AK Travels Limited

Summary

• Host Institution: Maastricht University, Netherlands
• Scholarship: Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
• Academic Year: 2027–2028
• Level: Master’s degree
• Number of Scholarships: 18
• Eligible Nationality: Students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam
• Study Mode: Full-time
• Duration: 13 months for one-year programmes or 25 months for two-year programmes
• Scholarship Coverage: Tuition fees, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, pre-academic training and other specified costs
• Application Opens: 1 October 2026
• Scholarship Deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET
• Master’s Application File Deadline: 10 December 2026

About the Scholarship

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is a full scholarship programme for highly talented international students from outside the European Union who wish to pursue a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, Maastricht University will award 18 scholarships. The programme combines the High Potential Scholarship, funded by the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund, with the NL Scholarship supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in cooperation with Dutch higher education institutions.

The scholarship is available only for selected participating master’s programmes. Applicants must first apply for admission to one of the eligible master’s programmes and obtain a Maastricht University student ID before submitting the scholarship application.

The university states that the scholarship is highly competitive, with approximately 2% of applicants receiving an award.

Scholarship Benefits

The NL-High Potential Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for the approved scholarship period.

For 2027–2028, the official scholarship page lists the following benefits:

• Living expenses: €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme.
• Tuition fees: Covered at cost.
• Health and liability insurance: €700.
• Visa application costs: Covered at cost.
• Pre-Academic Training: Covered at cost.
• International Student Ambassador Programme: Covered for the first block.
• Accommodation: A room is allocated as part of the scholarship arrangement.

The living-expense allowance is paid through the Maastricht University International Services Desk. The university also notes that air tickets are not included in the scholarship, while a cleaning fee for the provided accommodation must be paid separately.

Scholarship recipients must participate in the mandatory two-week UM Pre-Academic Training, which starts in the first week of August 2027.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet all the official eligibility conditions.

You must:

• Be a national of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and meet the requirements for obtaining a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
• Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Apply for a participating full-time master’s programme at Maastricht University for 2027–2028.
• Have submitted a complete master’s admission application, satisfying all admission requirements, by 10 December 2026.
• Meet the specific admission requirements of your chosen master’s programme.
• Not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. Exchange students may apply.
• Be 35 years old or younger on 1 September 2027.
• Have excellent academic results, demonstrated by a latest transcript showing a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10, or the equivalent required by the university.
• Agree to become an active UM NL High Potential and UM ambassador during and after the programme.

Preference is given to applicants who have not previously obtained a master’s degree.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Choose an eligible master’s programme

Review Maastricht University’s participating master’s programmes and select a programme for which you meet the admission requirements.

Step 2: Apply for admission

Submit your master’s application through Studielink. After submission, you will receive a Maastricht University student ID, which is required for the scholarship application.

Step 3: Complete your admission file

Make sure your full admission application meets the programme requirements by 10 December 2026. Any programme-specific handling fee must also be paid by the applicable deadline.

Step 4: Prepare the scholarship documents

The scholarship application requires:

• A current CV of no more than two A4 pages
• A scholarship motivation letter using the university’s required template
• Official proof of academic excellence
• A document explaining your university’s grading system
• A personal statement explaining your financial need and circumstances
• A reference letter from an eligible referee
• Contact details for one referee

The university specifies that referees should be former professors, lecturers or employers, not family members. Reference letters must follow the university’s guidelines.

Step 5: Submit the scholarship application

Complete the official scholarship application form using your Maastricht University account. The university states that applicants can submit the scholarship application only once, so all documents and referee information should be checked carefully before submission.

Important Deadline

For the 2027–2028 academic year, scholarship applications open on 1 October 2026 and close on 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.

However, applicants must complete their participating master’s application file by 10 December 2026 to remain eligible for the scholarship.

Related Opportunities

• 2027 Gates Cambridge Scholarship in the UK – Fully funded postgraduate study opportunity at the University of Cambridge.
• GIST University South Korea Scholarship 2027 – Fully funded graduate study opportunity in South Korea.
• EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships in Italy 2027 – Fellowship opportunity at the European University Institute.

Official Application Link

For the latest eligibility requirements, participating programmes, application form and official instructions, applicants should use the Maastricht University scholarship page:

Final Note from AK Travels LTD

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is highly competitive and requires applicants to complete two connected processes: admission to an eligible Maastricht University master’s programme and the separate scholarship application.

Applicants should begin early, carefully check the admission requirements for their chosen programme, prepare all scholarship documents before submission, and ensure that both the 10 December 2026 admission-file deadline and 1 February 2027 scholarship deadline are respected.

For more international scholarship and study-abroad opportunities, visit http://www.aktravelsltd.com.