Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students
Are you stuck between selecting your dream Dutch university and course due to financial obstruction? Worry not—we have presented you with a blog dedicated to the availability of a diverse range of scholarships in the Netherlands for Indian students. This blog contains detailed information like scholarship overview, duration, eligibility criteria, application process, etc.
- Importance of Scholarships in Netherlands
- Types of Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students
- Government Scholarships in Netherlands
- Netherlands University Scholarships - Bachelor’s Degree
- Netherlands University Scholarships - Master’s Degree
- Netherlands University Scholarships-PhD
- Private Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students
- Documents Checklist for Scholarships in Netherlands
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Importance of Scholarships in Netherlands
Scholarships are financial assistance offered to deserving students from low-income families or those who cannot afford to study overseas. The government, universities, and privately funded organisations provide aid through tuition waivers and other reimbursement options to facilitate their education.
One significant reason education is affordable in Dutch institutions is the diverse range of scholarship programs available for international students, encouraging them to pursue their higher studies there.
This blog encapsulates comprehensive details about scholarships in Netherlands for Indian students, including information on deadlines, awarded amounts, documents checklist, and more.
Types of Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students
The Netherlands is world-renowned for offering quality education to international students at an affordable cost. However, despite being one of the best, most students need help studying abroad at their own expense, so they take loans.
As stated earlier, Dutch universities, government, and private organisations offer various scholarships, grants, and waivers, which help students overcome the economic burden to some extent.
There are three types of Netherlands scholarships for Indian students:
- Government Scholarships
- Netherlands University Scholarships
- Private Scholarships
Government Scholarships in Netherlands
Government scholarships in Netherlands offer either partial tuition fee waivers or fully funded grants for bachelors, masters, and other short courses. If Government scholarships in Netherlands offer entire grants, then it will cover the following other expenses also:
- Costs of living
- Tuition fees
- Visa fees
- Roundtrip travel tickets
- Health insurance
- Thesis Research Grant
All courses that are eligible for government scholarships are listed in Studyfinder.
Holland Scholarship Program
The Holland Scholarship program is provided to international students outside the European Economic Area by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, Nuffic India, and several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.
Duration
The Holland Scholarship program grants a partial tuition waiver in the first year of study.
Benefits
Partial tuition fee waiver of 5000 Euros (INR 4.50 Lakh).
Eligibility Criteria
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time bachelor’s or master’s programs at a participating Dutch higher education institution.
- Students must meet the specific requirements of the institution.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
Application Process
Apply through the university website.
Application Deadlines
It may vary depending on the university.
Orange Tulip Scholarship India Program
Here come the other Netherlands scholarships for Indian students, which provide financial assistance to deserving and economically backward candidates.
Nuffic Educational Support Offices of the Netherlands (Neso) has designed the Orange Tulip Scholarship India program for Indian students who want to pursue higher education at Dutch academic institutions. The program aims to nurture international talent by offering them immense educational opportunities.
Duration
Orange Tulip Scholarship program grants a partial tuition waiver in the first year of study.
Benefits
The tuition fee waiver is variable, ranging from 25% up to 100% the sponsor, and some offer living costs and visa fee waivers, too.
Eligibility Criteria
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at a Dutch university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
Application Process
Apply through the university website.
Application Deadlines
It may vary between February and June, depending on the university.
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, offers the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme to students belonging to economically weaker sections of Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers, and Traditional Artisans.
Duration
Depending on the course duration.
Benefits
- 125 awards, subject to availability of funds, will be given under the Scheme.
- It waives total tuition fees and provides an annual maintenance allowance worth INR 12,83,000.
- It also waives visa fees and medical insurance premiums.
Eligibility Criteria
- For a master’s degree program, A minimum of 60% marks are required in the bachelor’s degree program.
- For PhD: Minimum 60% marks are needed for the Masters degree program.
- The age of the candidate must not exceed 35 years
- Total family income from all sources shall not exceed INR lakh per annum.
Application Process
The candidates can apply online on official portal of the ministry.
Application Deadlines
The application portal opens every year in February (first cycle) and September (second cycle).
Also read – How to Find the Perfect Study Abroad Program
Netherlands University Scholarships – Bachelor’s Degree
The following are the Netherlands scholarships for Indian students who are studying undergraduate programs at Dutch universities.
Erasmus School of Social & Behavioural Sciences
The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science finances the Erasmus University NL Scholarship. It is meant for non-EEA students studying English-taught bachelor’s degree programs at the university.
Duration
For the first year of the program.
Benefits
Partial tuition fee waiver of € 5,000 up to € 10,000 in the first year of the course program
Eligibility Criteria
- The average grade should be the equivalent to the Dutch grade of 8.0 on the Dutch grading scale of 1 to 10.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at the university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
Application Process
The candidates can apply online on the university’s official website by submitting a motivation letter and other necessary documents.
Application Deadlines
Application can be submitted on or before May 1st, 2024.
HAN NL Scholarship – HAN University of Applied Sciences
HAN University of Applied Sciences offers the HAN NL Scholarship to international undergraduate students from non-EEA countries, including India. This merit-based scholarship significantly reduces tuition fees and facilitates study at the university.
Duration
Three years of study.
Benefits
€2,500 (INR 2 Lakh) in the 1st semester and €2,500 (INR 2 Lakh) in the 2nd semester.
After that, students will receive €2,500 (INR 2 Lakh) per year for the following three years of study.
The maximum amount is INR 12,500 (11 Lakh) for non-EU/EEA students.
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students are required to score a minimum of 45 credits each year.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time bachelor’s programs at the university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
- Students must have an IELTS score of at least 6.5, a TOEFL iBT score of 90, or a Cambridge Certificate (CAE or CPE).
Application Process
Candidates can apply online on the university’s official website by submitting a motivation letter, a short video, and other necessary documents.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before October 19th, 2024.
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship – University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam offers the Amsterdam merit scholarship to non-EU/EEA students studying in undergraduate programs in economics and business. A small number of scholarships are available each year, so it is very competitive to get one. The scholarship is reimbursed, and it is not a tuition fee waiver.
Duration
Three years of study.
Benefits
The value of the scholarship is €6,000 (INR 5 Lakh) per year (a total of €18,000, e.g. INR 15 Lakh).
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students are required to score an excellent academic result.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time bachelor’s programs at the university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
- Students must have an IELTS score of at least 7.0, a TOEFL iBT score of 100, or a Cambridge Certificate (CAE or CPE).
Application Process
Candidates can apply online on the Embark by submitting a motivation letter, a short video, and other necessary documents.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before March 1st, 2024.
Netherlands University Scholarships – Master’s Degree
The following are the Netherlands university scholarships for Indian students studying master’s programs at Dutch universities.
Leiden University Excellence Scholarships
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarships are offered to academically excellent Indian students pursuing master’s degree programs, except for M.Sc in Law and LLM courses at Leiden Law School.
Duration
1-2 years of study.
Benefits
The LExS is awarded for the duration of the study program. There are three available levels of awards:
- € 10,000 of the tuition fee
- € 15,000 of the tuition fee
- Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee.
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students must score excellent academic results in previous study programs.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at the university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online on the university application portal by submitting a motivation letter, a short video, and other necessary documents.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before October 1st, 2024.
Erik Bleumink Scholarships – University of Groningen
The University of Groningen offers Erik Bleumink Scholarships to deserving and financially disadvantaged students so that they can pursue their master’s degree program at the university without any obstruction.
Duration
1-2 years of study.
Benefits
The grant covers tuition fees, international travel costs, subsistence, books, and health insurance.
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students must score excellent academic results in previous study programs.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at the university.
- The student should not have a degree from an educational institution in the Netherlands.
- Students must be proficient in the English language.
Application Process
Nominated students will be considered automatically by the university.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before December 1st, 2024.
Utrecht University Excellence Scholarships
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is a highly competitive scholarship program offered to talented international students, including Indians, who wish to study for a master’s degree at Utrecht University.
Duration
1-2 years of study.
Benefits
The Utrecht Excellence scholarship can be awarded as follows:
- The tuition fee or
- The tuition fee plus the income required for one year is linked to a residence permit for study as determined by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service).
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled students must score excellent academic results outside the Netherlands in previous bachelor’s programs.
- The student must be from outside of EEA.
- Students must have been enrolled in full-time master’s programs at the university.
Application Process
After applying for the master’s course, the application will be submitted on the OSIRIS Online Application account dashboard on the university’s official course.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before February 1st, 2024.
Also read – Masters Abroad Top Courses Universities
Netherlands University Scholarships-PhD
In the Netherlands, there are generally three ways to fund PhD:
Employed by an institution
Most PhD students have an employment contract with the institution where they conduct their research. Thus, they are not required to pay tuition fees and don’t need a scholarship or fellowship program to conduct their research.
Fellowship or grant
About 1 in 6 PhD candidates in the Netherlands are not employed by the institution but fund their PhD position through a fellowship or grant. They can find a fellowship or grant here if they want to use this option.
Finding a supervisor
PhD students can direct their inquiries to the central information office, which can provide information about the opportunities available at the research university or institute. The best way to find a supervisor with a leading reputation is through international networks in their field.
Private Scholarships in Netherlands for Indian Students
JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
Tata Group funds the JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship and provides scholarships and loans to deserving students pursuing studies outside India.
The loan amount can be repaid within seven years after the day of its granting and is collected in 5 equal installments of the loan’s amount starting from the end of the third year of their education.
Duration
Depends on the duration of the study program.
Benefits
Candidates can seek a loan for up to INR 10 lakh as per their application.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidate must be in the final year of their undergraduate or postgraduate study program.
- Candidates must have a minimum of 60% marks in their graduation/post-graduation.
- Candidates must be below 45 years of age.
Application Process
The application process can be done on the official website.
Application Deadlines
The application can be submitted on or before March 31st, 2024.
Documents Checklist for Scholarships in Netherlands
The requirements for documents for applying to various Netherlands scholarships for Indian students may vary depending on the university, course, specific eligibility criteria, etc.
However, the scholarship scheme requires the presentation of some standard documents. Below, we have listed the documents that are required to be submitted during the application process:
- Two passport-size photographs
- Copy your passport’s first page (with photo and expiration date).
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages).
- A copy of your admission or acceptance letter from the Dutch higher education institution.
- Copy of mark sheets and degree of higher secondary school (XII), bachelor’s, and master’s degrees (including those of completed semesters of the ongoing degree)
- English language proficiency certificate (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE etc.)
- Document of employment or internship record (if applicable)
- Letter(s) of recommendation from the current Indian university, employer, or institution last attended.
- Motivation letter
- Bank statements
- Proof of extraordinary academic or athletic achievement
- A civil liability certificate
Conclusion
To sum up, Dutch universities offer diverse courses to international students, including Indians, at affordable tuition costs at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels.
However, sometimes international students need help bearing the study costs themselves. In that case, several scholarship programs are offered by the government, universities, and private organisations to them.
The foremost eligibility for receiving a grant is meritoriousness. Some scholarships act as tuition fee waivers, while others can reimburse the whole cost of living, including tuition fees, visa fees, and medical insurance premiums.
FAQs
Can I study in the Netherlands for free?
No, you cannot study in the Netherlands for free, as Dutch universities do not offer a tuition-free option. However, scholarships are available to those who want to waive their tuition fees to a certain extent.
Is there any age limit for receiving the scholarship benefits in the Netherlands?
The applicants must be at least 18-25 years old to get a master’s scholarship and at least 30 years old to get a PhD fellowship.
How much does it cost to study in the Netherlands?
The cost of studying in the Netherlands depends on several factors, such as course, level, university, etc. However, an international student needs to spend around 2000-50,000 Euros (INR 1-45 Lakh) to pursue study in the Netherlands at different levels.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
