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Scholarships & Funding
Funding routes, tuition support and deadlines.
In short
Most funding for international students comes through the NL Scholarship, institution-specific awards, or support from your home country, Dutch government student finance (DUO) is generally only available to eligible EU/EEA students, not international students broadly.
Where to look first
- The NL Scholarship (formerly known as the Holland Scholarship), for non-EEA students at participating institutions.
- Institution and faculty-specific scholarships, check your target university's own funding page.
- The Orange Tulip Scholarship, available in a number of home countries.
- Your home country's government or study-abroad grant schemes, often overlooked, sometimes more generous than Dutch options.
What EU/EEA students can access
Dutch student finance from DUO is possible for eligible EU/EEA/Swiss students, but it isn't automatic, it typically depends on factors like working a minimum number of hours and holding a BSN. Check your own eligibility directly with DUO rather than assuming it applies.
Good to know
- Apply early, many scholarships close six months or more before the academic year starts.
- Funding rarely covers your full living costs, so budget for a gap even if you're awarded something.
- Scholarship names, amounts and eligibility change yearly, always check the current official page before relying on a figure.
Official sources
- Student finance· DUO