Opportunity Detail
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028 offers 18 full scholarships each academic year to talented students from outside the EU/EEA who want to pursue an eligible full-time Master’s degree at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
The scholarship covers major study and living costs, including tuition fees, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, and pre-academic training.
For the 2027–2028 academic year, applications open on October 1, 2026, and the scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET. However, applicants must complete their Maastricht University Master’s admission application by December 10, 2026 to remain eligible for the scholarship.
Quick Overview
- Scholarship: Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
- University: Maastricht University
- Country: Netherlands
- Study level: Master’s
- Academic year: 2027–2028
- Number of scholarships: 18
- Target group: Non-EU/EEA international students
- Scholarship type: Full scholarship
- Application opens: October 1, 2026
- Master’s admission deadline: December 10, 2026
- Scholarship deadline: February 1, 2027, 23:59 CET
- Duration: 13 months for one-year programmes or 25 months for two-year programmes
- Application fee: Depends on the Master’s programme; any required programme handling fee must be paid by the applicant
Scholarship Benefits
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship provides substantial financial support throughout the eligible Master’s programme.
For 2027–2028, the listed benefits include:
- Living expenses: €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme
- Tuition fees: Fully covered
- Health and liability insurance: €700
- Visa application costs: Covered
- Pre-Academic Training: Covered
- International Student Ambassador Programme: Covered for the first block
- Accommodation arranged through Maastricht University
The current living allowance is based on €1,550 per month. Maastricht University notes that the listed amounts can change for future academic years.
Accommodation
Accommodation is an important part of this scholarship.
Scholarship recipients are required to accept the room allocated to them by Maastricht University. The accommodation is provided until July 16, 2028.
For students enrolled in a two-year Master’s programme, the scholarship provides accommodation for the first year; students must arrange their own accommodation for the second year.
The allocated accommodation is not suitable for partners, spouses, children, or pets.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet all of the scholarship’s eligibility requirements.
You must:
- Be a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname
- Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland
- Apply for an eligible full-time Master’s programme at Maastricht University
- Meet the admission requirements of your chosen Master’s programme
- Submit your complete Master’s admission application by December 10, 2026
- Not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands
- Normally not already hold a Master’s degree
- Be 35 years old or younger on September 1, 2027
- Have achieved excellent academic results, demonstrated by a latest GPA of at least 7.5/10 or equivalent
- Agree to participate as a UM NL High Potential and ambassador during and after your studies
Maastricht University describes the scholarship as very competitive, with approximately 2% of applicants receiving an award.
GPA Requirement
Academic performance is an important part of eligibility.
Applicants need a latest grade transcript showing a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, or an equivalent result under their university’s grading system.
Maastricht University gives 75% of the maximum grade or 3.0 out of 4.0 as examples of an equivalent level, depending on the grading system. Applicants must also provide a document explaining their university’s grading system.
Also check: Helmut Veith Scholarship 2027, TU Wien scholarships 2027
Eligible Master’s Programmes
The scholarship is not available for every Master’s programme at Maastricht University.
The 2027–2028 participating programmes include selected programmes across several faculties.
Examples include:
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Arts and Culture
- European Studies
- European Studies on Society, Science and Technology
Faculty of Law
- European Law School
- Globalisation and Law
- International and European Tax Law
- Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management
- Forensics, Criminology and Law
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- Epidemiology
- Global Health
- Governance and Leadership in European Public Health
- Health and Digital Transformation
- Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management
- Human Movement Sciences
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
- Forensic Psychology
- Psychology
- Research Master Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
Applicants should check the official participating-programmes list before starting an application because the scholarship only applies to specified programmes.
Can International Students Apply?
Yes. The scholarship is specifically aimed at talented students from outside the EU/EEA.
However, applicants must meet Maastricht University’s nationality, admission, residence and visa-related requirements.
Age Limit
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger on September 1, 2027.
This means the age requirement is based on the applicant’s age on the specified date rather than the date of application.
Previous Study in the Netherlands
Applicants must not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands.
Students who previously completed an exchange programme in the Netherlands are still eligible to apply.
English Language Requirements
The scholarship itself does not list one separate English test score that applies to every applicant.
Instead, applicants must meet the English-language requirements of their chosen Maastricht University Master’s programme.
Therefore, applicants should check the admission requirements of their specific programme for accepted tests and minimum scores.
Also check: Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027–28 at the European University Institute – Research Fellowship in Italy |
Required Documents
The scholarship application requires several documents.
Applicants should prepare:
- Updated CV of no more than two A4 pages
- Scholarship motivation letter using the official template
- University transcript or official GPA document
- Document explaining the university’s grading system
- Personal statement explaining financial need
- Scholarship reference letter
- Contact details of one referee
The referee should be a professor, lecturer, or employer. Family members cannot serve as referees.
The reference letter must be dated and written no earlier than February 2026 for the 2027–2028 scholarship cycle. Applicants must upload the reference letter themselves.
Financial Need Statement
Unlike a purely merit-based scholarship, the application also asks candidates to explain their financial circumstances.
Applicants should explain why receiving the scholarship would make a significant difference to their ability to study at Maastricht University.
The university gives examples such as financial difficulty, caretaking responsibilities, disability, refugee status, or other personal circumstances.
Application Opening Date
The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027–2028 opens on October 1, 2026.
Applicants should first apply for an eligible Master’s programme through Studielink. After receiving their Maastricht University student ID, they can access the scholarship application form.
Application Deadlines
There are two important deadlines that applicants should not confuse.
Master’s programme application deadline:
December 10, 2026
Scholarship application deadline:
February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have submitted their complete Master’s admission application and met the admission requirements by December 10, 2026.
How to Apply
The application process has two main stages.
Step 1: Apply for a Master’s programme
Apply for one of the participating Master’s programmes through Studielink and complete the required Maastricht University admission process.
Once you have a Maastricht University student ID, you can access the scholarship application.
Step 2: Apply for the scholarship
Complete the online scholarship application through your UM account and upload the required documents.
Applicants can submit only one scholarship application and can apply for one scholarship only. Documents cannot be added or replaced after submission, so applicants should check everything carefully before submitting.
Selection Process
The selection process begins after the scholarship deadline.
- The UM International Services Desk checks applications for completeness.
- Complete applications are sent to the relevant Maastricht University faculties.
- Each faculty selects and ranks its top candidates.
- The International Services Desk conducts a final check.
- Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview.
- Final scholarship decisions are communicated to applicants.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, interviews take place after the faculty selection process, with application outcomes communicated during April 2027 and final statuses expected by the beginning of May 2027.
Pre-Academic Training
Selected scholarship recipients must complete a two-week mandatory Pre-Academic Training programme.
For the 2027–2028 scholarship, the training starts in the first week of August 2027.
Important Notes
Before applying, keep these points in mind:
- You must apply for an eligible Maastricht University Master’s programme first.
- The Master’s application must be complete by December 10, 2026.
- The scholarship deadline is later, on February 1, 2027.
- You need a UM student ID to submit the scholarship application.
- Only one scholarship application can be submitted.
- A minimum GPA of 7.5/10 or equivalent is required.
- The scholarship is highly competitive.
- Airfare is not included in the scholarship.
- The allocated accommodation is mandatory for scholarship recipients.
- Students on two-year programmes must arrange accommodation for their second year.
Also check: University of Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarships are available?
Maastricht University offers 18 full scholarships for the 2027–2028 academic year.
When does the scholarship application open?
Applications open on October 1, 2026.
What is the scholarship deadline?
The scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2027, at 23:59 CET.
What is the deadline for the Master’s application?
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must submit your complete Master’s admission application by December 10, 2026.
How much is the living allowance?
The current listed amount is €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme.
Does the scholarship cover tuition fees?
Yes. The scholarship covers the applicable tuition fees for the eligible programme.
Does it cover airfare?
No. Maastricht University specifically states that air tickets are not included and must be paid by the candidate.
What GPA do I need?
You need a latest GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10 or an equivalent grade under your university’s grading system.
Can I apply for more than one Maastricht University scholarship?
No. Applicants can submit only one scholarship application and apply for one scholarship.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Applicants must be 35 years old or younger on September 1, 2027.
