The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP) is a Dutch government scholarship for working professionals from the Middle East and North Africa who want to attend a short course in the Netherlands. It is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Shiraka programme and managed by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing.
Before going further, a Pakistani reader needs one thing straight. Pakistan is not on the list of eligible MSP countries. The programme is built for nationals of specific MENA countries who also live and work in one of them. If you are a Pakistani citizen living in Pakistan, this scholarship is almost certainly not for you, and you should spend your time on other options. We are still covering it because many Pakistanis work in the Gulf and the wider region, and some readers hold a second nationality. If either applies to you, read on, and check your exact situation against the current country list on the official site.
The MSP in one table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funding | Full or partial (depends on the course and institution) |
| Level | Short courses and Tailor-Made Training for groups |
| Deadline | Set individually by each Dutch educational institution |
| Typical opening | April |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Provider | Nuffic, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Official site | Nuffic MSP page |
A short-course grant for professionals, not a degree scholarship
The most common mistake people make with the MSP is treating it like a master's scholarship. It is not. The programme focuses on short courses and tailor-made training for professionals, not full degree studies. Its stated purpose is capacity building inside organisations in the MENA region, with a focus on what it calls young professional impact makers.
So the question to ask yourself is not "do I want to study in the Netherlands?" It is "does my organisation need a skill that a short Dutch course can give me, and can I explain that clearly?" If you are a fresh graduate looking for a funded degree, look elsewhere. If you are a working professional in an eligible country with a clear training need, this fits well.
The programme also puts weight on alumni networks and on building ties between participating countries and the Netherlands. Expect your application to be judged partly on what you will bring back to your workplace.
Two routes: individual short courses and group training
The MSP runs along two tracks, and they work differently.
Individual scholarships
These are for professionals who want to take a short course at a Dutch host institution or knowledge organisation. Each educational institution runs its own application process, sets its own criteria and fixes its own deadlines. Nuffic does not collect applications centrally. You apply to the institution offering the course.
Tailor-Made Training
This track is for groups of professionals or staff from the same organisation. Eligible organisations apply for a group training grant that addresses a specific regional training need, working with a Dutch training provider who designs the programme. If you are a manager in an eligible country, this may be more useful than sending one person on a standard course. Review the focus areas for your country before you write a proposal, because they shape what gets funded.
What the funding actually pays for
The source information lists the following areas of support:
- Funding for short courses in the Netherlands
- Support for Tailor-Made Training group programmes
- Access to regional professional networks and alumni activities
- Capacity building grants for organisations in eligible countries
The funding is listed as full or partial. There is no published breakdown of items such as flights, accommodation or a daily allowance in the information we have, so do not assume everything is paid. Ask the host institution exactly what its MSP award covers for your course before you commit time off work.
The country rule that decides everything
Eligibility starts with nationality and residence. You must be a national of an eligible MSP country and be living and working there. The eligible countries listed are:
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Sudan (excluded for 2025 rounds)
- Tunisia
- Syria (only if residing and working in another eligible MSP country)
Note the two special cases. Sudan was excluded for 2025 rounds, and Syrian nationals qualify only if they live and work in another eligible MSP country. The list can change between rounds, so confirm that your country of residence is on the active list for the round you are applying to.
For Pakistanis working in the Gulf, look carefully at the wording. The rule asks for nationality of an eligible country as well as residence and work there. Living in Oman on a Pakistani passport does not, on the face of it, meet the nationality condition. If your case is unusual (dual nationality, for example), check with Nuffic or the host institution rather than guessing.
Beyond the country rule, you must be a professional or impact maker seeking a short course or group training, and you must meet whatever academic and professional criteria the host Dutch institution sets. Eligible fields are not fixed across the programme. Focus areas are decided per country and per institution.
Paperwork: lighter than most, but set by the institution
Only one document is listed as a programme requirement: the application forms required by your chosen Dutch host institution. That sounds simple, but it really means the institution decides what you submit. Some may ask for a CV, an employer letter or a motivation statement as part of their form. Read the course page carefully and prepare whatever it asks for. Our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful starting point for getting standard papers in order.
Applying through the host institution
- Find an eligible short course at a Dutch knowledge institution or university.
- Check that institution's individual criteria and its deadline for MSP applicants.
- Submit your application directly to the host institution through its own portal.
Nuffic points applicants to a dedicated MSP portal at www.MSPnuffic.nl for primary guidance. Start there to see which courses are open, then move to the institution's own page.
When rounds open and why deadlines are scattered
MSP rounds typically open in April. The most recent timeline entry we have lists April 1, 2025 as an application round opening, so treat April as a pattern rather than a fixed date and confirm the current round's dates on the official portal.
There is no single MSP deadline. Each Dutch institution sets its own. That means two courses in the same round can close weeks apart. Contact the institution offering your target course to get its exact deadline, and do not rely on dates you saw for a different course.
Where applicants trip up
Most rejections with programmes like this come down to basic fit, not weak writing. A few things to watch:
- Applying without checking the country list for the current round. The list has changed before, as the Sudan exclusion shows.
- Pitching personal ambition instead of organisational need. The MSP is about capacity building, so connect the course to your employer and your region.
- Assuming Nuffic will review your file. It will not. The host institution handles it.
- Submitting a Tailor-Made Training proposal without first reading the focus areas set for your country.
Nuffic also suggests tagging @NufficGLobalDevelopment on LinkedIn or Facebook to connect with the alumni network. Talking to a past participant from your country is a cheap way to learn what a host institution looks for.
If you are a Pakistani student who has realised this programme is not a match, that is fine. Browse all Netherlands scholarships for options that are open to Pakistani applicants.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani citizens apply for the MENA Scholarship Programme?
Pakistan is not on the published list of eligible MSP countries. Applicants must be nationals of an eligible country and also live and work there. If you hold another nationality or have an unusual residence situation, confirm your eligibility for your nationality with Nuffic or the host institution.
Does the MSP fund a master's degree?
No. The programme focuses on short courses and Tailor-Made Training group programmes for professionals rather than full degree studies.
Where do I send my application?
Directly to the Dutch host institution offering the short course, through its own portal. Nuffic does not handle individual applications centrally.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
Funding is listed as full or partial. The exact coverage depends on the course and institution, so ask the host institution what its award includes before applying.
When is the MSP deadline?
There is no single deadline. Rounds typically open in April, and each Dutch institution sets its own closing date. Check with the institution offering your course.
For current rounds and the eligible country list, go to the official Nuffic MSP website, and see the MENA Scholarship Programme page for the full scholarship details.