UM NL Global Studies Scholarship 2027-2028
by Maastricht University
What it covers
One full scholarship per academic year for the 2027-2028 intake. It includes a tuition fee waiver, living expenses of €20,150 per academic year (€1,550 per month), health and liability insurance, visa costs, Pre-Academic Training costs, and a room until 16 July 2028 (mandatory). Air tickets and the cleaning fee (approx. €75) are not covered.
Who can apply
Nationality of an OECD Official Development Assistance-eligible country (excluding Suriname), and you must meet visa and residence permit requirements for the Netherlands. No dual nationality from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or Suriname. Must have a complete application to the Global Studies bachelor's at UM for 2027-2028 submitted before 10 December 2026. No prior higher education diploma equivalent to a bachelor degree. Not older than 35 on 1 September 2027. Demonstrable financial need and strong academic results (at least 75% of the maximum grade). Must agree to act as a Global Studies and UM ambassador.
The UM NL Global Studies Scholarship is offered by Maastricht University in the Netherlands. It gives one full scholarship per academic year for the 2027-2028 intake. It is for bachelor students from eligible countries who show financial need and strong academic results, and who have applied to the Global Studies bachelor’s programme.
What you get
- A tuition fee waiver.
- Living expenses of €20,150 per academic year (€1,550 per month).
- Health and liability insurance.
- Visa application costs.
- Pre-Academic Training costs.
- A room until 16 July 2028. The room is mandatory. If you refuse it, the scholarship is cancelled. You must find your own housing for the second and third year.
The scholarship does not cover air tickets. It also does not cover the cleaning fee (about €75), which you pay to Maastricht Housing before you move in.
Who can apply
- You hold the nationality of a country that is eligible for Official Development Assistance from the OECD. Suriname is excluded.
- You meet the visa and residence permit requirements for the Netherlands.
- You do not hold dual nationality with an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or Suriname.
- You submitted a complete application to the Global Studies bachelor’s programme at UM for 2027-2028 before 10 December 2026.
- You do not have a diploma equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- You are not older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
- You show financial need and strong academic results, at least 75% of the maximum grade.
- You agree to act as a Global Studies and UM ambassador during and after your studies.
If you already have a residence permit for another Schengen country, it must be valid until at least 2 September 2027. If it expires earlier, you can apply only from your home country with an MVV visa application.
How to apply
- Apply to the Global Studies bachelor’s programme through Studielink. Complete your admission file before 10 December 2026.
- Receive your UM student ID number.
- Log in with your UM account and fill in the scholarship application form by 1 February 2027.
- Upload your CV, letter of motivation, proof of academic excellence, personal statement of financial needs and a reference letter. Give the contact details of one referee.
- Submit once only. You cannot add or replace documents after you submit.
- The top 5 candidates are interviewed online in March 2027. You hear the result between April and early June 2027.
- If you are selected, sign and return the award letter to accept.
Key dates
- Applications open: 1 October 2026.
- Complete Global Studies admission application: before 10 December 2026.
- Scholarship deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET.
- Online interviews for the top 5: March 2027.
- Results: April to early June 2027.
- Next round: not announced yet. Check the official page.
Before you apply
- Read the full official rules before you start. You can submit the scholarship form only once.
- Prepare your documents early. The referee must not be a family member, and you upload the reference letter yourself.
- Check the time zone. The deadline is 23:59 CET, so convert it to your local time.
- Check whether your programme needs a handling fee. The scholarship does not pay it, and you must pay it by 10 December 2026.
StudyFree is independent. Maastricht University makes all decisions. Read the official scholarship page before you apply.
StudyFree is independent and not the provider of this opportunity. Rules, amounts and deadlines are set by Maastricht University and can change: always confirm on the official page before you apply.