Utrecht Excellence Scholarships

Utrecht Excellence Scholarships

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is a competitive program for outstanding international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA—defined as EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) who wish to pursue a master’s degree at Utrecht University.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Utrecht Excellence Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be in the top 10% of their graduating class.
Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and be ineligible for Dutch study grants or loans.
Have completed secondary school or a bachelor’s degree outside the Netherlands.
Have applied for an international master’s program starting on September 1, 2025 (note that not all programs participate; check the specific program's "Tuition fees and financial support" section to confirm eligibility for this scholarship).
Scholarship Amount

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship covers either:

The full tuition fee, or
The tuition fee plus one year’s income required for a residence permit for study as set by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Scholarships are renewable for the second year of a two-year master’s program.

Application Deadline

Students interested in the scholarship must apply by February 1st, 23:59 CET. The application portal will close at this time, and selection will begin afterward. Results are expected by mid-April.

Selection Criteria

Eligible candidates will be evaluated based on:

Academic performance and potential in the chosen field of study, as demonstrated in the master’s application.
Academic excellence, shown by proof of ranking in the top 10% of their class (e.g., class ranking certificate, GPA with grade distribution, or a reference letter).
The quality and relevance of the motivation letter, including academic interests, intercultural skills, and personal motivation.
Overall quality of the master’s application (completeness, accuracy, and consistency).
How to Apply

After submitting an application for a UES-eligible master’s program by the deadline, non-EU/EEA students can apply for the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship starting November 1, 2024. In the OSIRIS Online Application portal, applicants will see the UES application(s) under their account dashboard. To apply, select the relevant UES link, upload proof of class ranking, complete the questions, and submit the application.

Funding

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is funded by the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship Fund, which is supported by Utrecht University and contributions from university alumni.