The NL Scholarship is one of the most talked-about Dutch awards among Pakistani students, and also one of the most misunderstood. Many people hear "government scholarship" and picture a fully funded package. It is not that. It is a single payment of 5,000 EUR in your first year, given to non-EEA students starting a full-time bachelor's or master's at a participating Dutch institution. This guide explains what that money does and does not do, how the application really works, and who should put effort into it. You can also see the full scholarship details on our scholarship page.
Some background first. The NL Scholarship was previously called the Holland Scholarship. It is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. Its stated aim is to attract talented international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to the Netherlands.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Partial funding: a one-time payment of 5,000 EUR |
| Study level | Full-time bachelor's or master's |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Provider | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and participating Dutch higher education institutions |
| Applications open | 1 November |
| Deadline | Varies by institution, check the website of the specific university |
| Fields | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | studyinnl.org NL Scholarship page |
What 5,000 EUR in your first year actually means
The scholarship is a one-time amount of 5,000 EUR, paid during the first year of your programme. There is no second instalment and no renewal for later years. You use it as a partial contribution toward tuition or living costs while you study in the Netherlands.
Be realistic about this. For a Pakistani student, 5,000 EUR is a meaningful sum in rupee terms, but it will not carry a Dutch degree on its own. You still need to plan for the rest of your first-year costs and for every year after that. If your family budget only works with full tuition covered, this award alone will not close the gap. It helps most when you already have a credible funding plan and want to reduce the load.
This also matters for your visa file. The award reduces what you must show, but it does not remove the need to prove you can cover the remainder. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds covers how Pakistani applicants usually handle that part.
Is a Pakistani student eligible?
Yes, in principle. The scholarship is for citizens of countries outside the EEA, and Pakistan is outside the EEA. Nationality is only the first gate, though. The full set of conditions is short:
- You must be a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area.
- You must be applying for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating Dutch institution.
- You must meet the specific requirements of the institution you choose.
- You must not already hold a degree from any educational institution in the Netherlands.
The third point is where most of the real filtering happens. Each university sets its own academic and admission requirements, and some add their own conditions for awarding the NL Scholarship. Two students from the same Pakistani university can face quite different rules depending on where they apply. The last point rules out anyone who has already completed a Dutch degree, so this is aimed at first-time students in the Dutch system.
Eligible fields are not fixed centrally. They vary, so confirm on the official site and with your chosen university which programmes are included.
Why you apply through the university, not the ministry
This is the single most important thing to understand about the NL Scholarship. Even though the ministry funds it, there is no one central application. The programme runs through participating institutions, and the list of eligible research universities and universities of applied sciences is updated every year. You apply directly to the institution, following its instructions.
That has a few consequences:
- A university that took part last year may not be on this year's list, so check the current list for your intake.
- Deadlines are set by each university and can differ significantly.
- The number of awards and the selection approach depend on the institution.
- The documents you submit are defined by the university, not by a common form.
Both types of Dutch institution can take part: research universities and universities of applied sciences. If you are aiming for a more practical, career-focused programme at a university of applied sciences, you are not shut out.
The application process in four moves
- Check the list of participating Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences for your academic year.
- Visit the website of the institution you want and verify its eligibility criteria and deadlines for the NL Scholarship.
- Apply for your full-time bachelor's or master's programme at that institution.
- Submit the scholarship application directly to the institution, exactly as its instructions say.
Steps three and four are separate in many cases. Getting a programme application in does not automatically mean you are being considered for the scholarship. Read the university's scholarship page carefully to see whether you need a separate form, a motivation statement, or simply a tick box in the admission application. If anything is unclear, contact the international office of your target university. They handle these questions all the time.
Documents depend entirely on your chosen university
There is no standard document list for the NL Scholarship. The requirement is whatever the specific institution asks for, so check its website before you start gathering papers.
In practice, Pakistani applicants usually need their academic records ready well before scholarship deadlines, since the programme application often comes first. If your transcripts and degrees still need attestation, start early. Our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful starting point, but the university's own list always wins.
Timing: open from 1 November, closing dates vary
Applications open on 1 November. The deadline is not one date. It varies by institution, and some universities close much earlier than others. Confirm the exact deadline for your chosen university and programme on its official website.
Our advice is to treat 1 November as your starting gun, not as a comfortable early date. Shortlist your universities before then, confirm which ones are on the current participating list, and note each one's scholarship deadline next to its programme deadline. If a university links the scholarship to an early admission round, missing that round can cost you the award even if you are admitted later.
Who this scholarship suits, and who should look elsewhere
The NL Scholarship suits a Pakistani student who is already serious about studying in the Netherlands, has a realistic plan to cover most of the cost, and wants to lower the first-year burden. It is also useful as a stacking piece alongside savings, family support, or other awards, provided those other sources allow it (check that with each provider).
It is a poor fit if you need a fully funded route to study abroad at all. Building your whole plan around a one-time 5,000 EUR payment is a common mistake. If full funding is a must, browse all Netherlands scholarships and compare options before you commit to applications and fees.
Mistakes Pakistani applicants make with this award
The most frequent error is assuming it covers full tuition. It does not. It is a partial contribution, paid once.
The second is relying on an old list of participating institutions. The list changes annually, and an outdated blog post or a senior's advice from two years ago can send you to a university that is no longer taking part.
The third is applying for the scholarship before checking whether you actually meet the university's academic requirements. If you do not qualify for admission, the scholarship application goes nowhere.
The fourth is leaving everything to the last week. Because deadlines differ between universities, students who apply to several institutions often miss the earliest one. Check each institution's website early.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NL Scholarship a full-tuition scholarship?
No. It is a partial scholarship: a one-time payment of 5,000 EUR in the first year of study.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Pakistan is outside the EEA, so Pakistani citizens fall within the nationality condition. You still need to apply for a full-time bachelor's or master's programme at a participating institution, meet that institution's requirements, and not already hold a Dutch degree.
Is the payment repeated in the second year?
No. The award is a single payment made during the first year of your programme.
Where do I submit the scholarship application?
Directly to the participating Dutch research university or university of applied sciences you are applying to, following its own instructions.
What is the deadline?
Applications open on 1 November, but the deadline varies by institution. Check the website of your specific university for the exact date.
Which subjects are eligible?
Eligible fields vary. Confirm on the official site and with your chosen institution whether your programme is included.
For the current list of participating institutions, check the official NL Scholarship page on Study in NL, and keep the NL Scholarship Programme page handy for a quick summary.