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Scholarships to study in the Netherlands

Real government, university and trust scholarships open to Indian students, with values, eligibility and deadlines for 2027 entry.

For Indian students · Updated 26 Oct 2026

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Scholarships listed

12

Government and EU

3

University awards

5

Trusts and foundations

4

Scholarships in the Netherlands at a glance

Quick read

  • The Dutch government's NL Scholarship gives €5,000 in the first year to non-EEA students at participating institutions; it is a contribution, not a full scholarship.
  • University excellence awards are larger: TU Delft's Van Effen Scholarship covers full tuition plus living costs, and Leiden's Excellence Scholarship takes up to €19,000 off tuition.
  • Deadlines are early. TU Delft's Van Effen Scholarship closes on 1 December 2026 for September 2027 entry; confirm Leiden's date with its scholarships team.
  • Erasmus Mundus joint master's with Dutch partners offer full funding for top applicants.
  • Most excellence awards look for students in roughly the top 10% of their class.

Non-EU students pay institutional fees in the Netherlands, which can be high for master's programmes. Scholarships help, but most are linked to specific universities and programmes, and many close nine or ten months before the course starts.

The list below covers real national, university and EU awards that Indian students can apply for, with values as published.

Types of scholarships in the Netherlands

  1. 01

    NL Scholarship

    A government-backed €5,000 award in the first year at participating institutions, for non-EEA students who do not already hold a Dutch degree.

  2. 02

    University excellence scholarships

    Merit awards for top students, from a partial fee waiver to full tuition plus living costs.

  3. 03

    Erasmus Mundus

    EU-funded joint master's programmes, many with Dutch partner universities, that fully fund top applicants.

  4. 04

    Indian trusts

    K.C. Mahindra, J N Tata and Narotam Sekhsaria fund postgraduate study abroad.

All scholarships in one table

Scholarships for Indian students in the Netherlands
ScholarshipTypeLevelValue
NL Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with participating Dutch institutionsGovernmentBachelor's and master's€5,000, paid once in the first year
Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Delft University of TechnologyUniversityMaster'sFull tuition plus a contribution to living costs; 16 awards for regular MSc programmes
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) (opens in a new tab)Leiden UniversityUniversityMaster'sTuition reduction of €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500 or €19,000; the level is set at the award and is not a full scholarship
Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (opens in a new tab)University of AmsterdamUniversityMaster'sVaries by programme; for example one award of €26,125 for the MSc Artificial Intelligence for September 2027 entry, paid in monthly instalments
University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) (opens in a new tab)University of TwenteUniversityMaster's (MSc)€3,000 to €22,000 for one year; on two-year programmes the same again in year two if you meet the progress rules
Radboud Scholarship Programme (opens in a new tab)Radboud UniversityUniversityMaster's (English-taught)Tuition reduced to about €2,771 (to be confirmed), plus visa, residence permit, health and liability insurance; living costs not covered. 26 places for 2027/28
Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust (Tata Trusts)FoundationMaster'sA gift towards part of the tuition fee, about ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh depending on the interview
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships (opens in a new tab)European Union (Erasmus+, through university consortia)European UnionMaster'sFull scholarships for outstanding applicants; what they cover is set by each programme, so check its own page
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad (opens in a new tab)K.C. Mahindra Education TrustFoundationMaster's and PhDInterest-free loan scholarship of up to ₹10 lakh for the top three, and up to ₹5 lakh for others
J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship (opens in a new tab)J N Tata Endowment (Tata Trusts)FoundationMaster's, PhD and postdoctoralLoan scholarship; the amount is decided case by case after an interview
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Narotam Sekhsaria FoundationFoundationMaster'sFull or part scholarships given as repayable, interest-free financial assistance (amount not fixed)
National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) (opens in a new tab)Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of IndiaGovernmentMaster's and PhDTuition, maintenance and other allowances, paid through Indian Missions abroad; amounts are in the scheme guidelines

Values are as published by each provider on the date of our research. Most awards are competitive and limited in number, so none of them is guaranteed.

Government scholarships in the Netherlands

  • GovernmentBachelor's and master's

    NL Scholarship

    Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with participating Dutch institutions

    Value
    €5,000, paid once in the first year
    Who can apply
    Non-EEA students starting a full-time bachelor's or master's at a participating institution who do not already hold a Dutch degree.
    Deadline or window
    Set by each institution. Check Study in NL for the current cycle
    Official page for NL Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility
  • GovernmentMaster's and PhD

    National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

    Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India

    Value
    Tuition, maintenance and other allowances, paid through Indian Missions abroad; amounts are in the scheme guidelines
    Who can apply
    Low-income, meritorious students from the Scheduled Castes, De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. 125 awards a year, 30% for women. Income, age and marks limits are in the scheme guidelines.
    Deadline or window
    Apply on the NOS portal (nosmsje.gov.in) when the yearly call opens; check the official page
    Official page for National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility

Get a scholarship shortlist for your profileShare your marks, test scores and budget, and our counsellor will match you to the Netherlands scholarships you can realistically win.

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University scholarships in the Netherlands

European Union scholarships

  • European UnionMaster's

    Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships

    European Union (Erasmus+, through university consortia)

    Value
    Full scholarships for outstanding applicants; what they cover is set by each programme, so check its own page
    Who can apply
    Master's students from all over the world, including India, applying to a joint master's run by a group of European universities. Not every programme offers scholarships. Many joint programmes include Dutch universities as partners.
    Deadline or window
    Most programmes take applications between October and January for the following academic year
    Official page for Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility

Trusts and foundations (including Indian trusts)

  • FoundationMaster's

    Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship

    Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust (Tata Trusts)

    Value
    A gift towards part of the tuition fee, about ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh depending on the interview
    Who can apply
    Indian women graduates of a reputed university with a strong academic record, studying in the US, UK or Europe, with a focus on issues affecting women and children (for example social work, public health, psychology, law, education, health policy or human rights). Two years of relevant paid work experience is preferred.
    Deadline or window
    The 2026–27 round closed in April 2026 (link requests closed on 30 March); expect a similar window in early 2027
    Official page for Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility
  • FoundationMaster's and PhD

    K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad

    K.C. Mahindra Education Trust

    Value
    Interest-free loan scholarship of up to ₹10 lakh for the top three, and up to ₹5 lakh for others
    Who can apply
    Indian citizens with a first-class degree (or equivalent diploma) from a recognised university, starting a postgraduate programme at an overseas university. Final-year students can apply with proof of a first class before the end of June. At least 50 awards a year.
    Deadline or window
    The 2026 round closed on 30 April 2026; the next round usually opens early in the year
    Official page for K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility
  • FoundationMaster's, PhD and postdoctoral

    J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship

    J N Tata Endowment (Tata Trusts)

    Value
    Loan scholarship; the amount is decided case by case after an interview
    Who can apply
    Indians who have completed their undergraduate studies at a recognised Indian university, going abroad for higher studies. Selection is on merit only.
    Deadline or window
    The 2026–27 form window ran from 5 January to 29 March 2026; expect a similar window in early 2027
    Official page for J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility
  • FoundationMaster's

    Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship

    Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation

    Value
    Full or part scholarships given as repayable, interest-free financial assistance (amount not fixed)
    Who can apply
    Merit-based, for Indian students of academic excellence going on to postgraduate study in India or abroad. Check the official page for fields and other conditions.
    Deadline or window
    Applications are closed for now; check the official page for the next call
    Official page for Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Check my eligibility

Scholarship calendar for 2027 entry

Scholarship calendar
WhenWhat to do
October to November 2026Prepare for the 1 December deadlines at TU Delft and Leiden.
1 December 2026Leiden Excellence Scholarship and TU Delft Van Effen Scholarship deadlines.
October 2026 to January 2027Erasmus Mundus deadlines; UvA Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (15 January 2027).
February to May 2027NL Scholarship deadlines are set by each participating institution.

Eligibility and documents

What selectors usually look for

  • Excellent grades, often in the top 10% of your class.
  • Admission, or a complete application, to an eligible programme.
  • Non-EEA nationality and no Dutch degree (for the NL Scholarship).
  • A strong motivation letter and references.

Documents to keep ready

  • Transcripts and degree certificate
  • English test score report
  • Motivation letter
  • CV
  • References
  • Proof of class rank, if available
  • Passport copy

How to apply, step by step

  1. Check which scholarships each programme on your list is eligible for.
  2. Apply for admission before the scholarship deadline; many need a complete admission file first.
  3. Write a scholarship motivation letter that explains your goals and why the programme fits.
  4. Get references early.
  5. Submit before the deadline and keep the confirmation.
  6. Once awarded, give the award letter to the university for your residence permit.

Want help with your scholarship essay?Our counsellor will review your statement and references so they match your course application.

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Tips to improve your chances

  1. 01

    Apply in October or November

    Scholarship deadlines in December mean you should finish your admission file by November.

  2. 02

    Show your rank

    Excellence awards look for the top 10%. A letter from your college stating your rank can help.

  3. 03

    Count all costs

    Many awards cover tuition only. Check the current living-cost requirement for your residence permit on the official page.

  4. 04

    Look at Erasmus Mundus

    Joint programmes with Dutch partners fully fund top applicants and let you study in more than one country.

Scholarships in the Netherlands: FAQs

Is the NL Scholarship a full scholarship?

No. It is €5,000 paid once in the first year.

Which Dutch scholarships are fully funded?

TU Delft's Van Effen Scholarship covers tuition and living costs, and Erasmus Mundus programmes fully fund top applicants.

When should I apply for Dutch scholarships?

From October, with many deadlines on 1 December or in January for a September start.

Can bachelor's students get scholarships?

Yes, the NL Scholarship covers bachelor's students, but most large awards are for master's.

Sources

  1. Study in NL: NL Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
  2. TU Delft: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
  3. Leiden University: Excellence Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
  4. University of Amsterdam: scholarships (MSc Artificial Intelligence) (opens in a new tab)
  5. EACEA: Erasmus Mundus catalogue (opens in a new tab)

Researched on 26 Oct 2026. Scholarship values, eligibility and deadlines change every year; always confirm on the official page before you apply.

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