Hey future global leaders! Dreaming of studying abroad in a vibrant European city? What if we told you there’s an amazing opportunity to make that dream come true, fully funded? Get ready to discover the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarships Bursary, your ticket to a world-class Master’s degree in the Netherlands!
The Maastricht University (UM) NL-High Potential Scholarship programme is designed for seriously talented students from outside the European Union (like South Africa!) who want to pursue a Master’s degree at UM. This isn’t just any bursary – it’s a full scholarship valued at €36,000, covering your tuition, living expenses, insurance, visa costs, and even pre-academic training. They award 21 of these fantastic opportunities each academic year, giving you the chance to focus on your studies without financial stress.
Who Can Apply?
If you’re reading this from South Africa, listen up! This bursary is specifically for international students from countries outside the EU/EEA. To be eligible, make sure you tick these boxes:
- You hold nationality from a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Surinam, and you meet the requirements for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
- You do not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country.
- You’ve already applied for admission to a full-time Master’s programme at Maastricht University for the 2026-2027 academic year (check their official website for the list of participating programmes!).
- You meet all the specific admission requirements for your chosen UM Master’s programme.
- You haven’t previously completed a degree-seeking higher education, primary, or secondary education programme in the Netherlands. (Exchange students are welcome to apply!).
- Preference is given to candidates who haven’t yet obtained a Master’s degree.
- You will be 35 years of age or younger on 1 September 2026.
- You’ve achieved excellent academic results in your previous education, with a GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
- You’re ready to be an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador, sharing your awesome experiences during and after your studies!
Remember, you can only submit one application, so make sure all your documents are perfect before hitting that submit button!
What Does It Cover?
This bursary is super comprehensive, providing full financial support so you can focus on your studies:
- Living Expenses: Get a generous stipend of €15,925 for a one-year Master’s or €30,625 for a two-year Master’s programme.
- Health and Liability Insurance: Covered for €700.
- Visa Application Costs: Don’t stress about these, they’re covered too!
- Tuition Fees: Your full tuition fees are taken care of.
- Pre-academic Training: Costs for any necessary pre-academic training are included.
The High Potential Scholarship is awarded for the entire duration of your Master’s programme – that’s 13 months for a one-year degree or 25 months for a two-year degree. Sweet deal, right?
How to Apply?
Ready to take the leap? Here’s your step-by-step guide to applying for this incredible bursary:
- Apply for your Master’s Programme: First things first, you need to register for one of the participating Master’s programmes at Maastricht University. You’ll do this via Studielink.
- Get Your Student ID: Once you’ve submitted your Master’s application, you’ll receive a student ID number. You’ll need this for your bursary application! The admission deadline for your Master’s programme when applying for this scholarship is 8 December 2025.
- Complete the Scholarship Application: Log in with your UM account, fill in the scholarship application form, upload all the required documents, and submit your application online.
- Mark Your Calendar: The scholarship application deadline is 1 February 2026, 23:59 CET. Don’t miss it!
Seriously, do yourself a favour and visit the official scholarship website for the most detailed and up-to-date information, the application form, and to explore the participating Master’s programmes.
Official Scholarship Website: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/your-studies-begin/coming-maastricht-university-abroad/um-scholarships-students-abroad
If studying in the Netherlands sounds like your next big adventure, then this Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarships Bursary is definitely worth checking out! Don’t let this amazing opportunity slip by – apply now and start planning your future. Good luck, and remember to explore even more awesome bursaries right here on Bursaries Room!
