The Sino-Dutch Scholarship is a bilateral programme between the Netherlands and China, run by Nuffic and paid for by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. It supports outstanding students who want to spend at least one full academic year studying or doing research in the Netherlands, at Bachelor's, Master's or PhD level. The catch, and it is a big one, is that the programme is currently suspended. There is no open application round, and the current arrangement is set to be replaced by a new scholarship scheme that has not yet been announced in detail.
This guide explains what the programme was built to do, what we know about the transition, and what a Pakistani student looking at Dutch funding should realistically do with that information. You can also see the full scholarship details here.
A China-Netherlands exchange, not a general international award
Start with the name. The stated purpose of this scholarship is the exchange of talent between the Netherlands and China, under the banner of Excellence and Exchange. It is a bilateral programme, which means it was designed around two specific countries. China is also listed as a priority country in the Netherlands' broader International Knowledge and Talent Strategy, and that priority status remains in place even though this particular scheme is on hold.
For Pakistani readers, that matters more than anything else in this article. Nothing in the available programme information says the Sino-Dutch Scholarship is open to Pakistani nationals or to all nationalities. Its whole design points toward China-Netherlands exchange. If you are a Pakistani citizen, check eligibility for your nationality directly with Nuffic before you spend any time preparing for it. In most cases, your energy is better spent on Dutch funding that is clearly open to you.
So who does this suit? Students who fall within the programme's intended exchange, who already plan a stay of at least one academic year in the Netherlands, and who are patient enough to wait for the new scheme to be published. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs funding for an intake in the near future, and anyone who cannot confirm they are eligible by nationality.
The programme in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Listed as fully funded, but funding details are under review pending the new integrated scheme |
| Study level | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Fields | All fields |
| Minimum stay | At least one academic year of study or research |
| Current status | Closed, no active application round scheduled |
| Next opening | To be confirmed |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Provider | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science / Nuffic |
| Official site | Nuffic Sino-Dutch Scholarship page |
Why there was no 2024-2025 round
For the academic year 2024-2025, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science decided not to hold a new application round. The reason given is a review of the ministry's policy on international student mobility, along with a reassessment of all its existing bilateral scholarship programmes.
The outcome of that review, at least for this programme, is already clear in outline. The current Sino-Dutch arrangement expires and will be replaced by a new comprehensive funding scheme. The ministry has said it wants to introduce this integrated system in the future and aims for a swift operationalisation. What it has not given is a date, a name, a funding package or eligibility rules for the replacement.
That gap is the most useful thing to understand. When people search for this scholarship, they often find older descriptions and assume the programme simply runs every year. It does not, at least not right now. Treat any website that lists a fixed upcoming deadline with suspicion, and confirm the current status on the official Nuffic portal.
What the grant paid for, and what is still unknown
Previous grants supported a study period of at least one academic year, with support for academic tuition and living expenses during the active grant period. The programme is listed as fully funded.
Here is the honest part. Funding details are under review while the new integrated scheme is being prepared. That means you should not plan your finances around the old package. Whatever replaces this scholarship may cover the same costs, different costs, or a different amount. Until Nuffic publishes the new terms, no one can tell you with confidence what the next version will pay.
If you are building a Dutch study plan, keep your own budget and proof of funds separate from any hope of this scholarship. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds is a good place to start on that side of the plan.
The three conditions applicants had to meet
The published eligibility requirements are short:
- You must be an outstanding student who can show academic excellence.
- You must intend to study for a minimum of one academic year in the Netherlands.
- You must be applying at Bachelor's, Master's or PhD level.
Notice what is missing. There is no published age limit, no stated minimum grade, and no language score threshold in the current information. Do not read that as "no requirements". It more likely reflects the fact that the programme is between versions. The new scheme will almost certainly come with its own detailed rules, and the bilateral nature of the old one (Netherlands and China) is the first thing a Pakistani applicant should check against.
The one-year minimum also rules out short programmes. A summer school or a single-semester exchange would not fit the old format.
Paperwork you can prepare now
Two documents were listed for the programme:
- Academic transcripts and diplomas from your prior education.
- Proof of admission or enrollment at a Dutch higher education institution.
The second item tells you something about sequencing. This was not a scholarship you applied to first and then found a university. You needed admission or enrollment at a Dutch institution as part of your file. If the replacement scheme keeps that structure, students who already have a Dutch offer will be in a much stronger position when a call opens.
It also makes sense to prepare language test scores in advance, since Dutch universities will ask for them during admission even if the scholarship rules do not spell them out. For Pakistani students, getting transcripts and degrees verified early saves weeks later. See our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide for how that process works.
What applying looks like while the scheme is suspended
There is no application form to fill in at the moment. The practical steps are about monitoring and preparation:
- Follow official Nuffic announcements about the new integrated scholarship scheme on the Sino-Dutch Scholarship page.
- Watch for future calls for applications once the new regulations are operationalised.
- Send specific questions to Nuffic at sds@nuffic.nl, especially about the transition period and whether your nationality could qualify under the new system.
When you email, keep it short and precise. State your nationality, your intended level of study, the Dutch institution you are admitted to or applying to, and ask one clear question. A vague message asking "is the scholarship open?" will likely get a reply you could have read on the website.
Mistakes applicants make with suspended scholarships
The most common mistake is planning an intake around a scholarship that has no open round. If your study start date depends on this funding, you are betting on a timeline nobody has published. Have a plan that works without it.
The second mistake is assuming eligibility. A bilateral China-Netherlands programme is not a general scholarship for international students, and the new scheme may or may not widen the pool. Confirm it in writing from Nuffic before you build an application.
The third is relying on third-party lists that copy old deadlines. The status here is clear: there is no active application round currently scheduled, and the next opening is to be confirmed. Anything more specific should come from Nuffic itself.
Finally, do not let the wait stop you from applying elsewhere. Explore other Dutch funding options, such as the NL Scholarship, while this programme is restructured. You can compare options across all Netherlands scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sino-Dutch Scholarship open for applications right now?
No. There is no active application round. The ministry did not hold a round for the academic year 2024-2025 because it is restructuring its bilateral scholarship programmes, and no new round is currently scheduled.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The programme is built around talent exchange between the Netherlands and China, and nothing in the published information says it is open to Pakistani nationals. Check eligibility for your nationality with Nuffic at sds@nuffic.nl before preparing an application.
Will the scholarship come back?
Not in its current form. The existing arrangement expires and will be replaced by a new integrated scholarship scheme that the ministry plans to announce in the future. Its terms, funding and eligibility have not been published yet.
What did the scholarship cover?
Previous grants supported tuition and living expenses during a study period of at least one academic year, and the programme is listed as fully funded. Funding details are now under review, so the replacement scheme may differ.
Do I need university admission before applying?
Proof of admission or enrollment at a Dutch higher education institution was one of the listed documents, along with transcripts and diplomas. It is sensible to secure your Dutch admission first and treat any scholarship as a second step.
Check the official Nuffic website for the latest status, and keep an eye on the Sino-Dutch Scholarship page for updates once the new scheme is announced.