Full Program Details
Maastricht University is one of the best-known young universities in Europe, famous for small-group, problem-based teaching. Every year it gives 18 full scholarships to master's students from outside the European Union through its NL-High Potential programme. Only about 2% of applicants win, so it is tough, but it pays for nearly everything, and students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and other African countries are eligible.
The scholarship pays your tuition, a living allowance of EUR 1,550 a month, health and liability insurance, and your visa application costs.
Details at a glance:
- Host: Maastricht University, funded by the UM Scholarship Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
- Level: full-time master's programmes on the 2027-2028 participating list
- Awards: 18 full scholarships
- Location: Maastricht, Netherlands
- Deadline to apply for your master's: 10 December 2026, with a complete file
- Scholarship application window: 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET
What the Scholarship Covers
- Tuition fees, paid directly by the university
- Living expenses of EUR 20,150 for a one-year master's (13 months) or EUR 38,750 for a two-year master's (25 months), which works out to EUR 1,550 a month
- Health and liability insurance arranged and paid by the university
- Visa application costs
- A room in student housing arranged for you, paid from your allowance
Air tickets are not included, and you pay a cleaning fee of about EUR 75 upfront. The housing offered is not suitable for partners, children or pets, and refusing the room cancels the scholarship.
Who Can Apply
- You hold the nationality of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Suriname, with no dual EU/EEA or Swiss nationality
- You have applied to a participating full-time master's programme at Maastricht for 2027-2028 and submitted a complete file before 10 December 2026
- You have not studied in a degree programme in the Netherlands before. Former exchange students can apply.
- You are not older than 35 on 1 September 2027
- Your latest transcript shows a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, or the equivalent
- You agree to act as a UM ambassador during and after your studies
Preference goes to candidates who do not yet hold a master's degree. You can apply only once and for one scholarship.
How to Apply
- Check the list of participating master's programmes for 2027-2028 on the official scholarship page.
- Apply for your master's through Studielink and submit your full application file to Maastricht before 10 December 2026.
- Log in to the UM scholarship form with your UM account. Note that the portal is offline from 22 to 26 October 2026.
- Upload a CV of no more than two A4 pages, a motivation letter written on the university's template, and proof of academic excellence such as your transcript.
- Send your referee the university's reference letter guidelines. The letter must come from a professor, lecturer or employer, using a work email address.
- Make sure you have met all admission requirements and submit the scholarship form before 23:59 CET on 1 February 2027.
Selection Timeline
- Applications checked for completeness: after 1 February 2027
- Faculties rank their top candidates: February and March 2027
- Online interviews for shortlisted candidates: March 2027
- Results: April 2027, with all statuses final by May 2027
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: Strong African graduates under 35 with excellent grades who want a one or two-year master's in Europe and can finish their programme application early.
Who should pause: If you already have a master's degree, your chances drop because preference goes to first-time master's students. If your grades are below the 7.5 out of 10 level, look at other options first.
One tip to stand out: The real deadline is 10 December, not 1 February. Apply to your programme in November so any missing documents can be fixed in time, and use the motivation letter to link your course to a specific problem you want to solve at home.
Read the full rules and the list of participating programmes on the official Maastricht University scholarship page.
