Radboud Scholarship Programme
It Cuts Your Tuition by Around €15,000 — and Pays Your Visa and Insurance Too
Most partial scholarships hand you a fixed sum and leave the rest. Radboud does something more useful: it reclassifies what you pay.
A Radboud Scholarship will reduce your tuition fee to €2,694.-. For example: a grant holder in 2026/2027 will pay a tuition fee of only €2,694.- instead of €18,000 (depending on your programme). The scholarship also covers costs for visa, residence permit, health insurance and liability insurance for your stay in the Netherlands (Aon Student Insurance). The costs of living and studying in the Netherlands are not covered by the scholarship.
| Item | Without scholarship | With scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | ~€18,000 | €2,694 |
| Visa | You pay | ✅ Covered |
| Residence permit | You pay | ✅ Covered |
| Health insurance | You pay | ✅ Covered |
| Liability insurance | You pay | ✅ Covered |
| Living costs | You pay | ❌ You pay |
That is roughly €15,000 off tuition, plus another €1,500–€2,000 in visa, permit and insurance costs you would otherwise fund yourself.
Scholarship recipients pay the statutory tuition fee (EU/EEA rate) instead of the full non-EU/EEA tuition fee.
In effect, you are charged as a Dutch student rather than an international one. That is a materially different proposition from a €5,000 grant.
The catch: living costs are entirely yours, and there are only 33 awards.
⭐ There Is No Separate Scholarship Application
There is no separate scholarship application. Applicants must apply for admission to an eligible Master’s programme through the Radboud University application system, indicate their interest in the scholarship during this process, and submit all required documents.
You can apply by indicating during your application for admission for a Master’s programme in the OSIRIS Application system that you wish to apply for a Radboud Scholarship. You will then be requested to upload three additional documents: two reference letters and a curriculum vitae.
The Whole Process
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Apply for admission to an eligible English-taught Master’s via OSIRIS |
| 2 | ⭐ Tick the box indicating you want a Radboud Scholarship |
| 3 | Upload three extra documents: two reference letters + a CV |
| 4 | Submit by 31 January, 23:59 CEST |
Three extra documents. That is the entire additional burden.
⚠️ But the reference letters matter. Two academic references, requested in December for a January deadline, is tight. Contact your referees in November.
⚠️ Only 33 Awards — and Your Faculty Determines Your Odds
For 2027/2028, a maximum of 33 Radboud Scholarships are available: Faculty of Arts (2), Faculty of Law (5), Nijmegen School of Management (4), Faculty of Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies (2), Faculty of Science (11), and Faculty of Social Sciences (4).
2027/2028 Allocation
| Faculty | Scholarships |
|---|---|
| Faculty of Science | ⭐ 11 |
| Faculty of Law | 5 |
| Nijmegen School of Management | 4 |
| Faculty of Social Sciences | 4 |
| Faculty of Arts | 2 |
| Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies | 2 |
| Total | 33 |
⭐ Science Holds a Third of All Awards
The Faculty of Science has 11 of 33 places — a third of the entire programme. For applicants in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computing science, molecular life sciences or environmental science, this is the single best-odds faculty at Radboud.
⚠️ The Split Changes Every Year
For 2026/2027, a maximum of 33 Radboud Scholarships are available at the following faculties: Faculty of Arts (4), Faculty of Law (4), Nijmegen School of Management (6), Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies (3), Faculty of Science (8), Faculty of Social Sciences (8).
| Faculty | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | 4 | 2 |
| Law | 4 | 5 |
| Management | 6 | 4 |
| Philosophy/Theology | 3 | 2 |
| Science | 8 | ⭐ 11 |
| Social Sciences | 8 | 4 |
Social Sciences halved. Science grew by three. The university gives each faculty the power to decide, based on professional needs and capabilities, according to specialisation.
⚠️ Check the current year’s allocation before assuming your odds.
Eligibility
You hold a non-EU/non-EEA passport. You are not eligible for EU/EEA tuition fees for any reason. And You have obtained, or will obtain, a Bachelor’s degree outside the Netherlands. And You have not previously earned a degree in the Netherlands. You meet the English language proficiency requirements of your chosen Master’s programme. You have been fully admitted to an English-taught Master’s programme starting 1 September. And You meet the requirements for obtaining a Dutch student visa.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passport | ✅ Non-EU / non-EEA |
| EU/EEA fee eligibility | ❌ Must not qualify for the lower rate by any other route |
| Bachelor’s degree | Obtained (or to be obtained) outside the Netherlands |
| Prior Dutch degree | ❌ None |
| Prior Dutch education | ❌ None, exchange programmes excluded, provided they were part of your foreign Bachelor’s |
| English proficiency | Per your programme’s requirement |
| Admission | ⚠️ Full admission required, starting 1 September |
| Dutch visa | Must meet visa requirements |
| Enrolment | Full-time, for the programme the scholarship is awarded for |
❌ Excluded Programmes
With the exception of Erasmus Mundus Master’s programmes and joint-degree Master’s programmes.
| Excluded | Reason |
|---|---|
| ❌ Erasmus Mundus Master’s | Already externally funded |
| ❌ Joint-degree Master’s | Multi-institution structure |
| ❌ Dutch-taught programmes | English-taught only |
⭐ The Exchange Exception
If you did a semester abroad in the Netherlands as part of your foreign Bachelor’s degree, that does not disqualify you. Only a Dutch degree or standalone Dutch education does.
⚠️ Two-Year Master’s: You Must Pass Everything
In case you are selected as a scholarship recipient and you are admitted to a two-year Master’s programme: to qualify for the grant again for the second year, you need to have passed all courses in the first year.
| Programme | Renewal condition |
|---|---|
| One-year Master’s | N/A |
| Two-year Master’s | ⚠️ Must pass ALL first-year courses |
Not “satisfactory progress.” Not “most courses.” All of them.
One failed module in year one and you revert to the full ~€18,000 international rate for year two. Many Dutch research Master’s are two years, check your programme length and plan accordingly.
Deadline
You must have submitted your application in the online OSIRIS Application system on 31 January 23:59 CEST at the latest.
The main application deadline for the Radboud Scholarship (which is part of the Master’s admission process) is usually January 31st for programs starting in September.
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Applications open | ~October–November |
| Deadline | 31 January, 23:59 CEST |
| Studies begin | 1 September |
Working Backwards
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| September–October | Identify eligible English-taught Master’s; check the faculty allocation |
| October | Sit IELTS/TOEFL if not already done |
| November | ⚠️ Ask your two referees, give them 6+ weeks |
| December | Draft your CV; prepare transcripts |
| Early January | Complete the OSIRIS admission application; tick the scholarship box |
| Mid-January | Upload references + CV |
| Before 31 January | Submit, do not leave it to the final day |
Honest Cost Planning
Master’s at Radboud With the Scholarship
| Item | Approximate |
|---|---|
| Tuition (with scholarship) | €2,694 |
| Visa + residence permit | ✅ Covered |
| Health + liability insurance | ✅ Covered |
| Living costs, Nijmegen (12 months) | €9,000–€12,000 |
| Flights | €500–€900 |
| Your total remaining cost | ~€12,000–€16,000 |
Without the Scholarship
| Item | Approximate |
|---|---|
| Tuition | €18,000 |
| Visa, permit, insurance | €1,500–€2,000 |
| Living + flights | €9,500–€12,900 |
| Total | ~€29,000–€33,000 |
The scholarship saves roughly €17,000 over a one-year Master’s and around €34,000 over two years, if you pass everything.
⭐ Nijmegen Is Affordable
Nijmegen is a mid-sized university city in the east of the Netherlands, cheaper than Amsterdam, Utrecht or Rotterdam. Living costs typically run €750–€1,000 per month.
⚠️ The residence permit still requires proof of funds, roughly €14,000–€15,000 in a bank account, regardless of the scholarship. Plan for this; it is a visa requirement, not a cost.
Radboud vs the NL Scholarship
| Feature | Radboud Scholarship | NL Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ⭐ ~€15,000 tuition reduction | €5,000 grant |
| Visa + permit | ✅ Covered | ❌ |
| Insurance | ✅ Covered | ❌ |
| Duration | Full programme (if you pass) | First year only |
| Awards | 33 at one university | Across 41 institutions |
| Separate form | ❌ Tick a box in OSIRIS | ❌ Via the institution |
| Deadline | 31 January | 1 Feb – 1 May (varies) |
| Level | Master’s only | Bachelor’s + Master’s |
⭐ These are not mutually exclusive. Radboud participates in the NL Scholarship too, check with the university whether both can be held together, since combining a tuition reduction with a €5,000 grant would close most of your funding gap.
Who This Suits
✅ Strong fit if you:
- Hold a non-EEA passport and have no prior Dutch degree
- Are applying to the Faculty of Science (11 of 33 places)
- Have outstanding academic results, this is explicitly selective
- Can fund roughly €12,000–€16,000 of living costs
- Can secure two academic references by January
- Are confident of passing every first-year course (for two-year programmes)
❌ Poor fit if you:
- Need living costs covered, this is tuition and admin only
- Are applying to Erasmus Mundus or joint-degree programmes
- Already hold a Dutch degree
- Cannot obtain full admission before the January deadline
Quick Reference
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Radboud Scholarship Programme (RSP) |
| University | Radboud University, Nijmegen |
| Type | Partial, tuition reduction, not a grant |
| Tuition with award | €2,694 (instead of ~€18,000) |
| Effective saving | ~€15,000/year |
| Also covers | ✅ Visa • residence permit • health insurance • liability insurance (Aon) |
| Does NOT cover | ❌ Living costs, accommodation, food, travel, study materials |
| Awards | 33 maximum |
| 2027/28 split | Science 11 • Law 5 • Management 4 • Social Sciences 4 • Arts 2 • Philosophy/Theology 2 |
| Level | English-taught Master’s only |
| Excluded | ❌ Erasmus Mundus • joint-degree programmes |
| Nationality | Non-EU / non-EEA |
| Prior Dutch degree | ❌ Disqualifies |
| Exchange in NL | ⭐ Allowed if part of your foreign Bachelor’s |
| Admission | ⚠️ Full admission required |
| Application | ⭐ No separate form, tick the box in OSIRIS |
| Extra documents | 2 reference letters + CV |
| Deadline | 31 January, 23:59 CEST |
| Two-year renewal | ⚠️ Must pass ALL first-year courses |
| Studies begin | 1 September |
| Official site | ru.nl/en/education/scholarships |
FAQ
How much is the Radboud Scholarship worth?
It reduces your tuition fee to €2,694 instead of around €18,000, and also covers visa, residence permit, health insurance and liability insurance.
Does it cover living costs?
No, the costs of living and studying in the Netherlands are not covered.
How many scholarships are available?
A maximum of 33, split across six faculties. For 2027/28, the Faculty of Science has 11.
Is there a separate application form?
No, you indicate your interest during your Master’s admission application in OSIRIS. You then upload two reference letters and a curriculum vitae.
Who is eligible?
Non-EU/non-EEA passport holders with a Bachelor’s obtained outside the Netherlands, no previous Dutch degree, who meet English requirements and have been fully admitted to an English-taught Master’s.
Which programmes are excluded?
Erasmus Mundus Master’s programmes and joint-degree Master’s programmes.
What if I did an exchange in the Netherlands?
Exchange programmes are excluded from the disqualification, provided they were part of the Bachelor’s degree achieved outside the Netherlands.
How do I keep it for a second year?
For a two-year Master’s, you need to have passed all courses in the first year.
When is the deadline?
31 January at 23:59 CEST.
Free Application Tools
- Motivation Letter: Motivation Letter Generator
- SOP / Study Plan: SOP Generator
- CV: Free CV Builder
- Reference Letter: Reference Letter Generator
- MOI Certificate (if needed): MOI Generator
- Research Proposal (PhD): Research Proposal Generator