Thinking about a February 2026 start in the Netherlands? Great choice – several Dutch universities do offer Spring (often called February) intakes. The funding landscape, however, is a little different: many of the flagship Dutch scholarships in the Netherlands are tied to the main September 2026 intake, while a smaller set can align with February 2026 starts depending on your programme and faculty. So, use the list below to focus your NL scholarship search efficiently for spring 2026 admission.
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How to Read this Netherlands Scholarship Guide for 2026?
- Intake fit: Whether a scholarship typically works for February starts.
- Level: Bachelor (BSc/BA), Master (MSc/MA), Research Master, or PhD.
- Coverage: Tuition only / partial / full (tuition + living).
- Deadlines for Spring 2026: Where known, typical windows you should plan around (confirm on your programme page at Dutch universities webportals, as each faculty can differ).
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Netherlands Government Scholarships at Dutch Universities for 2026
International students looking to begin their studies in the Netherlands in 2026 have two of the most recognized government-backed funding opportunities: the NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship) and the Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS). Both provide valuable financial support, but their availability depends on the university, programme, and intake period. If you’re aiming for a Spring 2026 (February) intake, here’s what you need to know.
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1# NL Scholarship (formerly Holland Scholarship)
- Level: Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes (for non-EEA students).
- Coverage: One-time grant, usually €5,000, applied toward the first year of study.
- Intake Fit: Available for both September and, in some cases, February 2026 intake. Each Dutch university manages its own call for applications, so availability for Spring 2026 varies by programme.
- Plan Ahead for Spring 2026: Shortlist your preferred programmes by September–October 2025. Keep an eye on your chosen university’s official scholarship page to see if a February 2026 scholarship call opens.
This scholarship is one of the easiest entry points for international students since it is available across multiple Dutch universities, including VU Amsterdam, Maastricht University, Radboud University, University of Groningen, and Tilburg University.
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2# Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS)
- Level: Primarily Master’s programmes; available to students from specific countries through Neso (Netherlands Education Support Offices).
- Coverage: Varies by partnership—ranging from partial tuition waivers to full tuition coverage.
- Intake Fit: Traditionally aligned with September intakes, but some Dutch universities and faculties may allow OTS funding for a February 2026 start.
- Plan Ahead for Spring 2026: OTS calls typically open in autumn and close in early winter of the year before enrolment. For Spring 2026, check by October–November 2025 with your country’s Neso office and hosting university.
Because OTS is country-specific, international students should carefully review the eligibility criteria in their home country. Each partner university sets its own conditions, so early planning is essential.
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Dutch University Specific Scholarships (by institution) for Spring 2026
While many scholarships in the Netherlands are designed for the September intake, several universities provide options that international students can explore for a Spring 2026 (February) start. Below is a university-by-university overview of scholarships, their coverage, intake fit, and what is realistic for a February 2026 admission:
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1# Maastricht University (UM) – October 1, 2025 Opening
UM NL-High Potential Scholarship (with NL Scholarship) – Master
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- Coverage: Full (tuition + monthly stipend + possibly visa/insurance).
- Intake fit: Mostly September-aligned. Some UM Master’s programmes do start in February; ask the faculty whether a February 2026 start can be paired with this fund.
Orange Tulip Scholarship (country-specific) – Master
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- Coverage: Varies by track/faculty.
- Intake fit: Mostly September, but check whether your faculty has a Spring-eligible OTS track.
What’s realistic for Feb 2026 at UM? – If your specific Master’s offers a February start, prioritize NL Scholarship (if the faculty runs a Spring call) and faculty-level waivers. Otherwise, consider shifting to September 2026 to access UM High Potential.
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2# Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – Master (non-EU/EEA)
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- Coverage: Tuition waiver (often full or large partial, no stipend).
- Intake fit: Typically September; limited February alignment.
NL Scholarship – Bachelor/Master (non-EEA)
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- Coverage: One-time grant; administered by VU.
- Intake fit: Possible for February depending on programme call.
Orange Tulip Scholarship – Master
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- Coverage: Partial/tuition waivers vary by faculty.
- Intake fit: Usually September; check country/faculty pairing.
What’s realistic for Feb 2026 at VU? – Shortlist programmes that explicitly list a 1 February start (e.g., selected Business or Finance tracks). For funding, target NL Scholarship and faculty awards; VUFP is more reliably available for September 2026 entries.
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Research Master Scholarship (selected Research Master programmes – Ref)
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- Coverage: Tuition reduced (often to statutory fee) and/or waivers.
- Intake fit: Depends on the Research Master’s start window; many begin late summer, but check your track for February feasibility.
Koopmans Scholarship (Research Master in Economics)
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- Coverage: Merit funding for Research Master Economics.
- Intake fit: Programme-cycle dependent; historically assessed around early February deadlines for the next cohort (often September starts).
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CentER Scholarship (TiSEM Research Master)
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- Coverage: Stipend + (partial) tuition waiver.
- Intake fit: Typically aligned to Research Master cohort (often September 2026).
What’s realistic for Feb 2026 at Tilburg?
Tilburg offers February intakes for various taught Master’s and Pre-Master’s. For funding in Feb, look at NL Scholarship (if a Spring call exists at your faculty) and programme-specific waivers listed on your school page. Research-Master scholarships frequently map to September cohorts.
Radboud Scholarship Programme (RSP) – Master (non-EU/EEA)
Fully funded scholarships
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- Coverage: Major tuition reduction + living support.
- Intake fit: Presently September-only in most cycles.
NL Scholarship – Bachelor/Master (non-EEA)
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- Coverage: One-time grant; administered by Radboud.
- Intake fit: Calls commonly point to September; check if a February 2026 call appears for your programme.
What’s realistic for Feb 2026 at Radboud?
Radboud does offer February starts in some Master’s, but the flagship RSP typically doesn’t cover February entries. For a Spring 2026 start, prioritize NL Scholarship (if opened for Feb) and faculty-level awards/waivers.
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5# University of Groningen (RUG)
NL Scholarship – Bachelor/Master (non-EEA)
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- Coverage: One-time €5,000 (typical).
- Intake fit: Possible—Groningen sometimes runs multiple calls per cycle; confirm alignment with a February start.
Eric Bleumink Fund (EBF) – Master
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- Coverage: Full (tuition + stipend) for outstanding candidates.
- Intake fit: September-only (not for February).
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Faculty Talent Grants (various faculties)
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- Coverage: Varies (partial tuition waivers, top-ups).
- Intake fit: Faculty-dependent; some may consider February.
What’s realistic for Feb 2026 at Groningen?
Target NL Scholarship and faculty talent grants if your programme offers February entry. Whereas, EBF scholarship requires September entry.
Quick Planning Timeline for a February 2026 Start
June–August 2025
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- Finalize your target programmes that explicitly offer February 2026 entry.
- Draft materials: CV, transcripts, English test, statement(s), references.
September–November 2025
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- Submit degree applications by the non-EU deadlines often around 1 November 2025 (varies by university/programme).
- Check for NL Scholarship Spring-eligible calls at your university/faculty; prepare any Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS) options if your country/faculty supports Spring.
November–December 2025
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- EU/EEA deadlines often fall around 1 December 2025 for February starts.
- Continue watching faculty pages for programme-specific waivers or talent grants.
January 2026
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- Some universities accept EU/permit-holders slightly later; complete any final steps (acceptance, visa, housing).
- If funding is limited for February, consider deferring to September 2026 to access broader flagship scholarships.
Strategy: Maximize your odds for Spring 2026
- Start with programmes that clearly list a February start. Scholarships follow programmes—not the other way around.
- Prioritize NL Scholarship and faculty-level awards for Spring; these are the most likely to align with February.
- Ask admissions/scholarship offices directly whether a September-oriented award can be granted for a February cohort of the same academic year—some faculties are flexible if budget cycles allow.
- Have a September backup. If your dream scholarship (VUFP, RSP, EBF, UM High Potential) is September-only, decide early whether shifting to September 2026 makes sense.
Summary of NL Scholarships Available in 2026
| University | NL Scholarship | OTS | Flagship Uni Scholarship | Notes for Feb 2026 |
| Maastricht (UM) | Possible (programme call-dependent) | Maybe (country/faculty-specific) | UM High Potential: Mostly September | Strong Feb offering in some programmes; verify scholarship pairing. |
| VU Amsterdam | Possible (programme call-dependent) | Maybe | VUFP: Mostly September | Choose programmes with 1 Feb start; lean on NL Scholarship/faculty funds. |
| Tilburg | Possible (programme call-dependent) | Maybe | Research-Master awards: Often September cohort | Many taught Masters/Pre-Masters have Feb start; check faculty waivers. |
| Radboud | Occasional Feb calls | Maybe | RSP: September-only (typical) | Some Masters start in Feb; funding skewed to Sep. |
| Groningen | Possible (multiple calls some years) | Rare for Feb | EBF: September-only | Faculty talent grants may help for Feb. |
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DATE . Sep/17/2025