building capacity in priority sectors, or promoting cultural exchange.

One example tied to regional or professional development is the MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP), which is aimed at professionals from Middle Eastern and North African countries. MSP funds short-term study programmes—beyond traditional bachelor’s and master’s degrees—that can include tuition, travel, and accommodation for short academic courses in the Netherlands. These programmes provide targeted financial support for capacity building, enabling professionals to gain targeted knowledge and skills at reduced or no cost.

Similarly, scholarships that partner with specific national or regional education offices—such as collaborative awards targeting Southeast Asia, Latin America or Sub-Saharan Africa under frameworks like the Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme—embed broader strategic goals within the Dutch scholarship ecosystem. These scholarships are often customised, not just in award amount, but in eligibility criteria, mentor networks, and sometimes field focus, meaning they can be a critical resource for students from nations where direct access to fully funded study abroad opportunities is limited.

There are also programmes focused on particular academic fields or populations—for example, agriculture and environmental sciences at Wageningen University’s Anne van den Ban Scholarships, which target students from developing countries pursuing related master’s programmes, and business and entrepreneurship scholarships sponsored by industry partners and universities. These targeted awards reduce costs for students with strong aspirations and defined goals in specialised fields, often combining tuition support with stipends or travel funds.

Another subset of regionally oriented scholarships is tied to capacity-building partnerships between the Dutch government and foreign institutions. For example, joint scholarship schemes such as LPDP-Netherlands Joint Scholarship Programmes link Dutch and foreign funding systems to support postgraduate study with shared cost frameworks that can be more affordable than standalone tuition. Such collaborative programmes can make American-style or European-style education in the Netherlands accessible in countries where similar domestic funding mechanisms are limited or unavailable.

Regional and targeted scholarships provide a nuanced layer of financial support; they recognise that the cost of study is not simply about tuition and living expenses, but also about access, representation, and sustainable career outcomes for students from specific backgrounds or professional settings.

4. Research and Postgraduate Scholarships — Deep Financial Support for Advanced Study

For students pursuing postgraduate research or advanced academic careers, the Netherlands offers particularly strong scholarship mechanisms that not only reduce the cost of study but often cover living expenses, research allowances, and networking opportunities—all of which contribute to making high-level study far cheaper and more strategically valuable.

A compelling example are scholarship awards for international master’s and PhD candidates that are structured to provide comprehensive support packages. For instance, some programmes, such as the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at TU Delft, provide not only tuition coverage but also stipends that assist with living costs—funding levels that make advanced technical and scientific study significantly more affordable on an international scale.

At the research level, institutions like the University of Groningen, through the Eric Bleumink Scholarships, cover living costs, books, health insurance, international travel and tuition for master’s candidates—an approach that reflects a recognition that support for research students must go beyond tuition waivers. These awards make it possible to pursue full-time research in Europe without the dispersive financial burden that research programmes often entail.

Similarly, Maastricht University’s scholarships are structured not just to offset tuition but to assist with living expenses, visa costs, and various insurances required for study in the Netherlands. These comprehensive packages reflect university strategies designed to attract top candidates globally and provide a financially feasible pathway for research-oriented study across a range of disciplines.

For PhD students, many Dutch universities also offer stipendiary positions or scholarships coupled with research assistantships, embedding tuition support within funded research contracts. These institutional and research-linked scholarships, while competitive, make the cost of advanced study far lower than self-funded paths—transforming Dutch universities into accessible options for research careers that might otherwise be financially out of reach.

Ultimately, postgraduate and research scholarships treat study as a holistic investment in human capital. They recognise that research students need stability to focus on academic inquiry, and by covering both tuition and living costs, they make the Netherlands a strong destination for international postgraduate and research talent.

5. External and Foundation Scholarships — Complementary Support to Reduce Cost Burden

In addition to government and university awards, a range of external scholarships and foundation grants exist that make studying in the Netherlands cheaper by supplementing other forms of support and covering costs that institutional awards may not directly address. These can include travel grants, professional fellowships, partial tuition awards, or specialised field support.

One of the oldest and most established of these is the Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme, managed by Nuffic, which is funded jointly by Dutch universities, multinationals, and government partners specifically to foster international talent and diversity on Dutch campuses. A key feature of the Orange Tulip Scholarships is their flexibility: awards are often tailored by participating institutions and sponsors to fit regional interests, talent profiles, and strategic goals, resulting in scholarship benefits that range from full tuition support to living stipends and travel funds.

Another example in the external ecosystem includes foundation and corporate ties that provide merit or need-based awards tied to specific sectors, such as entrepreneurship, sustainability, digital innovation or public policy, linking scholarship support to broader career-oriented goals. While these awards may not always cover full education costs, they often bridge the gap left by institutional scholarships, allowing students to manage residual costs such as books, housing deposits, or travel.

There are also broader European scholarship schemes—for example, programmes like Erasmus+ (though EU-centric) that permit shorter study periods, block exchanges, or research placements across Europe and can significantly reduce costs when integrated into a Dutch degree plan. While not solely Dutch scholarships, these European-wide opportunities can provide additional financial support or subsidised study abroad semesters that reduce overall expenses.

External scholarships may also include development-focused funding such as the MENA Scholarship Programme or bilateral initiatives like joint scholarships between the Netherlands and other countries’ educational agencies. These often provide complementary support for fees, travel, or living expenses, especially when paired with a university award or government grant, creating a stacked support model that further lowers net costs.

For students navigating the full landscape of Dutch scholarships, understanding and leveraging these external and foundation options is critical. They can often tip the balance from having to self-finance a significant portion of study to having a fully-supported holistic academic experience.

Comparison Tables (Featured Snippet Ready)

Top Scholarships Making Dutch Study Cheaper

Typical Scholarship Benefits and Value

Conclusion: Scholarships as the Key to Affordable Dutch Study

The Netherlands offers a diverse and increasingly generous array of scholarships that make studying there far cheaper than sticker prices might suggest. Whether through government-funded grants like the NL Scholarship, excellence awards from leading universities, regionally targeted capacity building programmes, deep research support for postgraduate study, or external foundation scholarships, international students can access financial support that offsets tuition, living costs, travel, insurance, and sometimes even research support.

Importantly, many of these scholarship schemes are stackable—meaning students can combine government, institutional, and external funding to lower the overall cost of their education even further. By strategically planning applications, meeting eligibility criteria, and aligning their academic profiles with scholarship priorities, aspiring students can transform the Netherlands from a dream destination into an achievable, affordable, and world-class educational experience.