The University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) is a merit-based award for non-EU/EEA students starting a Master's degree at the University of Twente, a technical university in the Netherlands. It is partial funding. Awards range from €3,000 to €22,000 a year depending on how strong your profile is, and around 50 students receive it each year. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide focuses on how the award actually works and how a Pakistani applicant should plan for it.
The short version: UTS suits students with a genuinely top academic record who already want to study at Twente. It is not a scholarship you apply to first and then pick a university. You need conditional admission to a UT Master's program before you can even submit the scholarship application, and that one detail shapes your whole timeline.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Partial, €3,000 to €22,000 per year, varying by merit |
| Level | Master's |
| Fields | All University of Twente Master's programs |
| Number of awards | Around 50 per year |
| Deadline | Two rounds: around February 1 and May 1 |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Official site | University of Twente scholarship page |
Why the amount you get depends so much on merit
The range here is wide. A student at the bottom of the scale gets €3,000 a year, while the strongest candidates can get up to €22,000 a year. That gap matters for budgeting. The award is described as partial funding, so even at the top end you should not assume every cost of studying and living in the Netherlands is covered. At the lower end, you will be paying most of your costs yourself.
My honest advice: plan your finances as if you will receive the lower figure, and treat anything above it as a bonus. Students who build their whole plan around the €22,000 figure and then receive a smaller award often end up scrambling for funds at the visa stage. If you need help thinking about how to show your finances, our guide to bank statements and proof of funds is a useful starting point.
There is one more point in your favour. The scholarship is renewable for the second year of two-year Master's programs, subject to good progress. So if you are admitted to a two-year program, keep your grades up in the first year, because the second year of funding depends on it.
Is a Pakistani student eligible?
Yes. The scholarship is open to students of non-EU/EEA nationality, and Pakistan falls within that group. Nationality is only one of four requirements, though:
- Non-EU/EEA nationality.
- An academic record in the top 5-10% of your class.
- IELTS 6.5 or higher, or TOEFL 90 or higher, with minimum component scores also applying.
- Conditional admission to a University of Twente Master's program.
The academic requirement is where most applicants should be honest with themselves. Top 5-10% of your class is a high bar. If your university issues class rank or position certificates, get one, because it is the clearest way to show where you stand. If you are well outside that range, UTS is probably not the scholarship to pin your hopes on, and you are better off spending effort on other options.
On the English test, note the phrase about minimum component scores. An overall 6.5 IELTS with one weak band may still cause problems. Check the exact component minimums on the official UTS page and the requirements of your specific program before you book your test.
The five documents and what each one has to prove
The document list is short:
- CV
- Transcripts
- Motivation letter
- Admission letter
- Language test scores
Because awards vary by merit, your transcripts and motivation letter carry most of the weight. The transcripts show whether you meet the top 5-10% standard. The motivation letter is your chance to explain why this specific Twente program fits your plans, so write it for Twente and not as a generic letter you send everywhere. The admission letter is the proof of conditional admission, and you cannot get it overnight.
Pakistani students often lose time on attestation and translation of degrees and transcripts. Requirements for UTS itself are not spelled out in detail, so confirm with the university what format they accept. If you end up needing attested copies for admission or the visa, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process.
Why admission comes before the scholarship application
The application has two stages:
- Apply for, and receive, conditional admission to a University of Twente Master's program.
- Apply for the UTS scholarship in Round 1 (around February 1) or Round 2 (around May 1), using your student number.
The student number comes from the admission process. Without it, you cannot submit the scholarship application at all. This is the single biggest trap with UTS. A student who sends the Master's application a few days before the scholarship deadline will likely not have conditional admission, or a student number, in time.
So work backwards. If you are targeting Round 1, your Master's application should go in well before February, with your transcripts, CV and English test results already in hand. That means taking IELTS or TOEFL in the previous autumn at the latest, not in January.
Round 1 or Round 2: which one to aim for
There are two rounds each year. The Round 1 deadline is around February 1, and more funding is typically available in this round. The Round 2 deadline is around May 1. The dates are given as approximate, so confirm the exact deadline for your intake on the official portal before you plan around it.
Aim for Round 1. With around 50 awards a year and more of the money usually allocated in the first round, applying early gives you the better chance. Round 2 is a real second chance, which is useful if your admission comes through late or your English test result arrives after February. But treat it as a backup, not as your plan.
What applicants commonly get wrong
The most common mistake is leaving the Master's application too late, which we have already covered. A few others are worth flagging.
Some students assume the scholarship pays for everything. It does not. It is partial funding, and the amount varies by merit. Build a budget that works with the minimum award.
Some students apply with an average academic record and hope the motivation letter carries them. The top 5-10% requirement is clear, and a strong letter cannot replace grades that fall short of it.
Others ignore the component scores on IELTS or TOEFL and focus only on the overall band. Read the fine print for your program.
Finally, students on two-year programs sometimes forget that renewal depends on progress. The second year of funding is not automatic.
For the wider set of papers you will need across applications, our documents checklist for international scholarships helps you prepare everything in one go. If Twente is one of several Dutch options you are weighing, see all Netherlands scholarships.
Is Twente the right fit?
The University of Twente is known for its entrepreneurial culture and strong engineering programs. It is in a quieter part of the Netherlands compared to Amsterdam or Rotterdam. If you want a technical or engineering-focused Master's and you are comfortable away from the big cities, it is a sensible choice. If big-city life matters a lot to you, think about that before you apply. The scholarship is tied to this one university, and you will be spending a year or two there.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the University of Twente Scholarship?
Yes. It is open to non-EU/EEA nationals, which includes Pakistan. You still need to meet the academic, English and admission requirements.
Which round should I apply in?
Round 1, around February 1, typically has more funding available than Round 2, around May 1. Apply in Round 1 if your timeline allows.
Do I need admission before applying for the scholarship?
Yes. You need conditional admission to a UT Master's program and a student number before you can submit your UTS application.
How much money will I receive?
Between €3,000 and €22,000 per year. The exact amount varies by merit, so you will not know your figure until the award is made.
Does the scholarship continue into the second year?
For two-year programs, it is renewable for the second year, subject to progress. Keep your first-year results strong.
Which programs are covered?
All University of Twente Master's programs are eligible. The scholarship is listed for Master's study only.
Before you apply, check the latest round dates and requirements on the official University of Twente scholarship page, and keep the full UTS scholarship page handy as you plan.