Last updated: October 28, 2026 | Category: Europe Scholarships | Study Tribune Team
Quick answer: The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship is a full TU Delft scholarship for excellent international master’s students. TU Delft offers 16 awards, two per faculty, for a regular two-year MSc starting in 2027. Each award covers full tuition fees and a contribution to living expenses. The deadline is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET, and successful applicants are told by email by the end of March 2027. You apply by completing your MSc application and uploading a scholarship form, one reference letter and your English certificate.
The van Effen Scholarship is one of the few fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands that is open to excellent international applicants, and it is the best-known TU Delft scholarship for international students. This guide explains what the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship covers, who can apply, how to apply, the documents you need and the timeline to March 2027. For other Dutch awards, see our guide to scholarships in the Netherlands for international students.
In this guide: the scholarship at a glance, what it covers, who can apply, how to apply, documents, timeline, how to strengthen your application, the other TU Delft scholarship, mistakes and FAQs.
Table of Contents
Van Effen Scholarship at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Provider | TU Delft |
| Level | Regular two-year MSc starting September 2027 |
| Awards | 16 full scholarships, two per faculty |
| What it covers | Full tuition fees and a contribution to living expenses |
| Living contribution | Set in the award letter (TU Delft does not publish one figure) |
| Selection | Faculty selection committees, after a positive admission assessment |
| Academic level | Excellent results; as an indication, the top 10% of graduates |
| Deadline | 1 December 2026, 23:59 CET |
| Results | By email by the end of March 2027 |
| Other scholarships | Not allowed together with this award |
| Not covered | Flights and accommodation |
What the Van Effen Scholarship Covers
The TU Delft Excellence Scholarship named after Justus and Louise van Effen is a full award, not a partial grant. According to TU Delft, it includes:
- Tuition fees: full tuition for your MSc at the statutory or institutional rate that applies to your nationality.
- Living expenses: a monthly contribution. TU Delft’s FAQ says the amount varies by scholarship and that payment starts at the end of September, with the first payment between late September and mid-October. You must be in the Netherlands, enrolled and have a Dutch bank account.
- Duration: the two years of the MSc. To receive funding in the second year, you must complete at least 48 of 60 ECTS in the first year, and TU Delft does not fund anything beyond two years.
Flights and accommodation are not covered, and TU Delft’s FAQ cites about €1,500 as the approximate cost of settling in for new students from outside the Netherlands, so plan for it. Holders may not receive any other partial or full scholarship, and TU Delft advises against part-time work because it may affect your studies. The award also depends on you meeting all admission criteria and staying enrolled at TU Delft. Full terms are in the award letter.
Who Can Apply for the Van Effen Scholarship
- Applicant: an excellent international applicant who is conditionally admitted, or admitted, to a regular two-year TU Delft MSc programme.
- Programme: not an International Joint Education Programme. TU Delft’s FAQ also lists some programmes as not eligible for scholarships, including Applied Geophysics and Industrial Ecology, so check the current list.
- Academic record: excellent results in relevant previous study. As an indication, you should be among the top 10% of graduates in your previous programme, but TU Delft does not require proof of ranking.
- Application: a complete MSc application submitted before the scholarship deadline.
- Age: TU Delft’s scholarship FAQ says applicants for the Justus van Effen Scholarship must not be older than 35 on 1 September of their first year. The current award page does not repeat this, so confirm it before you apply.
You cannot apply if you are a TU Delft BSc student, if you hold a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university or if you have already started studying at TU Delft. Students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Kenya and other countries can apply if they meet these rules and can meet Dutch visa conditions.
How to Apply for the Van Effen Scholarship, Step by Step
- Choose a regular two-year MSc. Pick a regular two-year TU Delft MSc programme that is not an International Joint Education Programme, and check its admission requirements.
- Complete your MSc application. Submit your diploma, transcript, English certificate, motivation letter, CV and proof of identity, plus GRE results if your programme asks for them.
- Upload the Scholarship Application Form. Use the current form from TU Delft’s scholarships page and submit it with your MSc application.
- Upload one reference letter. Submit one reference letter as a single PDF. If you have two letters, combine them into one file.
- Add your English certificate. Upload your English language certificate unless you are exempt, before the deadline.
- Submit before 1 December 2026. Finish everything by 23:59 CET, or earlier if your programme’s own deadline comes first, then wait for an email by the end of March 2027.
You do not need an admission decision before the scholarship deadline, because TU Delft considers conditionally admitted students. But the scholarship deadline is not always the first one: TU Delft’s FAQ says to apply before whichever comes first, your programme’s deadline or the scholarship deadline. Selection takes place only after a positive admission assessment.
Documents for the Van Effen Scholarship
TU Delft asks for these items:
- Diploma and transcript
- English language certificate, unless you are exempt
- Motivation letter and CV
- Proof of identity
- Scholarship Application Form
- One reference letter as a single PDF
- GRE results, if your programme requires them
The reference letter is the part you need to plan, because you need someone who can compare you with other students. Our guides to a recommendation letter for a scholarship and a personal statement for a scholarship can help with your motivation letter. Each programme sets its own English requirement, so see our English proficiency certificate guide if you need a certificate.
Van Effen Scholarship Timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 December 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for your MSc application and scholarship documents |
| After your admission assessment | Faculty selection committees choose the awardees |
| By the end of March 2027 | Successful applicants are told by email. If you get no email, you were not selected |
| September 2027 | MSc programme starts |
| Late September to mid-October 2027 | First living-expenses payment, if you are in the Netherlands, enrolled and have a Dutch bank account |
| End of the first year | You need at least 48 of 60 ECTS to keep the second-year funding |
Our scholarship deadlines hub tracks other closing dates.
How to Strengthen Your Van Effen Scholarship Application
TU Delft calls these scholarships extremely limited and highly competitive. These steps help:
- Show your ranking. The top 10% is only an indication, but tell the committee where you stand and why.
- Match your studies to the programme. TU Delft looks at how relevant your previous study is.
- Use your single reference letter well. Choose a referee who knows your work and can say how you compare with peers.
- Write a focused motivation letter. Explain why this MSc at TU Delft fits your background and plans.
- Submit early. A file that misses 23:59 CET on 1 December is not reviewed.
- Keep a back-up. You cannot hold another scholarship alongside this one, but you should still apply to other awards in case you are not selected.
Another TU Delft Scholarship: Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics)
TU Delft also offers up to two partial tuition scholarships for the two-year MSc in Electrical Engineering, track Microelectronics, financed through the Faculty of EEMCS. You need a bachelor’s GPA of at least 80% of the scale maximum from an internationally renowned university outside the Netherlands. Extension to the second year requires an average grade of 8.0 in the first year. The deadline is also 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET, and you apply in the same way. It is a separate scheme, so do not mix the two forms.
Van Effen Scholarship and Other Dutch Awards
Study in NL’s 2026-27 list of participating research universities for the NL Scholarship does not include TU Delft, so that grant is not a back-up for TU Delft students. Compare other options in our guide to scholarships in the Netherlands for international students, and see our NL Scholarship guide for the smaller grant.
Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for the Van Effen Scholarship
- Missing the deadline. 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET is strict, and an incomplete file is not reviewed.
- Choosing the wrong programme. The award is for regular two-year MSc programmes, not International Joint Education Programmes.
- Sending two reference letters as separate files. Combine them into one PDF.
- Forgetting the English certificate. Upload it unless you are exempt.
- Planning on a second scholarship. TU Delft does not allow another partial or full scholarship alongside this award.
- Ignoring living costs. The contribution is not a full allowance, and flights and accommodation are not covered.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Van Effen Scholarship
Is the van Effen Scholarship fully funded?
It covers full tuition fees and a contribution to living expenses, so it is one of the strongest TU Delft scholarships for international students. It does not cover flights or accommodation, and the monthly living contribution is set in your award letter.
How many van Effen Scholarships does TU Delft award?
TU Delft lists 16 full scholarships for regular MSc programmes, two per faculty. The scholarships are described as extremely limited and highly competitive.
What is the deadline for the van Effen Scholarship in 2027?
The deadline is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET for the 2027-28 intake. TU Delft says a file that misses the deadline will not be reviewed, and successful applicants are told by email by the end of March 2027.
Who can apply for the van Effen Scholarship?
You must be an excellent international applicant who is conditionally admitted to a regular two-year TU Delft MSc programme that is not an International Joint Education Programme. As an indication, TU Delft expects you to be among the top 10% of graduates in your previous programme, although proof of ranking is not required.
How do I apply for the van Effen Scholarship?
Complete your MSc application, then upload the Scholarship Application Form, one reference letter as a single PDF and your English language certificate unless you are exempt. Everything must be in before the scholarship deadline.
Do I need to be admitted before I apply for the van Effen Scholarship?
No. TU Delft says you do not need an admission decision before the scholarship deadline, and conditionally admitted students are considered. Selection happens only after a positive admission assessment, and your MSc application must be complete.
Can I combine the van Effen Scholarship with another scholarship?
No. TU Delft says holders may not receive any other partial or full scholarship funding in addition to this scholarship, and it advises against part-time work because it may affect your studies.
When does TU Delft announce the van Effen Scholarship results?
TU Delft informs successful applicants by email by the end of March 2027. Its scholarship FAQ says only awardees are contacted, so if you receive no email you were not selected, although you can still enrol if you are admitted.
Is there an age limit for the van Effen Scholarship?
TU Delft’s scholarship FAQ says applicants for the Justus van Effen Scholarship must not be older than 35 on 1 September of their first academic year. The current award page does not repeat the rule, so confirm it with TU Delft before you apply.
Can students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria or Kenya apply for the van Effen Scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship is for excellent international applicants, so students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Kenya and other countries can apply if they meet the academic and admission requirements and can meet Dutch visa conditions.
Conclusion
The van Effen Scholarship is one of the best-funded ways to study at TU Delft, but only 16 students win it each year. Check that your programme is a regular two-year MSc, finish your application before 23:59 CET on 1 December 2026 and make your reference letter and motivation letter as specific as you can. Then apply for other awards as well, and use our guide to scholarships in the Netherlands for international students to compare them.
Official Sources
- TU Delft: scholarships for international MSc students
- TU Delft: scholarship FAQ
- Study in NL: NL Scholarship
Related Guides
- Scholarships in the Netherlands for international students
- NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship)
- Europe scholarships for international students
- 50+ fully funded scholarships
- scholarship deadlines
- Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship
Deadlines, amounts and eligibility change every year. Always confirm them with TU Delft before you apply.