The NL Scholarship (formerly known as the Holland Scholarship) is administered by Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education. It’s not a full-ride — it’s a starter grant meant to help offset the cost of your first year — but it’s one of the more accessible ways for Filipino students to get funding toward a Dutch degree, offered by 35 participating institutions across the Netherlands.

Who it’s for

• Filipino citizens — the Philippines is outside the European Economic Area, which is what makes Philippine citizens eligible for this specific scholarship
• Applicants admitted (or applying) to a bachelor’s or master’s program at one of the participating Dutch institutions — 11 research universities and 24 universities of applied sciences
• Students who haven’t already received a Dutch government scholarship for the same level of study
• Anyone applying for the first time to a full degree program in the Netherlands, not an exchange or short course

What it actually covers

The NL Scholarship is worth €5,000, paid out during your first year of study only. It’s meant to help with the first year’s tuition and living costs, not to fund your entire degree — so budget for the remaining years separately, whether through savings, part-time work (allowed under Dutch student visa rules within limits), or another funding source.

How to apply

1. Pick a participating institution and program first — the scholarship is tied to specific universities, not a general Dutch-government application.
2. Apply to your chosen program through the institution’s own admissions process.
3. Apply for the NL Scholarship directly through that same institution, following their specific instructions and internal deadline — each participating school runs its own selection.
4. Check whether your chosen institution requires the scholarship application before or alongside your program application, since this varies by school.

Deadlines to watch

The 2026–2027 cycle opened for applications on 1 November 2025. Deadlines vary by participating institution, so once you’ve picked a school, check that specific institution’s page for its NL Scholarship deadline rather than assuming a single nationwide date. Details are maintained on studyinnl.org.

The honest part

Treat this as a discount, not full funding — €5,000 helps, but it won’t cover a year of Dutch tuition and living costs on its own for most programs. It’s worth combining with a part-time job plan or personal savings, and worth applying early since each institution manages its own limited slots.