About the opportunity
The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) and the NL Scholarship offer talented, highly motivated prospective non-EU/EEA students the opportunity to pursue an English-taught Master’s degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting in September 2027. The VUFP is a merit-based tuition fee waiver covering tuition costs only. When applying for the VUFP, candidates are automatically considered for the NL Scholarship, which provides a one-time contribution towards living costs. Scholars selected for the VUFP are also expected to serve as international student ambassadors during their studies.
Funding and benefits
- VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) covers the tuition fees only for a one- or two-year Master's programme.
- NL Scholarship provides a one-time contribution of 5,000 euros towards the costs of living for the first year of study (available to a limited number of VUFP awardees, approximately 20-25 scholarships per year).
Who can apply?
- Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for the lower statutory tuition fee.
- Do not hold Dutch nationality.
- Can prove academic excellence with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.0 or higher.
- Conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master's programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting in September 2027.
- The degree used for admission has not been obtained in the Netherlands and you do not hold a prior degree from a Dutch educational institution.
- Not currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's programme in the Netherlands.
- Do not need to complete a preparatory programme before the start of the Master's.
Required documents
- Completed VUFP-NLS application form (using the official 2027-2028 version)
- Bachelor's degree program transcript or GPA proof showing up-to-date grades
- Grading scale explanation from the awarding institution
When to apply
- Master's programme registration opens on 1 October 2026.
- Advised deadline for Master's programme application is 1 December 2026.
- VUFP and NL Scholarship applications open on 1 November 2026.
- Deadline to submit the VUFP scholarship application is 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.
How to apply
- Step 1: Register for an eligible English-taught Master's programme via Studielink and complete your personal dashboard registration on vu.nl by 1 December 2026.
- Step 2: Fill out the VUFP-NLS application form, attach your GPA proof, transcript, and grading scale explanation, save it as a single PDF file, and upload it in the Scholarship section of your personal VU dashboard by 1 February 2027.
- Step 3: Await faculty review and nomination to the Central Scholarship Committee.
- Step 4: Receive notification of the decision in mid-March 2027.
- Step 5: Accept or decline the scholarship offer in your personal VU dashboard within two weeks of receiving the results (by the end of March 2027).
Additional information
- VUFP scholarship extensions for the second year of a two-year Master's programme require achieving 100% of the ECTS during the first year.
- Applicants can apply for the VUFP for only one Master's programme.
- Selected scholars agree to act as international student ambassadors for the duration of their studies.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Prospective non-EU/EEA international students with an outstanding academic record (GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.0 or higher) who plan to study full-time in English at VU Amsterdam.
- Applicants seeking significant tuition fee relief through a merit-based waiver at a major research university in the Netherlands.
- Candidates comfortable with taking on ambassadorial duties and community engagement roles alongside their master's studies.
What should you think carefully about?
- The VUFP covers tuition fees only and provides no financial support for living costs, rent, food, or insurance unless you are separately awarded the limited NL Scholarship.
- Admission to the master's programme must be secured separately and ideally well before the scholarship deadline, requiring strict adherence to early application timelines.
- The competitive nature of the program means only a very small percentage of applicants ultimately receive a scholarship.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This opportunity is well-suited for high-achieving international students looking to undertake a fully supported or tuition-waived master's degree in Europe while building professional networks and contributing to an academic community.
Our take
Non-EU/EEA students with excellent academic credentials who meet admission requirements should strongly consider applying, keeping in mind that separate funding must be arranged for living expenses.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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