Radboud University in Nijmegen does not run one single scholarship. It runs a menu of them. Some are paid for by the university, some by the Dutch government, and some by outside partners such as the technology company ASML or foreign governments. That makes "the Radboud scholarship" a slightly misleading phrase, and it is the first thing Pakistani applicants tend to get wrong. You are really choosing between several separate awards, each with its own rules, money and deadline.
This guide sorts through that menu from the point of view of a student in Pakistan aiming for a Master's or PhD. For the summary version, see the full scholarship details on our site.
The short version in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Radboud University and partner organizations |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on the programme |
| Study level | Master's and PhD |
| Deadline | Varies by specific scholarship programme |
| Opening date | Varies |
| Country | Netherlands (Nijmegen) |
| Official site | Radboud University scholarships page |
Which Radboud awards a Pakistani student can realistically target
Before you spend an evening on any of these, filter them by nationality. Several awards on the list are tied to a specific country, and they are simply not for you.
The BAPPENAS Scholarship is for Indonesian staff members from ten targeted government agencies. The Chinese Scholarship Council grants are for PhD candidates with Chinese nationality. Skip both.
That leaves three incoming options that matter for students from Pakistan:
- The Radboud Scholarship Programme, a partial scholarship for non-EU/EEA students on English-taught Master's programmes. Pakistan is outside the EU/EEA, so Pakistani students fall inside this group.
- The NL Scholarship, a partial scholarship for non-EU/EEA students doing their Master's in the Netherlands.
- The ASML Technology Scholarship, for students in specific technical Master's programmes. The eligibility rules for this one are written around your programme and grades, not your passport, so check on the official page that it is open to your nationality before you count on it.
The rest of the list (Erasmus+, Individual Travel Grants, VSBfonds grants, faculty short-stay grants) is outbound funding. It is for students who are already enrolled at Radboud and want to go somewhere else for a semester, an internship or a conference. Useful later, but not a way to get to Nijmegen in the first place.
What the money actually looks like
Coverage varies a lot from award to award, and only one of them comes with a fixed number in the information available.
ASML Technology Scholarship: €5,000 a year for two years
This is the clearest award on the list. It pays €5,000 per academic year for two years. You also get a personal ASML mentor and a place in a professional development programme. For a student interested in the semiconductor or high-tech industry, the mentor and the company contact may end up being worth more than the cash.
Be realistic about the amount, though. €5,000 a year is a contribution. It will not cover tuition and living costs in the Netherlands on its own, so you still need a plan for the rest. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds covers what that plan usually needs to show.
Radboud Scholarship Programme and NL Scholarship: partial support
Both are described as partial scholarships. Some Radboud awards provide partial tuition waivers and stipends, but the exact split for each of these two is not something to assume. Read the current terms on the official page and work out your funding gap before you accept an admission offer.
Outbound grants once you are enrolled
Erasmus+ grants and Erasmus+ top-up grants support qualified study periods or traineeships abroad lasting more than 8 weeks. Individual Travel Grants and faculty-specific short-stay grants cover shorter trips for conferences, research or short courses. Radboud also points students to external search platforms, Grant Finder EU and Nuffic Beursopener, for other Dutch grants.
The listing describes funding as "full / partial". In practice, the fuller support comes through external partner organizations rather than the university's own awards, so do not plan around a fully funded place unless a specific programme confirms it in writing.
The grade and programme rules behind each award
Each scholarship has its own test. These are the ones relevant to most readers.
For the Radboud Scholarship Programme, you must be a talented, highly motivated non-EU/EEA student with outstanding study results, applying for an English-taught Master's programme. "Outstanding" is not defined by a fixed number here, which in practice means you are competing against other strong applicants. A middling CGPA with nothing else to show will struggle.
For the ASML Technology Scholarship, you must be enrolled in Artificial Intelligence, Computing Science, Mathematics, Molecular Sciences, or Physics and Astronomy. You must keep an average grade of at least 7 and take part in extracurricular activities. That last condition gets ignored too often. If your CV is all coursework, add the student society, the coding club, the teaching assistant role or the volunteer work, and keep proof of it.
For the outbound grants, requirements depend on the destination, how long you are staying and which phase of your studies you are in at Radboud.
Radboud has seven faculties, ranging from science and management to arts and law. The technical awards are narrow, but the general programmes are spread much more widely across disciplines.
Paperwork to have ready before the window opens
The document list is short, but each item takes time to arrange from Pakistan:
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Proof of English proficiency for English-taught Master's programmes
- Evidence of extracurricular activities, where the award asks for it
- Employment verification, if the award has a work experience requirement
Transcripts and degrees from Pakistani universities often need verification before foreign institutions or embassies accept them. Start that early. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that process works.
Getting the application order right
The order matters here because several awards depend on your admission to Radboud.
- Pick the specific scholarship that matches your nationality, study level and faculty. Cross off the country-restricted ones straight away.
- Read that award's eligibility conditions, grade requirements and document rules on the official page.
- Apply for admission to Radboud University if the scholarship track requires it. For Master's scholarships this is usually the step that gates everything else, so do not leave it until the scholarship deadline.
- Submit the scholarship application through the designated portal or the external partner's website before the stated deadline.
Why there is no single Radboud deadline
Opening dates and deadlines both vary by programme. The Radboud Scholarship Programme, the NL Scholarship and ASML each run on their own schedule, and outbound grants follow yet another. Confirm the exact deadline for your chosen award on the official portal, then work backwards: admission application, English test, transcripts and attestation all have to land before it.
If you are comparing Radboud against other Dutch universities, our list of all Netherlands scholarships is a good place to line up the dates side by side.
Who this suits, and where applicants slip up
Radboud's menu suits two kinds of Pakistani students well. The first is a strong student, with clearly outstanding results, applying for an English-taught Master's who can cover the remaining costs from savings or family support once a partial award comes through. The second is a technical student in AI, computing, maths, molecular sciences or physics who wants an industry connection along with the money, which is where ASML fits.
It suits students badly if they need everything paid for. None of the main awards open to Pakistanis is described as fully funded, so if a full ride is your only route, keep Radboud on the list but do not make it your only bet.
The common mistakes with Radboud applications:
- Treating Radboud as one scholarship with one form, and missing the separate deadlines.
- Spending time on BAPPENAS or Chinese Scholarship Council pages, which are closed to Pakistani nationals.
- Applying for ASML from a programme outside the five listed fields.
- Ignoring the extracurricular condition and sending a CV with grades only.
- Leaving the admission application too late, so the scholarship application has nothing to attach to.
Two smaller tips once you are in. Faculty international offices handle the short-stay and travel grants for research or conferences abroad, so ask them directly. And if you plan a traineeship after graduating, submit the Erasmus+ grant application before your graduation date. Talk to faculty advisors early about grade cutoffs and extracurricular criteria so you are not caught out in your final year.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Radboud Scholarship Programme?
It is open to talented, highly motivated non-EU/EEA students with outstanding study results applying for an English-taught Master's programme. Pakistan is outside the EU/EEA, so Pakistani students fall within that group. Check the current terms on the official page before applying.
Is the Radboud scholarship fully funded?
The Radboud Scholarship Programme and the NL Scholarship are both partial scholarships. The ASML Technology Scholarship pays a fixed €5,000 per academic year for two years. Fuller support exists through some external partner organizations, so confirm coverage for the specific award you choose.
What does the ASML Technology Scholarship require?
You must be enrolled in Artificial Intelligence, Computing Science, Mathematics, Molecular Sciences, or Physics and Astronomy, hold an average grade of at least 7, and take part in extracurricular activities. Check on the official page whether it is open to your nationality.
Do Radboud scholarships cover PhD study?
PhD study is an eligible level. The PhD-specific award on the list is the Chinese Scholarship Council grant, which is only for Chinese nationals. Pakistani PhD applicants should check the official page and Nuffic Beursopener for other options.
When is the Radboud scholarship deadline?
It varies by specific scholarship programme, and opening dates vary too. Confirm the current cycle and deadline for your award on the official portal.
Can I get funding to go abroad while studying at Radboud?
Yes. Enrolled students can apply for Erasmus+ grants (for stays longer than 8 weeks), NL Scholarship grants, VSBfonds grants, Individual Travel Grants and faculty short-stay awards for conferences, research or short courses.
For current terms and deadlines, go to the Radboud University scholarships page, and keep our Radboud University scholarship page bookmarked for the summary.