Netherlands Scholarships for Nepali Students (2026)
The main scholarships that cut the cost of studying in the Netherlands — Holland Scholarship, Orange Tulip, university awards, and Erasmus Mundus.
The Netherlands is already affordable by Western-Europe standards, and scholarships can bring the cost down further. Be realistic, though: most Dutch scholarships are partial — they reduce your bill rather than cover everything. Fully funded packages exist (mainly through Erasmus Mundus and a few flagship university awards) but are highly competitive.
This guide covers the scholarships most relevant to Nepali students, with eligibility, amounts, and timing. All amounts are in euros with an approximate NPR figure (clearly labelled approx., at about EUR 1 ≈ NPR 150). Pair this with our Netherlands cost guide to see your net budget, and our broader scholarships hub for Nepali students.
Scholarships at a Glance
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Holland Scholarship | EUR 5,000 (one-time) | Bachelor's & Master's |
| Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS) | Partial to full tuition | Varies (country-specific) |
| University of Twente (UTS) | EUR 3,000-22,000 | Master's |
| Amsterdam Excellence (AES) | Full tuition + EUR 25,000 | Master's |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's | Full tuition + stipend + travel | Master's |
1. Holland Scholarship
The Holland Scholarship is the best-known entry point for international students. It is a one-time payment of EUR 5,000 (approx. NPR 7.5 Lakh) in your first year, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education together with more than 40 participating research universities and universities of applied sciences.
- Who: non-EEA students (Nepali students qualify) starting a full bachelor's or master's degree
- Value: EUR 5,000 in the first year (not a full ride, not renewable automatically)
- How: you apply directly to a participating university, not to a central body — each institution sets its own deadline (often early in the year)
See the official details and the list of participating institutions on the Study in NL (Nuffic) scholarship page.
2. Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS)
The Orange Tulip Scholarship is managed by Nuffic (the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education) and runs as country-specific programmes. Awards range from partial tuition waivers to, in some cases, full tuition plus living costs, depending on the participating university and the country edition.
Important for Nepali students: the OTS is offered through specific national editions (for example India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and others), and the participating countries change each cycle. Confirm whether a Nepal edition (or an edition you are eligible for) is currently open before relying on it. If there is no Nepal edition, focus your effort on the Holland Scholarship and university-specific awards instead.
3. University-Specific Scholarships
Most Dutch universities run their own merit scholarships, which are often the most realistic source of meaningful funding. Examples include:
- University of Twente Scholarship (UTS): EUR 3,000-22,000 toward tuition for strong master's applicants
- Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship (AES): full tuition plus a EUR 25,000 living stipend for exceptional UvA master's students
- Radboud Scholarship Programme: reduced tuition (a low “EEA-like” rate) plus insurance and visa costs
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS): EUR 10,000-15,000 or full-tuition awards
- Utrecht Excellence Scholarship: partial to full tuition, sometimes with a living allowance
- Eric Bleumink Fund (University of Groningen): full funding (tuition, travel, living) for selected master's students from developing countries
Amounts and eligibility change yearly, so always verify on the university's scholarship page. Choosing a university partly on its scholarship offer is smart — compare options in our top Dutch universities guide.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's
For a genuinely fully funded route, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degrees are hard to beat. These EU-funded programmes are taught across two or more European universities (often including a Dutch partner) and cover tuition, a monthly living stipend, and travel/installation costs.
- Open to Nepali students and highly competitive
- You apply directly to the specific joint programme (each has its own consortium and deadline, usually in the winter before a September start)
- Browse our wider list of fully funded scholarships for Nepali students for similar opportunities
How to Win a Dutch Scholarship
- Apply for admission early. Most scholarships require you to already hold (or be applying for) admission to the programme.
- Track deadlines per university. Scholarship deadlines are often earlier than admission deadlines — missing them is the most common mistake.
- Write a compelling motivation. A sharp statement of purpose is decisive — use our SOP writing guide.
- Maximise your academics and test scores. A strong IELTS helps; prepare with our IELTS preparation guide.
- Apply to several. Combine the Holland Scholarship with a university award and any joint-programme funding to stack support.