Last updated: October 28, 2026 | Category: Europe Scholarships | Study Tribune Team
Quick answer: The Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship is a fully funded award for students from outside the EU/EEA who start a listed master’s programme at Maastricht University in 2027-28. It pays tuition, a living allowance of €1,550 a month (€20,150 for a 13-month master’s, €38,750 for a 25-month master’s), health and liability insurance and visa costs. You need a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher and must be 35 or younger on 1 September 2027. Complete your master’s file by 10 December 2026, then submit the scholarship form by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.
Check before you apply: We could not load every part of Maastricht University’s scholarship page when we wrote this guide, and summaries of it differ on the number of awards (18 or 21). The programme list below comes from the university’s own document dated 31 August 2026. Confirm the number of awards, the 10 December date and your programme on Maastricht University’s scholarship page before you pay any handling fee.
The NL-High Potential Scholarship is one of the few fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands, and it is the best-known Maastricht University scholarship for master’s students from abroad, so many applicants compete for a small number of awards. This guide explains what the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship covers, who can apply, which programmes count, the documents the form asks for and the timeline from December 2026 to your start in 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, eligible programmes, how to apply, documents, the selection timeline, how to strengthen your application, mistakes and FAQs.
NL-High Potential Scholarship at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Provider | Maastricht University (UM) |
| Level | Full-time master’s in a listed programme starting in 2027-28 |
| Awards | About 18 to 21 a year (confirm the current number) |
| What it covers | Tuition, living allowance, health and liability insurance, visa costs |
| Living allowance | €1,550 a month: €20,150 for 13 months or €38,750 for 25 months |
| Who can apply | Passport from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname |
| Age limit | 35 or younger on 1 September 2027 |
| GPA | 7.5 out of 10 or higher |
| Master’s file deadline | 10 December 2026 |
| Scholarship form | Open 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET |
| Results | By the beginning of May 2027 (reported) |
| Not covered | Flights |
Table of Contents
What the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship Covers
In short, the NL-High Potential Scholarship suits applicants with strong grades, a listed programme and a clear financial need.
The award is a full package, not a partial grant. Based on the 2027-28 call, it includes:
- Tuition: paid by UM at cost.
- Living allowance: €1,550 a month, which is €20,150 for a one-year (13-month) master’s or €38,750 for a two-year (25-month) master’s. One summary says about €960 of the monthly amount is labelled as housing.
- Insurance: health and liability insurance of €700, arranged by UM.
- Visa: your visa application costs, paid at cost by UM.
- Pre-academic training: a preparatory programme before your master’s, reported to run for two weeks in the first week of August 2027 and to be mandatory.
Flights are not included. The call is also reported to require you to accept a room allocated by UM in your first year, so read the housing terms before you accept an award. The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is reported to combine money from the UM Scholarship Fund with the national NL Scholarship, and you submit one UM form without sending a separate file to Nuffic.
Who Can Apply for the NL-High Potential Scholarship
This Maastricht scholarship for international students is open to people from many countries, but the rules are strict. The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship has these requirements:
- Nationality: a passport from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname. Dual nationality with an EU/EEA country makes you ineligible.
- Visa: you must meet the requirements for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
- Programme: you have applied for full-time admission to a listed UM master’s programme for 2027-28 and meet that programme’s admission requirements.
- Dutch education: you have never followed a degree programme in the Netherlands. Exchange periods are allowed.
- Age: 35 or younger on 1 September 2027.
- GPA: 7.5 out of 10 or higher on your latest transcript.
- Master’s degree: not an eligibility rule, but UM prefers applicants who do not already hold one.
- Ambassador role: you agree to act as a UM NL-High Potential ambassador, including at least one information session during or after your studies.
Students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh and other non-EU/EEA countries can apply if they meet these rules.
Which Master’s Programmes Are Eligible for the NL-High Potential Scholarship?
Only programmes on UM’s list for 2027-28 count. The list we read is UM’s own document dated 31 August 2026 (version 1), and the university may update it, so check the latest list before you choose. Specialisations are listed separately.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- MA Arts and Culture (specialisations: Arts and Heritage; Modern Political Culture; Contemporary Literature and Arts)
- MA European Studies
Faculty of Law
- LLM European Law School (specialisations: European Business Law; European Public Law; General programme; Law for a Sustainable Europe; Law & AI)
- LLM Forensics, Criminology and Law
- LLM Globalisation and Law (specialisations: Corporate and Commercial Law; General programme; Human Rights; International Trade and Investment Law)
- LLM International and European Tax Law (specialisations: International and European Tax Law; Customs and International Supply Chain Taxation; Tax and Technology)
- LLM and MSc Advanced Master in Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- MSc Epidemiology
- MSc Global Health
- MSc Governance and Leadership in European Public Health
- MSc Health and Digital Transformation
- MSc Health Food Innovation Management
- MSc Health Promotion
- MSc Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management
- MSc Human Movement Sciences (specialisations: Health and Rehabilitation; Sports and Nutrition)
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
- MSc Forensic Psychology
- MSc Psychology (specialisation: Developmental Psychology)
- Research Master Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (specialisation: Fundamental Neuroscience)
School of Business and Economics
- MSc Financial Economics
- MSc International Business (specialisations: Accounting and Financial Analysis; Organisation: Management, Change and Consultancy; Strategy and Innovation)
- MSc Learning and Development in Organisations
The list does not show whether each programme lasts one or two years, so check the programme page to see whether your allowance would run for 13 or 25 months.
How to Apply for the NL-High Potential Scholarship, Step by Step
- Choose a listed programme. Check Maastricht University’s 2027-28 list and pick a full-time master’s programme or specialisation that appears on it.
- Apply for admission through Studielink. Submit your programme application and complete your master’s file, including any handling fee, by 10 December 2026.
- Get your UM student number. You need the student number from Studielink to log in to the scholarship form with your UM account.
- Prepare your documents. Gather your CV, motivation letter on UM’s template, transcript or GPA letter, financial-need statement and a reference letter with the referee’s institutional contact details.
- Submit the scholarship form once. Complete and submit the online form by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. You cannot add or replace documents afterwards.
- Wait for selection and plan your move. UM checks files, faculties send shortlists, interviews follow and results are expected by the beginning of May 2027.
Your master’s file is due before the scholarship form closes, so start with admission. The 10 December date was given in summaries of UM’s call, and one of them also printed 2025 by mistake, so confirm it on UM’s page.
Documents the NL-High Potential Scholarship Form Asks For
Summaries of the 2027-28 call list these items. Check the form itself for the current requirements:
- CV of up to two A4 pages
- Motivation letter on UM’s scholarship template
- Latest transcript or official GPA letter with a grade-scale explanation
- Personal statement of financial need
- Reference letter from a professor, lecturer or employer dated February 2026 or later
- Referee’s institutional email address and work phone number
The reference letter should come from a professor, lecturer or employer, not a family member, and UM may call your referee. Our guides to a personal statement for a scholarship and a recommendation letter for a scholarship can help you prepare. If your programme needs an English test, see our English proficiency certificate guide, because each programme sets its own requirement.
NL-High Potential Scholarship Selection Timeline
The dates below combine the confirmed deadlines with the selection steps described in summaries of the call. Items marked reported may change.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | Scholarship form opens |
| 10 December 2026 | Complete master’s file due through Studielink |
| 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET | Scholarship form closes |
| February to March 2027 | UM checks files and faculties send shortlists (reported) |
| March 2027 | Interviews (reported) |
| Beginning of May 2027 | Results: selected, waitlisted or rejected (reported) |
| First week of August 2027 | Pre-academic training (reported) |
| August to September 2027 | Master’s starts |
Our scholarship deadlines hub tracks other closing dates.
How to Strengthen Your NL-High Potential Scholarship Application
A GPA of 7.5 gets you into the pool, but it does not win the award. These steps help:
- Match your programme to your background. Choose a listed programme that fits your degree and work, and explain the link in your motivation letter.
- Use UM’s template. A generic statement of purpose is not what the form asks for.
- Explain financial need plainly. Write what the award would change for you, and keep it factual.
- Pick referees with institutional contact details. A referee with only a personal email address is a risk.
- Submit early. You can submit only once, so keep time to check every document.
- Keep a back-up. Apply for other awards too, because only a few students win.
If you do not win, the NL Scholarship is a smaller back-up. Maastricht University is on Study in NL’s 2026-27 list of participating universities, but the grant is only €5,000 and each university sets its own rules, so read our NL Scholarship guide and Maastricht’s own page.
Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for the NL-High Potential Scholarship
- Missing the admission deadline. The master’s file is due on 10 December 2026, almost two months before the scholarship form closes.
- Choosing a programme that is not on the list. Only listed programmes and specialisations count.
- Having a GPA below 7.5 out of 10. The rule applies to your latest transcript.
- Ignoring the age limit. You must be 35 or younger on 1 September 2027.
- Submitting an incomplete form. You cannot add or replace documents after you submit.
- Relying on summaries. Check the official page for any award you find on a blog, including ours.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NL-High Potential Scholarship
Is the Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship fully funded?
Yes, for most costs. It pays tuition, a living allowance of €1,550 a month, health and liability insurance and visa costs, but it does not pay for flights. It is one of the few fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands.
How much does the NL-High Potential Scholarship pay?
The living allowance is €1,550 a month, which is €20,150 for a 13-month master’s and €38,750 for a 25-month master’s. Maastricht University also pays your tuition, your health and liability insurance (€700) and your visa application costs.
What are the deadlines for the NL-High Potential Scholarship in 2027?
You must complete your master’s file through Studielink by 10 December 2026. The scholarship form is open from 1 October 2026 and closes on 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Results are expected by the beginning of May 2027.
Who can apply for the NL-High Potential Scholarship?
You need a passport from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname, no dual EU/EEA nationality, a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher, and an age of 35 or under on 1 September 2027. You must also apply for a listed full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University and never have followed a degree programme in the Netherlands.
Which master’s programmes are eligible for the NL-High Potential Scholarship?
Only programmes on Maastricht University’s list for 2027-28 count. The version dated 31 August 2026 includes programmes at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience and the School of Business and Economics.
Do I need to be admitted before I apply for the scholarship?
You must apply for a listed master’s programme through Studielink and get a UM student number before you can use the scholarship form. Your master’s file must be complete by 10 December 2026, which is earlier than the scholarship deadline.
Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?
A master’s degree is not an eligibility rule, but Maastricht University gives preference to applicants who do not already hold one. Read the current call before you apply.
Is the NL-High Potential Scholarship the same as the NL Scholarship?
No. The NL Scholarship is a one-time grant of €5,000 and is not a full scholarship. The NL-High Potential Scholarship is a full award that is reported to be funded by Maastricht University’s scholarship fund together with the NL Scholarship. Our NL Scholarship guide explains the smaller grant.
Can students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria or Kenya apply?
Yes, if you hold a passport from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname and meet the other rules, including the GPA, age and programme requirements. You also need to qualify for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
How many students win the NL-High Potential Scholarship?
Maastricht University funds a small number of awards each year. Summaries of the 2027-28 call give 18 or 21, so confirm the current number on the university’s scholarship page.
Conclusion
The Maastricht NL-High Potential Scholarship is one of the best-funded routes to a Dutch master’s, but it is also one of the hardest to win. Check that your programme is on the list, finish your master’s file by 10 December 2026 and submit a careful form by 1 February 2027. Then apply for other awards as well, and use our guide to scholarships in the Netherlands for international students to compare them.
Official Sources
- Maastricht University: NL-High Potential scholarship
- Maastricht University: participating programmes for the NL High Potential Scholarship 2027-2028 (31 August 2026)
- 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 and scholarship deadlines.
Deadlines, amounts and eligibility change every year. Always confirm them with Maastricht University before you apply.