The NL Scholarship, which many people still call the Holland Scholarship, is a one-off grant of €5,000 for students from outside the European Economic Area who are starting a full-time bachelor's or master's programme in the Netherlands. It is jointly funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and a large group of Dutch universities. You can read the full scholarship details, but this guide is about how the grant actually works for a Pakistani applicant and where people go wrong.
Let me be direct about one thing first. This is a partial award. It will not pay your tuition, and it will not cover a year of living costs on its own. What it does is shave a real amount off the bill in your first year, and for a bachelor's student weighing the Netherlands against other countries, that can tip the decision.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Award | One-off €5,000, paid during the first year of study |
| Funding type | Partial funding |
| Study level | Bachelor's and master's (full-time) |
| Fields | All fields offered by participating institutions |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Provider | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, with participating Dutch universities |
| Deadline | Varies by participating institution; applications for 2026-27 opened November 1, 2025 |
| Official site | Study in NL: NL Scholarship |
A €5,000 grant against a much bigger fee gap
The reason this scholarship exists is simple. Non-EEA students in the Netherlands pay tuition that is substantially higher than the rate for Dutch and EU students. As a Pakistani passport holder, you fall into the non-EEA group, so you pay the higher rate. The NL Scholarship is meant to narrow that gap a little.
The money is paid once, during your first year. You can put it toward tuition or toward living costs, at your own discretion. There is no second payment in year two, and nothing in the programme suggests it renews. If you plan a full bachelor's degree, treat this as help with the first year only and budget the rest from other sources.
The way each university pays the grant also differs. The €5,000 is disbursed according to the institution's own payment schedule, so ask your university how and when it arrives. Do not build your first semester's rent around money you have not yet seen in your account.
Which universities take part for 2026-27
For the 2026-2027 academic year, 35 institutions participate: 11 research universities and 24 universities of applied sciences. Named participants include Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Utrecht University, VU Amsterdam and Wageningen University & Research. That is a wide spread, and it covers virtually every academic discipline.
The split between the two types of institution matters for your choice. Research universities and universities of applied sciences offer different kinds of bachelor's programmes, and both are in the scheme. So you are not forced into one track to get the grant. Check the current list on the official Study in NL page, since participation is set per academic year.
If you want to compare this grant with other options in the country, see all Netherlands scholarships in our hub guide.
The eligibility rules, and the one that trips people up
The national rules are short. To be considered, you must:
- hold non-EEA nationality, meaning you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA member state
- have applied for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating Dutch institution
- not already hold a degree from a Dutch educational institution
- meet the specific NL Scholarship criteria set by the institution you choose
Pakistani nationals meet the first rule. The second and third are easy to check. The fourth is where applications quietly fail. Each university adds its own conditions, and these can include academic merit thresholds or a motivation statement. One university's version of the NL Scholarship can look quite different from another's.
The no-prior-Dutch-degree rule is worth a second look if you have family links or earlier study in the Netherlands. If you already completed a degree at a Dutch institution, you are out. Confirm your status before you spend weeks on the application.
Also note that the scholarship name mentions bachelor's students, but master's programmes are covered too. Whether a given master's course is included depends on the institution, so check the specific programme.
There is no central portal, and that changes your whole plan
Most national scholarships have one website where you upload everything. This one does not. You apply directly through the participating university, and each university sets its own closing date, document list and selection criteria. That means the order of your work is fixed: pick the university and programme first, then find that institution's NL Scholarship page.
- Choose a participating Dutch university and programme, and apply for admission through that institution's standard process. This is often done via Studielink.
- Find that institution's own NL Scholarship webpage and note its deadline and any scholarship-specific documents.
- Submit the NL Scholarship application directly to the institution, usually alongside or shortly after your admission application.
- Wait for the scholarship decision, which is generally communicated with or shortly after the admission decision.
- If you are awarded, the grant is paid during your first year on the institution's schedule.
If you are applying to more than one Dutch university, you are effectively running separate scholarship applications, each with its own rules. Keep a simple sheet with each university's scholarship deadline next to its admission deadline. They are not always the same date.
Papers to prepare before you open any form
The core set is light compared with many government scholarships:
- your regular admission application to the chosen Dutch programme
- the NL Scholarship application form, submitted through the institution rather than centrally
- academic transcripts, plus a motivation letter or statement where the university asks for one
- proof of non-EEA nationality, which in practice is a copy of your passport
Individual universities can add to this list, so treat it as a minimum. For Pakistani students, the slow part is usually getting transcripts and certificates in order, not the scholarship form itself. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers the general paperwork, and it helps to start that early.
If a motivation statement is required, write one specifically for the NL Scholarship at that university. Do not paste your general admission essay. Say why this programme, why the Netherlands, and how the grant fits into your funding plan.
Working backwards from a September start
The cycle follows a predictable shape, but the exact dates depend on the university:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Applications open for the following September intake |
| Varies, commonly January to May | Institution-specific scholarship deadlines |
| Spring | Admission and scholarship decisions |
| September | Academic year begins |
That January to May window is a general pattern, not a promise. Some institutions have internal scholarship deadlines that come earlier than their general admission deadline. If you only watch the admission date, you can miss the scholarship entirely. Confirm the exact deadline for your programme on the university's own page and on the official Study in NL website.
Who this suits, and who should look elsewhere
The NL Scholarship suits a Pakistani student who already wants to study in the Netherlands, has a realistic plan to fund most of the cost, and would benefit from a first-year discount. The Netherlands has one of the largest selections of English-taught bachelor's programmes among non-English-speaking European countries, which makes it a practical option for undergraduates from Pakistan who are comparing it with the US or UK.
It does not suit someone who needs a fully funded place to study abroad at all. If your family cannot cover the remaining tuition and living expenses, €5,000 will not close that gap, and you should be looking at fully funded options in parallel. The grant can often be combined with institution-specific merit scholarships, so ask each university what else it offers non-EEA students.
Here are the mistakes I see most often with this kind of award:
- Treating it as a full scholarship and under-budgeting the rest of the degree.
- Waiting for the admission offer before looking at the scholarship deadline, which may already have passed.
- Assuming every university uses the same criteria, and sending one generic statement everywhere.
- Skipping supplementary funding. Look at university-specific scholarships and the part-time work rules for non-EEA students to plan for the remaining cost.
Because the grant is partial, your visa file will still need to show how you will pay for everything else. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds explains what that usually involves for Pakistani students.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the NL Scholarship worth?
It is a one-off payment of €5,000 during the first year of study. It is not a full-tuition scholarship, and you can use it for tuition or living costs.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is for non-EEA nationals, and Pakistan is outside the EEA. You still need to apply for a full-time programme at a participating institution, not hold a previous Dutch degree, and meet that institution's own criteria.
Where do I submit the application?
Directly to the participating university, not through one central portal. Each university's NL Scholarship page lists its own deadline and documents.
How many universities participate?
For 2026-27 there are 35 participating institutions: 11 research universities and 24 universities of applied sciences.
When will I hear if I have the scholarship?
Decisions are generally communicated together with or shortly after the admission decision, usually in spring. The exact timing depends on the university.
Is the NL Scholarship only for bachelor's students?
No. Despite the name, full-time master's programmes at participating institutions are also covered. Check whether your specific programme is included at your chosen university.
Before you apply, confirm the current list of institutions and your university's deadline on the official NL Scholarship website, and keep the full NL Scholarship page handy for a quick summary of the rules.