Scholarship Status: Discontinued
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is no longer accepting new applications. Utrecht University has confirmed that, due to significant budget cuts, UES will not be offered for programmes starting in the 2026–2027 academic year or beyond. If you already hold a UES award from an earlier cycle, your funding continues as agreed, including renewal into a second year where applicable. If you're searching for funding to study in the Netherlands, jump to active alternatives further down this page.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Status | Discontinued — no new applications accepted from 2026-2027 intake onward |
| Former Award Amount | Roughly €5,000–€17,000 per year, or tuition fee plus required residence-permit income |
| Former Degree Levels | Selected Bachelor's and Master's programmes |
| Former Target Nationality | Non-EU/EEA students not eligible for Dutch study finance |
| Former Academic Bar | Top 10% of graduating class |
| Reason for Discontinuation | Significant budget cuts at Utrecht University |
| Existing Awardees | Continue to receive funding as originally agreed |
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) was, for many years, one of the more generous Dutch university scholarships for international students — funded by Utrecht University and contributions from UU alumni. Unfortunately, it is no longer open to new applicants.
This page keeps the historical details for reference and for students researching past cycles, and points you toward scholarships that are genuinely still open today.
1. What Did the Scholarship Used to Cover?
Historically, UES recipients could receive either the tuition fee alone, or the tuition fee plus the annual income required for a Dutch study residence permit, as set by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Award amounts commonly ranged from roughly €5,000 to €17,000 per year, depending on the specific programme and available faculty budget. The scholarship could be renewed into the second year for two-year Master's programmes.
2. Who Used to Qualify?
Past eligibility criteria required applicants to:
- Not hold an EU/EEA passport, and not be eligible for Dutch study grants or loans.
- Belong to the top 10% of their graduating class, evidenced by a class ranking certificate, reference letter, or similar official document.
- Have completed their secondary school and/or bachelor's degree outside the Netherlands.
- Have applied to a participating international Bachelor's or Master's programme — not every UU programme took part.
- Meet the conditions required to obtain a Dutch student visa.
3. Why Was the Scholarship Discontinued?
Utrecht University has stated the decision was driven by significant budget cuts affecting the university's finances. No return date or replacement scholarship has been announced as of this writing. Students who already hold a UES award are not affected — their funding continues as originally agreed for the duration of their programme.
4. What to Apply For Instead
The good news: several other strong, currently active scholarships exist for non-EU/EEA students who want to study in the Netherlands. Depending on your target university and programme, these are worth exploring:
- NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship): A nationwide €5,000 grant available across many Dutch universities.
- TU Delft Excellence Scholarship: Full tuition plus a living-expense contribution for 2-year regular Master's programmes at TU Delft.
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS): Partial tuition awards of €10,000–€19,000 for Leiden University Master's students.
- University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS): An amount equal to tuition fees, up to €25,900 depending on faculty.
- Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship: A genuinely fully funded award worth up to €36,000, though highly competitive (~2% acceptance rate).
Since Dutch university scholarship budgets can shift year to year, it's worth checking multiple options in parallel rather than relying on a single scholarship as your funding plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship still open for applications?
No. Utrecht University has confirmed that, due to significant budget cuts, the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is no longer being offered for programmes starting in the 2026-2027 academic year onward, and no new applications are being accepted.
What happens to students who already received the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship?
Students who were already awarded UES funding in earlier cycles keep their scholarship as originally agreed, including renewal into the second year of a two-year Master's programme where applicable. Only new applications are affected.
How much did the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship used to cover?
Historically, UES covered either the tuition fee alone, or the tuition fee plus the annual income required for a Dutch study residence permit, at amounts commonly ranging from roughly €5,000 to €17,000 per year depending on the programme.
What are the best alternatives to the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship?
Strong current alternatives for non-EU/EEA students in the Netherlands include the nationwide NL Scholarship, the TU Delft Excellence Scholarship, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), the University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS), and the fully funded Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship.
Why was the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship discontinued?
Utrecht University cited significant budget cuts as the reason for ending the scholarship programme for new applicants, without specifying a return date for a future version of the award.
Official Source
- Utrecht University Official Scholarships Page: uu.nl/en/bachelors/scholarships-and-grants