Maastricht University scholarships for 2027–28 run through one programme: the UM NL-High Potential Scholarship. It gives 18 full awards to non-EU/EEA students admitted to a participating master's programme. Each award waives tuition (at actual cost) and pays a €1,550 monthly stipend, which adds up to €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month one.

The deadline is 10 December 2026, roughly eight weeks from today. You need a GPA of 7.5/10 or higher, must be under 35, and must hold a passport from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname. Your admission application to a participating programme has to be complete by the same date.

Below you'll find the benefits, eligibility rules, a step-by-step application guide with the direct link, and some analysis most scholarship blogs skip: what the numbers really mean and where applicants lose points.

Key Takeaways

• 18 full scholarships are available for the 2027–28 intake, open to master's applicants from outside the EU/EEA.
• Stipend: €1,550 per month (€20,150 for 13 months, €38,750 for 25 months), plus €700 toward health and liability insurance.
• Tuition, visa costs and pre-academic training are covered at actual cost.
• Deadline: 10 December 2026. The scholarship and your admission file share this date, so treat them as one project.
• Minimum GPA 7.5/10, age under 35, no previous full degree completed in the Netherlands.
• Apply once only. You get one scholarship application, so check every document before you submit.

Maastricht University Scholarships at a Glance

What Is the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship?

The programme combines two funding streams. The High Potential Scholarship comes from the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund. The NL Scholarship is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences. Applicants submit one application to the programme.

One correction worth making: some listings describe this as a scholarship for students living "outside the Eurozone." That's wrong, and the difference matters. The rule is about nationality, not currency. A Polish or Swedish citizen is outside the Eurozone but still an EU citizen, so they are not eligible.

What Does the Maastricht University scholarships Cover?

• Living expenses: €1,550 per month. That's €20,150 for the 13-month programme and €38,750 for the 25-month programme.
• Health and liability insurance: €700.
• Tuition fees: fully covered at actual cost.
• Visa application costs: covered at actual cost.
• Pre-Academic Training costs: fully covered.
• International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP): costs covered for the first block only.

Our analysis: what the numbers actually mean

Add the stipend and the insurance contribution and the cash you can plan around is €20,850 (one-year master's) or €39,450 (two-year master's), before tuition, visa and training are counted. The monthly rate is identical either way, so the extra twelve months of a two-year programme are worth exactly €18,600 in living support.

That changes how you should choose a programme. Applicants often default to the one-year track because it's faster. If your career plan benefits from a research master's or a longer specialisation, the scholarship doesn't penalise you for it. It funds the extra year at the same rate.

Maastricht University Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Nationality and visa requirements

• You hold a passport from a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname.
• You qualify for a Dutch entry visa (MVV) and residence permit. Check in which country you must collect your MVV before applying.
• If you already hold a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must stay valid until at least 2 September 2027. Otherwise you must apply from your home country.
• You do not hold dual nationality with an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

Academic requirements

• You have applied to a participating full-time master's programme at Maastricht University for 2027–28 and met its admission requirements by 10 December 2026.
• You have a GPA of 7.5/10 or higher, with a document that explains your grading system.
• You have not completed a full degree in the Netherlands. Exchange semesters are fine.
• Preference goes to candidates who don't already hold a master's degree.

Other conditions

• You are under 35.
• If you win, you act as a UM ambassador and share your experience with future students and stakeholders.
• You can apply only once and for one scholarship.

Which Master's Programmes Are Eligible?

The list we reviewed covers roughly 70 programmes and specialisations across five faculties, from MSc International Business (with a dozen specialisations) and MSc Financial Economics to the LLM European Law School, MSc Global Health, MSc Psychology and the MA in European Studies. The faculties represented are Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Psychology and Neuroscience, and the School of Business and Economics.

One thing stands out: no programmes from the Faculty of Science and Engineering appeared in the list we reviewed. That list was labelled for the previous academic year, so confirm your exact programme on the official scholarship page before you build your plan around it.

How to Apply for the Maastricht University Scholarships

Step 1: Register for a programme

Register for a participating master's programme through Studielink and receive your student ID. Only then can you complete the scholarship application. Make sure you meet every admission requirement before the scholarship deadline, and budget for any programme-specific handling fee, which you pay yourself.

Step 2: Complete the scholarship application

Log in with your UM account and fill in the application form. Upload your documents as .doc, .docx or PDF files:

• Curriculum Vitae: maximum two pages, covering education and achievements.
• Motivation letter: use the template UM provides.
• Proof of academic excellence: transcript showing a GPA of 7.5 or higher.
• Personal financial statement: explain why you need the scholarship.
• Reference letter: from a professor or employer, never a family member.

▶ Direct application link: UM NL-High Potential Scholarship (official page)

Our 8-Week Plan to the 10 December Deadline

This schedule is our own suggestion, built backwards from the deadline.

• Weeks 1–2: Register on Studielink, get your student ID, request transcripts, and ask your referee now. Good referees need time.
• Weeks 3–4: Get a written grading-scale explanation from your university registrar and draft your motivation letter.
• Weeks 5–6: Write the financial statement, tighten the CV to two pages, and have someone outside your field read your letter.
• Week 7: Upload everything and submit. Don't wait for the final days.
• Week 8: Keep this as a buffer for portal problems or a missing document.

Five Mistakes That Cost Applicants the Award

• Treating admission and the scholarship as separate tasks. The scholarship requires a complete admission file by the same deadline. Waiting for an admission decision first is the most avoidable way to lose.
• Converting your own GPA. UM asks for a document explaining your grading system. Let your institution supply it rather than inventing a conversion.
• Writing a generic motivation letter. Eighteen awards are spread across roughly 70 programmes and specialisations. A letter that could fit any programme is the weakest position you can take.
• Ignoring the ambassador clause. UM expects winners to share their experience publicly. Showing in your letter that you can do this, with evidence from past mentoring, writing or leadership, answers a requirement most applicants overlook.
• Skimping on the financial statement. UM asks you to explain why you need the funding. This is a distinct document, not a formality, so give specifics.

Why Trust This Guide

We built this article from two sources: the official Maastricht University scholarship page and a published scholarship listing, which we compared line by line. Where the listing and the official page differed, we followed the official page. Where we added analysis, such as the stipend arithmetic, the timeline and the mistakes list, we've labelled it as ours. We are an independent consultancy and have no affiliation with Maastricht University. Details can change, so confirm everything on the official page, or email UM's International Services Desk, before you submit.

Frequently Asked Questions about Maastricht University scholarships

Does Maastricht University offer scholarships for international students?

Yes. The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship offers 18 full scholarships each academic year to talented master's students from outside the EU/EEA.

Is the Maastricht University scholarship fully funded?

It covers tuition at actual cost, visa costs, pre-academic training, a €700 insurance contribution and a €1,550 monthly stipend. That's a full package for the programme's duration.

What GPA do I need?

A GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, with a document explaining your grading system.

What is the Maastricht University scholarship deadline?

10 December 2026, for the 2027–28 academic year. Your master's admission file must also be complete by then.

Can EU students apply?

No. The scholarship is for nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname, and dual EU/EEA or Swiss nationals are excluded.

Can I apply to more than one scholarship?

No. You can apply only once and for one scholarship.

Final Word

With eight weeks to go, the applicants who succeed will be the ones who start the admission file and the scholarship file together. Register on Studielink this week, line up your referee, and write a letter that speaks to your specific programme. When you're ready, use the official link below.

▶ Apply now: official Maastricht University scholarship page

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