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quick answer
Can a Pakistani student get a scholarship to study in the Netherlands?
Yes, there are real Netherlands scholarships for Pakistani students, through three routes: the national NL Scholarship, a partial award of €5,000; full university scholarships such as the Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship; and the EU-wide Erasmus Mundus programme. There is no central Pakistan portal. You apply for admission to a Dutch programme first, then apply for the scholarship through that same university.
Netherlands scholarships at a glance
The Netherlands gives Pakistani students one national scholarship and a set of university scholarships, with full funding available only through a small number of competitive university awards and the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus programme.
Who funds it
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (NL Scholarship); individual Dutch universities (university awards); the European Union (Erasmus Mundus)
Study levels
Bachelor’s and Master’s for the NL Scholarship; Master’s only for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship
NL Scholarship value
€5,000, paid once, in the first year only. A partial award, not full tuition
Eric Bleumink Fellowship value
full funding covering tuition, international travel, living allowance, books, and health insurance (Master’s, University of Groningen)
University of Twente Scholarship value
€3,000 to €22,000 for one year, renewable into a second year on a two-year MSc where conditions are met
The Pakistan mechanism
no central portal, no HEC nomination, no embassy track. You apply to the Dutch university first, then apply for that university’s scholarship
Language
IELTS or TOEFL is usually required; the University of Twente Scholarship states IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in speaking, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in speaking
Age limit
none published by these schemes. Verify any age condition from the official source of your chosen programme (SC6
Typical timing
NL Scholarship opens around 1 November each year with spring university deadlines; Eric Bleumink needs Master’s admission by around 1 December; the University of Twente Scholarship closes around 1 May for the September intake
Fully funded options
the Eric Bleumink Fellowship and Erasmus Mundus. The national NL Scholarship is partial only
Your three routes into a Dutch scholarship
Pakistani students reach a Netherlands scholarship through three routes: the national NL Scholarship, individual university scholarships, and the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus programme. Each is applied for in a different place, and only two of the three offer full funding.
NL Scholarship (the national route)
The NL Scholarship is the Netherlands’ national award for non-EEA students, worth €5,000 paid once in the first year, and it is a partial award rather than full tuition. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating universities, and it is open to Pakistani students starting a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s who do not already hold a Dutch degree. You apply through the university you have chosen, against that university’s own deadline, after you have an admission application in progress. The 2026 to 2027 round opened on 1 November 2025; the next cycle follows the same annual pattern, opening around 1 November.
University scholarships (where full funding lives)
University scholarships are where a Pakistani student can find full funding, and they are decided by each university on its own terms. Two verified examples lead this route. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship at the University of Groningen is a full Master’s award covering tuition, international travel, a living allowance, books, and health insurance; Pakistan is on its official eligible-countries list, you cannot apply for it directly, and you are nominated only after you hold a Master’s admission offer in time. The University of Twente Scholarship is a merit award of €3,000 to €22,000 for one year, renewable into a second year on a two-year MSc, for non-EEA students in the top 5 to 10 percent of their class. Both need admission first, then a scholarship step at the same university. Other Dutch universities run their own awards, which MTZ checks for you against your chosen programme.
Erasmus Mundus (the EU fully funded route)
Erasmus Mundus is the European Union’s fully funded Master’s programme, and for many Pakistani students it is the strongest path to studying at a Dutch university with living costs covered. Because it is an EU-level programme spanning several countries rather than a Dutch national scheme, MTZ covers it in full on the Europe scholarships page, and this page links you straight there.
Are you eligible for a Netherlands scholarship?
A Pakistani student is eligible for a Netherlands scholarship by holding non-EEA nationality, securing admission to a participating Dutch programme, meeting the English-language bar, and applying through the university, with field and merit conditions set by each scheme.
All three routes require non-EEA nationality, which Pakistani citizens hold, so the basic nationality gate is met. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship adds a further condition: your country must appear on the University of Groningen’s eligible developing-countries list, and Pakistan is on that list.
The NL Scholarship covers full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s study. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship are Master’s only. You must not already hold a degree from a Dutch institution for the NL Scholarship.
Dutch universities teach these programmes in English and usually require IELTS or TOEFL; a Medium of Instruction letter alone is rarely accepted at research universities. The University of Twente Scholarship states academic IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in speaking, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in speaking. Confirm the exact test and score on your chosen programme’s admission page.
There is no central Pakistan portal, no HEC nomination, and no embassy track for Netherlands scholarships. You apply for admission to a Dutch programme first, secure your offer and student number, then apply for the scholarship through that same university or are considered automatically. This is the single biggest difference from schemes like Stipendium Hungaricum.
The NL Scholarship lists eligible programmes per institution, so not every degree qualifies. The University of Twente Scholarship excludes Master’s programmes at the ITC Faculty (Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation) and the pre-Master programme. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship applies across the University of Groningen’s Master’s programmes, subject to admission.
None of these three schemes publishes an age limit. MTZ states no age cutoff and asks families to verify any age condition from the official source of the chosen programme (SC6). The enquiry form shows no age field.
How the Dutch system works for Pakistani applicants
The Netherlands has no government scholarship agency for Pakistan and splits its universities into two types, so a Pakistani applicant must understand both before choosing where to apply.
The first thing to understand is that no Dutch body nominates you and no Pakistani body sends you. Unlike Hungary, where Tempus Public Foundation and HEC run a two-portal nomination, every Netherlands scholarship is tied to a university admission and applied for at that university. If you are not admitted, there is no scholarship to win. This is why securing a strong admission offer early is the real work of a Netherlands application.
The second thing is the split between two kinds of institution, because it decides which awards apply to you:
Research universities (WO): degree-focused, research-led institutions such as the University of Groningen, the University of Twente, and Utrecht University. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship sit here, and most full funding does too.
Universities of applied sciences (HBO): career-focused institutions such as The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Hanze University of Applied Sciences. Many take part in the NL Scholarship, so the €5,000 partial award is reachable here, but the large full-funding awards are concentrated at the research universities.
For a Pakistani student aiming at full funding, the practical reading is simple: target a research university Master’s, secure admission in good time, and apply for that university’s own scholarship. For a partial top-up at either type of institution, the NL Scholarship is the route.
Documents you’ll need for a Netherlands scholarship
A Netherlands scholarship application uses the same document set as your university admission, plus a short scholarship step, and the final checklist is set by the university you apply to.
What you submit (verified items; your chosen university’s own list governs, SS8):
⚫ Academic transcripts and degree certificates for every qualification completed, in English or with a certified English translation
⚫ English-language test result usually IELTS or TOEFL, at the score your programme requires
⚫ Valid passport used for both admission and, later, the student visa
⚫ Curriculum vitae (CV) setting out your education and any work or research experience
⚫ Motivation letter explaining why this programme and this university
⚫ References or recommendation letters where the programme or award asks for them, which the Eric Bleumink Fellowship does
⚫ Evidence of financial need for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship, which assesses need as part of selection
⚫ University student number issued after you start your admission application, needed for the NL Scholarship and University of Twente Scholarship steps
This block lists what you hand in. Who can apply is covered separately under Eligibility, so the two do not overlap. MTZ confirms each university’s current document list in writing before you submit, because the exact set changes by programme
What a Netherlands scholarship covers, and what it does not
A Netherlands scholarship covers anything from a €5,000 first-year contribution to full tuition with living costs, depending entirely on which route you win, so it is worth knowing the limits of each before you apply.
Covered
⚫ NL Scholarship: €5,000, paid once, in the first year of study
⚫ Eric Bleumink Fellowship: full tuition, international travel, a living allowance, books, and health insurance, for the Master’s duration
⚫ University of Twente Scholarship: €3,000 to €22,000 for one year, renewable into a second year on a two-year MSc where the conditions are met
Not covered
⚫ NL Scholarship: tuition beyond the first €5,000, all living costs, insurance, and study years after the first. The official source is plain that it is not a full-tuition scholarship
⚫ University of Twente Scholarship: any gap between the award and your actual tuition and living costs, which you fund yourself
⚫ All routes: your visa fee and Dutch proof-of-funds requirement still apply; a partial award does not remove the income evidence the visa needs
figures above are in euros, the currency these schemes are paid in. Any rupee value shifts with the euro-to-rupee rate, so treat any conversion as indicative only and budget at a conservative rate. WhatsApp MTZ Islamabad or Lahore for the current rupee picture before you make any payment or budgeting decision. MTZ does not publish a fixed rupee table for these awards.
How to apply for a Netherlands scholarship from Pakistan
You apply for a Netherlands scholarship by securing admission to a Dutch programme first, then applying for that university’s scholarship, because no central Pakistan portal or government body handles it for you.
step-1 →
Choose your programme and university. Decide on the degree and the institution before anything else, because the scholarship follows the admission. For full funding, aim at a research university Master’s; for the partial NL Scholarship, either a research university or a university of applied sciences works.
step-2 →
Apply for admission. Submit your admission application to the chosen Dutch university and work toward an offer and a student number. Your offer, or being in the process of admission, is what makes you a scholarship candidate.
step-3 →
Apply for the scholarship at that same university. For the NL Scholarship and the University of Twente Scholarship, complete the separate scholarship application once you have your student number. For the Eric Bleumink Fellowship there is no separate application: the University of Groningen nominates candidates from admitted students, so a timely, strong admission is the whole task
step-4 →
Meet that university’s deadline. There is no single national deadline. The NL Scholarship opens around 1 November each year with university deadlines through spring; the University of Twente Scholarship closes around 1 May for the September intake; the Eric Bleumink route needs Master’s admission by around 1 December. MTZ confirms the live dates for your chosen university before you start, because they shift each cycle.
step-5
Prepare for the visa in parallel. A scholarship offer supports your case but does not replace the Dutch student visa and proof-of-funds step. Start gathering those documents alongside the application so an offer does not stall at the visa stage.
How MTZ helps you apply
MTZ helps you win a Netherlands scholarship by getting the admission right first, then guiding each university’s scholarship step, document set, submission, and visa, while leaving every funding decision to the funder.
We look at your grades, degree, English-test position, and target level, then tell you honestly which routes are realistic for you: the partial NL Scholarship, a full university award such as the Eric Bleumink Fellowship, or Erasmus Mundus at EU level. If a route is a poor fit, we say so early.
Because the scholarship follows the admission, we match you to Dutch programmes where your profile is competitive and where the scholarship you want actually exists, splitting research universities from universities of applied sciences so you aim at the right type for full or partial funding.
We build your admission application and the separate scholarship step together: transcripts and translations in order, a CV that reads well to a Dutch admissions office, and a motivation letter tied to the specific programme. For the Eric Bleumink route we help you present academic record and financial need clearly.
We submit against each university’s live deadline, keep your student number and portal steps on track, and follow the application through to the decision, so nothing lapses between admission and the scholarship cut-off.
A scholarship offer is not the visa. We prepare your Dutch student visa file and proof-of-funds evidence in parallel, so an offer moves to enrolment without stalling.
Start with the free scholarship eligibility assessment:
The honest limits you should know
MTZ does not award or guarantee any Netherlands scholarship; every award is decided by the funder, and there are real limits worth knowing before you set your expectations.
MTZ does not award or guarantee any scholarship. The NL Scholarship, the Eric Bleumink Fellowship, the University of Twente Scholarship, and Erasmus Mundus are all decided by the funder on merit and their own criteria. We prepare and submit a strong application; we cannot promise an outcome.
The national award is partial, not full. The NL Scholarship is €5,000 in the first year only. It helps, but it does not fund a full degree, and you should plan for tuition and living costs beyond it.
Full funding is competitive and limited. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship and Erasmus Mundus fund few students against many strong applicants. Treat full funding as a stretch goal, not a default.
No scholarship without admission. If you are not admitted to the Dutch programme in time, there is no scholarship to apply for. Admission timing is the part that most often decides the result.
The Orange Knowledge Programme has closed. The Dutch government’s Orange Knowledge Programme ended on 31 December 2024 and runs no new rounds. If you have read about it, it is no longer a route; use the live routes on this page instead.
The Orange Tulip Scholarship is not open to Pakistan. It runs only through Nuffic Neso country offices, and Pakistan has none, so Pakistani students cannot apply for it.
Compare the three Netherlands routes
The three Netherlands routes differ most in funding depth and level, so the table below compares the NL Scholarship, university scholarships, and Erasmus Mundus side by side to help you pick where to apply.
| What matters | NL Scholarship | University scholarships | Erasmus Mundus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funder | Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with universities | Individual Dutch universities | European Union |
| Funding depth | Partial: €5,000, first year only | Partial up to full (Eric Bleumink is full) | Full (tuition, living allowance, travel) |
| Levels | Bachelor’s and Master’s | Master’s | Master’s |
| Where you apply | Through your chosen university | Through your chosen university | Through the joint programme consortium |
| Pakistan eligible | Yes, non-EEA | Yes (Eric Bleumink lists Pakistan; Twente is non-EEA) | Yes |
| Typical deadline | University deadlines through spring | About 1 December (Groningen) to 1 May (Twente) | Programme deadlines, usually winter |
| Covered on this page | Full detail here | Full detail here | Summary here, full guide on the Europe page |
Netherlands scholarship FAQs for Pakistani students
Pakistani students and parents ask the same questions about Netherlands scholarships, so here are direct answers on funding, eligibility, deadlines, and how the application works.
Yes. Pakistani students can apply for the national NL Scholarship, for university scholarships such as the Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship, and for EU-wide Erasmus Mundus. Each is applied for after you start a university admission.
Yes, but they are limited. Full funding comes from a few competitive university awards, such as the Eric Bleumink Fellowship at the University of Groningen, and from Erasmus Mundus at EU level. The national NL Scholarship is partial, not full.
The NL Scholarship is worth 5,000 euros, paid once, in the first year of study. It is a partial award, so it does not cover full tuition, living costs, or the years after the first.
Yes. The Holland Scholarship was officially renamed the NL Scholarship. It is the same Dutch national award of 5,000 euros in the first year for non-EEA students, including Pakistani students.
The NL Scholarship is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science together with participating universities. University scholarships are funded by each university. Erasmus Mundus is funded by the European Union.
No. There is no HEC nomination, no embassy track, and no central Pakistan portal for Netherlands scholarships. You apply to the Dutch university first, then apply for that university’s scholarship or are considered automatically.
Usually yes. Dutch universities teach these programmes in English and generally require IELTS or TOEFL. The University of Twente Scholarship states IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in speaking, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in speaking. Confirm the exact requirement on your programme’s admission page.
None of these schemes publishes an age limit. Verify any age condition from the official source of your chosen programme before you apply.
Yes, through the NL Scholarship, which covers full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s study. The Eric Bleumink Fellowship and the University of Twente Scholarship are Master’s only.
The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is a full Master’s scholarship at the University of Groningen covering tuition, travel, a living allowance, books, and insurance. Pakistan is on its eligible-countries list. You cannot apply directly; you are nominated after holding a Master’s admission offer in time.
They follow an annual pattern. The NL Scholarship opens around 1 November with university deadlines through spring; the University of Twente Scholarship closes around 1 May for the September intake; the Eric Bleumink route needs Master’s admission by around 1 December. MTZ confirms the live dates for your university.
No. The Dutch government’s Orange Knowledge Programme closed on 31 December 2024 and runs no new rounds. Use the live routes on this page instead.
No. MTZ does not award or guarantee any scholarship. Every award is decided by the funder on merit and its own criteria. MTZ prepares and submits a strong application but cannot promise an outcome.
MTZ assesses your profile, matches you to programmes where your scholarship exists, builds your admission and scholarship applications, submits against the live deadline, and prepares your student visa file, so admission and funding move together.
Start your Netherlands scholarship application with MTZ
Closing line: Tell us your degree, grades, and target level, and MTZ will tell you honestly which Netherlands routes are realistic for you and how to apply through the right university. We do not award or guarantee scholarships; we help you put your strongest application in front of the funder.
Author: Mubbashir Qureshi, CEO, MTZ Global Visa Consultants Pvt Ltd. 25+ years personal experience guiding Pakistani students into study abroad and international education.
Figures on this page were verified at official sources on 13 June 2026. Next review: 1 October 2026. Spotted an error? WhatsApp +92 315 155 5507 and MTZ corrects verified errors within 24 hours.
