VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme (VUFP) for International Master's Students

The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) lets talented prospective non-EU/EEA students study a Master's degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The award covers tuition fees. Applying for the VUFP also puts you forward for the NL Scholarship, with no separate application needed.

• Host: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Level: English-taught Master's degree programmes
• Who can apply: non-EU/EEA students
• Awards: 20-25 scholarships per year
• What is covered: tuition fees; NL Scholarship is a contribution towards living costs
• Deadlines: register in Studielink by 1 December 2026; submit the VUFP application by 1 February 2027
• Course starts: September 2027

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.

English-taught Master's degree programmes offered at the university. Any field taught in English at the university is open, as long as the programme meets the conditions below.

20-25 scholarships per year.

Non-EU/EEA students.

The VUFP covers your tuition fees. It does not include any extra allowance for study or living costs.

The scholarship can be granted for a one-year or two-year Master's programme. For a two-year programme, it is extended into the second year only if you have achieved 100% of the credits of the first year.

When you apply for the VUFP, you automatically also apply for the NL Scholarship, so no separate application is needed. If granted, the NL Scholarship is a contribution towards living costs and is awarded only for the first year of your study programme.

• You hold a non-EU/EEA passport and are not eligible for the lower tuition fee.
• You do not have Dutch nationality.
• You can prove academic excellence (GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8).
• You are conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master's programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting September 2027. Students starting in February cannot apply, and joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are excluded from the VUFP.
• The degree you use to seek admission was not obtained in the Netherlands.
• You do not need to complete a preparatory programme before your Master's starts.

Applications open 1 November 2026.

You must have applied and been conditionally admitted to the Master's programme before you can apply for the VUFP scholarship.

Register for a Master's programme in Studielink by 1 December 2026 (registration opens 1 October 2026). Then submit your VUFP application together with supporting documents in your VU dashboard before 1 February 2027 (from 1 November 2026).

Visit the official website (link below) to reach the application portals and read detailed instructions on how to apply.

This award suits a non-EU/EEA student who has a strong academic record and wants to take a full-time English-taught Master's at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting September 2027. Your previous degree must have been earned outside the Netherlands, and you should not need a preparatory programme first.

It fits best if you are ready to be admitted to the Master's programme early, since admission has to be in place before the scholarship application can go in.

• Who can apply for the VUFP? Non-EU/EEA students without Dutch nationality who are admitted to a full-time English-taught Master's at VU Amsterdam and can show a GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.
• What does the scholarship cover? Tuition fees only. It gives no extra allowance for study or living costs, though applying also enters you for the NL Scholarship, a contribution towards living costs.
• What are the deadlines? Register in Studielink by 1 December 2026 and submit your VUFP application with supporting documents by 1 February 2027.
• Can I apply if I start in February? No. Students starting in February cannot apply, and joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not run the admission process are excluded.
• Do I need a separate application for the NL Scholarship? No. Your VUFP application also counts as your NL Scholarship application.
• How many awards are there? 20-25 scholarships per year.

• Read the official scholarship guidelines first so you know which documents are required and how the portal works.
• Prepare your transcripts, degree certificates and proof of academic standing early, since you need admission in place before applying.
• Check the English language requirement of your chosen Master's programme and book any test well ahead of the deadline.
• Keep copies of everything you upload, and make sure your name and details match your admission records.
• Submit before the deadline rather than on the final day, in case the portal is busy.