The Netherlands is home to some of the world’s most internationally minded universities — and a scholarship system specifically designed to fund students from developing countries who will return home and apply their education.
Wageningen University is the world’s leading agricultural and food sciences university. TU Delft is one of Europe’s top engineering institutions. Leiden, Maastricht, Utrecht, and Groningen are all ranked in the global top 200. And Dutch universities deliver a significant portion of their graduate programs entirely in English.
For international students from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and across the developing world, the Netherlands offers several fully funded and high-value scholarship pathways that are less known — and therefore less competitive — than German or UK alternatives.
This guide covers every major scholarship pathway to studying in the Netherlands in 2026.
Why Study in the Netherlands?
English-medium education. The Netherlands has the highest proportion of English-taught degree programs outside English-speaking countries. Most Master’s programs at Dutch universities are in English.
International academic culture. Dutch universities actively recruit international students and have established English-language infrastructure — housing, health services, banking, and city life all accessible in English.
Research output. The Netherlands ranks in the global top 10 for research impact per capita — particularly strong in water management, agricultural sciences, sustainability, and technology.
Location. The Netherlands’ central position in Europe means travel to Germany, Belgium, France, and the UK is straightforward during your studies.
Work rights. International students in the Netherlands can work up to 16 hours per week during term and full-time in summer on a student visa.
Top Scholarships to Study in the Netherlands 2026
1. Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) — Dutch Government 🇳🇱
The Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) is the Dutch government’s flagship scholarship for mid-career professionals from developing countries — funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition for the selected course
- Living allowance during the program
- Round-trip economy airfare
- Health and travel insurance
- Visa costs
Eligibility:
- Citizens of eligible countries (Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan ✅, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, and others — check nuffic.nl)
- Mid-career professional — minimum 2–5 years of relevant work experience
- Employed at the time of application — must be working and intend to return
- Must be nominated by your employer in eligible sectors (water, food and nutrition security, sexual and reproductive health, private sector development, security and rule of law)
- IELTS 6.0 or equivalent
Pakistan-Specific Note: Pakistan is on OKP’s eligible country list — making this one of the most relevant Dutch scholarships for Pakistani professionals. Professionals working in water management, agriculture, public health, and governance sectors are the strongest applicants.
What OKP Looks For: This is a professional development scholarship — not a research scholarship. Committees want evidence that you will use the course to address a specific professional challenge in your current role, and that your employer and sector will benefit from your new knowledge.
Deadline: Typically January–March 2027 (varies by course cycle)
👉 Free SOP Generator — For OKP personal statement 👉 Free MOI Certificate Generator — MOI Certificate accepted for OKP in some cases
2. Holland Scholarship 🇳🇱
The Holland Scholarship is funded jointly by the Dutch Ministry of Education and participating Dutch universities — providing a one-time financial contribution for international students from outside the EU/EEA.
What’s Covered:
- One-time grant of €5,000
- Does not cover full tuition — but contributes significantly toward it
Eligibility:
- Non-EU/EEA citizens applying for Bachelor’s or Master’s programs at participating Dutch universities
- Strong academic record
- IELTS 6.5 or equivalent
Important Note: The Holland Scholarship is a partial grant — €5,000 toward tuition at Dutch universities that can cost €10,000–€20,000 per year. It is most valuable when combined with a university-level tuition waiver.
How to Apply: Apply through your target Dutch university. Each university manages Holland Scholarship applications separately.
Deadline: January–February 2027 (varies by university)
3. Wageningen University Scholarships 🇳🇱
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is consistently ranked the world’s #1 university for agricultural and food sciences, and the world’s #1 for environmental sciences. For students in these fields, Wageningen is an exceptional destination.
Wageningen Excellence Scholarship (WES):
- Full tuition waiver for the entire Master’s program
- Monthly stipend €500
- Available for non-EU/EEA students
Eligibility:
- Non-EU/EEA citizens admitted to Wageningen Master’s programs
- Academic excellence — typically top 10% of graduating class
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Strongest Programs at Wageningen: Food technology, plant sciences, environmental sciences, international development, nutrition, biotechnology, aquaculture, and landscape architecture. If your field is any of these — Wageningen should be your first choice.
Deadline: January 2027 (scholarship) — admission closes February 2027
4. TU Delft Excellence Scholarship 🇳🇱
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) is one of Europe’s leading technical universities — consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 for engineering. Its programs in civil engineering, aerospace engineering, water management, architecture, and applied mathematics are globally recognized.
TU Delft Excellence Scholarship (DESA):
- Full tuition waiver for the Master’s program
- Monthly stipend €700
Eligibility:
- Top international applicants for TU Delft Master’s programs
- Non-EU/EEA citizens
- Academic excellence — typically top 5–10% of applicants
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Strongest Programs at TU Delft: Water management, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, architecture, and sustainable energy.
Why TU Delft for International Students: Delft’s water management programs are among the most globally recognized — graduates return to lead infrastructure projects in developing countries. For students from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and other flood- or water-management-sensitive nations, TU Delft has direct relevance.
Deadline: January–February 2027
5. Utrecht University Excellence Scholarship 🇳🇱
Utrecht University — one of the Netherlands’ oldest and most prestigious universities — offers the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship for outstanding international applicants.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition waiver, or
- Full tuition waiver + monthly stipend €1,000
Eligibility:
- Non-EU/EEA citizens admitted to Utrecht Master’s programs
- Top 10% of graduating class
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Strongest Programs at Utrecht: Sustainability, life sciences, geosciences, humanities, law, social sciences, and medicine. Utrecht is particularly strong in sustainability research — the Copernicus Institute is one of Europe’s leading sustainability research centers.
Deadline: January 2027 (early round preferred)
6. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 🇳🇱
Leiden University — the oldest university in the Netherlands, established in 1575 — offers the Leiden Excellence Scholarship for outstanding international Master’s applicants.
What’s Covered:
- 25%, 50%, or 100% tuition waiver (based on merit)
- Most competitive applicants receive 100% waiver
Eligibility:
- Non-EU/EEA citizens applying to most Leiden Master’s programs
- Excellent academic record — top 10%
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Strongest Programs at Leiden: International relations, political science, law, area studies, archaeology, humanities, and medicine. Leiden Law School is one of Europe’s most internationally recognized.
Deadline: January–February 2027
7. Erasmus Mundus Programs at Dutch Universities 🇪🇺
Several major Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programs include Dutch universities — providing the most generous scholarship coverage (full tuition + €1,400/month) for study in the Netherlands.
Erasmus Programs With Dutch Partners:
- MESPOM (Environmental Sciences) — includes Dutch partner universities
- EMJMD in Water and Coastal Management — Dutch partner
- EMJMD in Food Safety — Wageningen as partner
- IMBRSea (Marine Biological Resources) — Dutch partner
- EMJMD in Sustainability Science — Dutch university partners
What Erasmus Covers:
- Full tuition at all partner universities
- Monthly living allowance €1,400
- Travel and installation allowance €1,000
- Health insurance and visa costs
Deadline: January–March 2026 (varies by program)
👉 Read our Erasmus Mundus Scholarships 2026 Guide
8. Groningen University Scholarship 🇳🇱
University of Groningen — ranked in the global top 100 — offers the Groningen Scholarship for non-EU international students.
What’s Covered:
- Partial to full tuition waiver (competitive — full waivers go to top applicants)
Eligibility:
- Non-EU/EEA citizens
- Strong academic record
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Deadline: February 2027
How to Apply for Dutch University Scholarships
Step 1 — Apply through Studielink (studielink.nl) All Dutch university applications go through Studielink — the national higher education application portal. Create an account, search for your program, and submit.
Step 2 — University scholarship applications Most Dutch university scholarships (Wageningen WES, TU Delft DESA, Utrecht Excellence, Leiden LExS) require a separate application alongside the admission application. Each university has its own scholarship portal or form.
Step 3 — Holland Scholarship Apply for Holland Scholarship through your target university’s financial aid page — separate from but often linked to the admission application.
Step 4 — OKP (if eligible) Apply through nuffic.nl — the Dutch organization for internationalization in education. OKP has its own separate application process.
Step 5 — Erasmus Mundus (if applicable) Apply directly through the consortium portal — completely separate from Studielink.
IELTS Requirements for Dutch Scholarships
| Scholarship/University | Min IELTS | Alternative | MOI? |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKP | 6.0 | TOEFL 80 | Some cases ✅ |
| Holland Scholarship | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | ❌ |
| Wageningen WES | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | ❌ |
| TU Delft DESA | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | ❌ |
| Utrecht Excellence | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | ❌ |
| Leiden LExS | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | ❌ |
| Erasmus Mundus | 6.5 | TOEFL 90 | Some ✅ |
📖 Use our Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests to prepare.
Free Tools for Your Netherlands Scholarship Application
- 📄 Free SOP Generator — Statement of Purpose
- 💌 Free Motivation Letter Generator — For Dutch scholarship motivation letters
- 📑 Free CV Builder — Academic CV
- 📜 Free Reference Letter Generator — For academic references
- 📋 Free MOI Certificate Generator — For OKP applications
- 📖 Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice — IELTS 6.5 preparation
- 📃 Free Letter of Intent Generator — For university applications
FAQ — Netherlands Scholarships 2026
Q: Can Pakistani students apply for Netherlands scholarships?
Yes. Pakistan is on the OKP eligible country list — making OKP the primary Dutch government scholarship for Pakistani professionals. Dutch university scholarships (Wageningen, TU Delft, Utrecht, Leiden) are open to all non-EU students including Pakistanis.
Q: Is studying in the Netherlands free?
Not free — but several scholarships (Wageningen WES, TU Delft DESA, Utrecht Excellence) provide full tuition waivers. Combined with OKP or Holland Scholarship for living costs, the total cost for scholarship holders can be close to zero.
Q: Which Dutch university is best for scholarships?
Wageningen University has one of the strongest international scholarship programs — the WES covers full tuition plus a monthly stipend. TU Delft DESA is equally strong for engineering students.
Q: Do Dutch scholarships require IELTS?
Yes — most Dutch scholarships and universities require IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90. OKP accepts lower scores (6.0) and may consider MOI in some cases.
Q: How competitive are Dutch scholarships?
Dutch university scholarships (WES, DESA, Utrecht Excellence) are highly competitive — typically awarded to the top 5–10% of international applicants. OKP is also competitive — particularly in eligible sectors like water, agriculture, and public health.
Q: What is the best field to study in the Netherlands?
Water management and agricultural sciences at Wageningen and TU Delft are globally unmatched. Sustainability science at Utrecht. International relations and law at Leiden. Computer science and engineering at TU Delft.