2021 Utrecht Excellence Scholarships in Netherlands

All education at Utrecht University is embedded in a vision based on a stimulating study environment and teaching that does justice to the various ambitions and talents of our students. This vision forms the basis for the way in which education is organised at Utrecht University: the Utrecht Educational Model. The four main principles of the Utrecht Educational Model are the following:

A clear distinction between the Bachelor’s and Master’s phase

The aim of undergraduate studies at Utrecht University is to train up academics with a broad focus at the Bachelor’s level, who can go on to specialise in a specific discipline during their Master’s degree programme. The emphasis is on preparation for the labour market or advancement to a subsequent academic programme. 

Flexibility and freedom of choice

In order to do justice to our students’ wide variety of ambitions and talents, the undergraduate phase at Utrecht University is demand driven: alongside a uniform compulsory core curriculum, students are free to put together their own educational programme within the rules laid down by the degree programme regarding level and cohesion. This principle also allows the university to offer honours programmes for students who are seeking an additional challenge.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for an Utrecht Excellence Scholarship, the following criteria must be met:

• Belong to the top 10% of your graduating class:
  an official document issued by your university that proves you are among the top 10% of your graduating class, such as a statement signed and stamped by your University, a reference letter, a class ranking certificate, etc.
• Not hold an EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans;
• Have completed your secondary school and/or Bachelor degree outside the Netherlands;
• Have applied for an international master’s programme with a start date of 1 September, 2021. Not all programmes participate, please check www.uu.nl/masters > master’s programme > Tuition fees and financial support to see if the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is mentioned as a scholarship opportunity;
• Be able to comply with the conditions to obtain a Dutch visa/residence permit.

Failure to meet one or more of these criteria automatically means the student is not eligible for this scholarship.

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

The Utrecht Excellence scholarship can be awarded as:

• tuition fees
  or
• tuition fees plus 11.000 euro living expenses

As the grant is not automatically a full scholarship, it may be necessary to find additional funding to be able to finance your studies and stay completely. Students requiring a residence permit in the Netherlands must prove to the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Office) that they have sufficient financial means. Read more about the budget the University advises.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS

20-25 scholarships will be available for 2021-2022, distributed across the 6 Graduate Schools.

The scholarship is awarded for the duration of the degree programme, which is one or two years, depending on the degree programme. The scholarship will only be renewed for the second year if the student is making satisfactory progress towards the degree.

DEADLINE

Prospective students who wish to be considered for the scholarship must apply before 31 January 2021 (23:59 CET),after which the application portal will be closed. Your application for a scholarship will only be processed if you have submitted an application for a Master’s programme as well. Please note that in some cases you may need to apply before 1 December; check the ‘When to apply’ section under Admission and application of your master’s programme.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Eligible candidates are selected for a scholarship on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Academic excellence and promise in the proposed field of study;
2. The academic quality and results of preceding qualifications, as evidenced by proof of belonging to the top 10% of the class, grades, test scores, a writing sample, letters of recommendation;
3. The quality and relevance of the motivation letter for the Master’s programme (academic content, intercultural and communication skills, personal motivation);
4. The quality of the application for the Master’s programme itself (completeness, accuracy, consistency).

HOW TO APPLY

After submitting an application for the Master’s programme, non-EU/EEA students will have the option to submit an application for an Utrecht Excellence Scholarship from 1 November.

You will need to upload the following document:

• Proof of belonging to the top 10% of your graduating class:
  an official document issued by your university that proves you are among the top 10% of your graduating class, such as a statement signed and stamped by your University, a reference letter, a class ranking certificate, etc.

Please note that students starting their programme in February are not eligible for the Utrecht Excellence Scholarships.

1. Submit an application for a Master’s programme; if you do not do this first, your UES application will simply be deleted.
2. After submitting an application for a Master’s programme, you can go to Osiris Online Application.
3. Log in with your Osiris username and password.
4. Click ‘on the link ‘New application’.
5. Answer the UES questions and upload the requested document(s).
6. Submit your application.

You will not be informed whether you have been awarded the scholarship prior to the scholarship deadline and not before you have been (un)conditionally admitted to the programme.

For more information, please visit Official Website.