The Eric Bleumink Scholarship is a University of Groningen award for international students. Most of what you will read about it online is short, and the honest version is short too: it gives financial support for specific academic programmes at Groningen, the funding is listed as full or partial, and the precise terms sit with the university rather than with any summary page. This guide explains what is known, what you still have to confirm, and how to avoid the timing mistakes that cost international applicants a place. You can also see the full scholarship details on our site.
Who does this suit? A student who is already serious about the University of Groningen and is applying for admission anyway. The scholarship is tied to the university's own programmes, so it makes little sense to treat it as a standalone funding hunt. If Groningen is not on your shortlist for academic reasons, there are better uses of your time.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | University of Groningen |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Funding | Full / partial (details vary, confirm on the official site) |
| Study levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD programmes |
| Key dates | 20 August (immigration application and certified documents), 31 August (tuition fee payment) |
| Opening date | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | rug.nl |
The university behind the Eric Bleumink award
The University of Groningen was founded in 1614 and is recognised as a top 100 university. It runs Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes, and its FAQ material also mentions pre-master programmes. Students come from over 120 nationalities, so you will not be the only international face in the room.
The scholarship is linked to programmes across several faculties. The fields listed are:
- Economics and Business
- Behavioural and Social Sciences
- Religion, Culture and Society
- Arts
- Medical Sciences
- Law
- Spatial Sciences
- Philosophy
- Science and Engineering
That is a wide spread, but "eligible fields" here means faculties where the university teaches. It does not mean every programme in those faculties carries the scholarship. Check whether your specific programme is included before you build your plans around it.
Full or partial: why the funding line needs a second look
The funding is described as "full / partial", and the coverage section simply says financial support details vary by the specific scholarship guidelines on the official site. In plain terms, nobody outside the university can tell you today whether you would receive tuition, living costs, or a smaller contribution. Do not assume full funding.
For a Pakistani family this matters a lot. A partial award that leaves you to cover the rest of the tuition and your living costs in Groningen still requires real money, and the Dutch visa process asks for proof that you can support yourself. If your plan only works with a full award, say so to yourself now and keep a backup option. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds explains how to prepare for that side of things.
Eligibility: admission first, scholarship second
The stated requirements are simple. You must meet the admission requirements for a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD programme at the University of Groningen, and you must submit the required application and registration documents through the official portals.
Notice what is missing. There is no published GPA cut-off, no English score, no age limit and no nationality list in the information available. The award is described as being for international students, but the exact nationality rules are not spelled out, so Pakistani applicants should check eligibility for their nationality on the official University of Groningen website before applying. Admission requirements also differ by faculty and programme, so the real bar is whatever your chosen programme sets.
Paperwork you should have ready
Three document groups are named:
- Bachelor's application documents
- Master's application documents
- Certified documents for non-EU/EEA applicants
The last one is the one that applies to you as a Pakistani applicant. "Certified" means the university wants verified copies, not plain scans, and that process takes time in Pakistan. If your degree and transcripts still need attestation, start early. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide walks through how that works.
The application route through Studielink and the university portal
- Pick a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD programme at the University of Groningen.
- Prepare the application documents required for international students.
- Apply and register through the official university portal or Studielink.
- Complete immigration and visa procedures if they apply to you.
- Pay your tuition fees by the stated deadline.
Two accounts are involved: Studielink and the university's own portal. Create both early. Problems with logins, mismatched names or missing confirmation emails are much easier to fix in the spring than in August.
Reading the August dates correctly
The dates attached to this scholarship are not really scholarship deadlines in the usual sense. They are enrolment and immigration deadlines:
- 20 August: immigration application deadline
- 20 August: certified documents deadline for non-EU/EEA applicants
- 31 August: deadline for paying tuition fees, for applicants and current students
The opening date for the scholarship itself varies and has to be confirmed on the official site. That gap is where applicants get caught. If you wait for August to think about funding, it is far too late: by then the university expects your documents, your immigration paperwork and your fees. Treat 20 August as a final cut-off for paperwork, not a target. Confirm the current cycle and the actual scholarship deadline on the official portal for the 2027 intake.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is treating the scholarship as separate from admission. It is not. If your programme application is weak or late, there is nothing for the scholarship to attach to. Get the admission side right first.
The second mistake is reading "full / partial" as "full". Plan your budget as if the award might be partial, and be pleasantly surprised if it is not.
The third is leaving certified documents until the summer. Non-EU/EEA applicants have the 20 August deadline for these, and attestation in Pakistan can involve several offices. Send them well before that date.
Finally, people skip the faculty-specific rules. Each faculty has its own admission guidelines, and the scholarship's relevance depends on your programme. Read your faculty's pages carefully, and if something about enrolment is unclear, contact Student Information and Administration or the Student Support Desk rather than guessing. For a broader list of what international applications usually ask for, see our scholarship documents checklist.
If you are comparing Dutch options, browse all Netherlands scholarships to see what else fits your level and field.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Eric Bleumink Scholarship fully funded?
It is listed as full or partial funding, and the exact support depends on the scholarship guidelines published by the University of Groningen. Check the official site for the current terms before counting on full coverage.
Which study levels does it apply to?
Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes at the University of Groningen are listed. The university also offers pre-master programmes, but confirm with the university whether the scholarship applies to those.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The scholarship is aimed at international students, but the nationality rules are not spelled out in the information available. Check the eligibility criteria for Pakistani nationals on the official University of Groningen website.
What is the deadline for paying tuition fees?
The tuition fee payment deadline is 31 August, for applicants and current students. Certified documents from non-EU/EEA applicants are due by 20 August.
Who do I contact with enrolment questions?
Student Information and Administration and the Student Support Desk handle academic and administrative questions at the University of Groningen.
Before you apply, confirm the current terms and dates on the University of Groningen website, and keep the Eric Bleumink Scholarship page handy for the key details.