Closing Date: 1 December 2026
VU Fellowship Programme 2027–2028: Fully Waived Tuition for International Master’s Students in the Netherlands
Apply for the VU Fellowship Programme 2027–2028 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The scholarship covers tuition fees for outstanding non-EU/EEA master’s students.
Overview
International students seeking a master’s degree in the Netherlands can apply for the VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) 2027–2028 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The competitive scholarship supports academically outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who wish to pursue a full-time, English-taught master’s programme beginning in September 2027.
The VU Fellowship Programme provides a tuition fee waiver, allowing successful applicants to study at one of the Netherlands’ leading research universities without paying the applicable tuition fees. Applicants are also automatically considered for the NL Scholarship, which offers a separate contribution towards living costs to a limited number of recipients.
The scholarship application period opened on 1 November 2026, and the deadline is 1 February 2027 however, the deadlinefor Master’s applications is 1 December 2026.
About the VU Fellowship Programme
The VU Fellowship Programme is a merit-based scholarship initiative offered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam). The university has committed approximately €1 million towards attracting highly motivated and academically excellent international students.
The programme targets prospective master’s students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, strong motivation and the potential to contribute to the university’s international academic community.
VUFP scholarships are available for eligible one-year and two-year master’s programmes. Students enrolled in two-year programmes can receive continued tuition fee support for the second year, provided they obtain 100% of the required European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits during their first year.
Benefits of the VU Fellowship Programme
The main benefit of the VU Fellowship Programme is a full tuition fee waiver for the selected master’s programme.
Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Full coverage of tuition fees for an eligible master’s programme.
- The opportunity to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
- Access to an international academic environment and research opportunities.
- Automatic consideration for the NL Scholarship, without submitting a separate application.
- The opportunity to become an international student ambassador and engage with prospective students.
Additional NL Scholarship
Applicants who submit a VUFP application are automatically considered for the NL Scholarship. However, receiving a VUFP award does not guarantee an NL Scholarship.
The NL Scholarship provides a one-time contribution of €5,000 towards living costs. It is awarded only for the first year of study, and VU Amsterdam has approximately 20–25 NL Scholarships available annually. Only a small number of VUFP recipients will receive this additional funding.
Important: The VU Fellowship Programme does not cover accommodation, food, insurance or other living expenses. Applicants must demonstrate that they can finance these costs independently.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the VU Fellowship Programme 2027–2028, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a passport from a non-EU/EEA country and not qualify for the lower statutory tuition fee.
- Not hold Dutch nationality.
- Demonstrate excellent academic performance, with a bachelor’s degree GPA equivalent to at least 8.0 on the Dutch grading scale.
- Have conditional or unconditional admission to the first year of a full-time, English-taught master’s programme at VU Amsterdam starting in September 2027.
- Not have obtained the degree used for admission from an institution in the Netherlands.
- Not currently be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s programme at a Dutch educational institution.
- Not require a preparatory programme before starting the master’s degree.
Students applying for programmes beginning in February are not eligible. Joint master’s programmes for which VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are also excluded.
The university assesses international grades using its own grade-conversion methodology. Applicants should not attempt to convert their grades themselves. Meeting the minimum GPA requirement also does not guarantee selection, as motivation, academic performance and other application factors are considered.
How to Apply for the VU Fellowship Programme 2027–2028
The application process involves two main stages.
Step 1: Apply for a master’s programme
Register for an eligible full-time, English-taught master’s programme through Studielink and complete the application in your personal VU dashboard.
You must receive conditional or unconditional admission before submitting your VUFP application. The university advises prospective scholarship applicants to submit their master’s applications by 1 December 2026. Some programmes may require earlier applications.
Step 2: Submit the VUFP application
Complete the official VUFP-NLS application form for the 2027–2028 academic year. Include your bachelor’s degree transcript or GPA proof and an explanation of your grading scale.
Save the completed application and supporting documents as one PDF file and upload it to the Scholarship section of your personal VU dashboard.
Applicants can apply for the VUFP for only one master’s programme and can submit the scholarship application only once. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
Official Scholarship Information: VU Fellowship Programme – VU Amsterdam
Master’s Application Portal: Studielink
Application Deadline and Important Dates
- Master’s programme applications open: 1 October 2026.
- Recommended master’s application deadline: 1 December 2026.
- VUFP applications open: 1 November 2026.
- VUFP application deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET.
- Expected scholarship results: Mid-March 2027.
- Deadline to accept an award: End of March 2027.
- Master’s programmes begin: September 2027.
Final Remarks
The VU Fellowship Programme 2027–2028 is a valuable opportunity for academically outstanding international students seeking a master’s degree in the Netherlands. Although the award does not cover living expenses, the tuition fee waiver can significantly reduce the cost of postgraduate study.
Prospective applicants should begin their master’s admission applications early, carefully review the eligibility requirements and prepare their scholarship documents before the December and February 2027 deadline.
