Destination Guide

Netherlands Scholarships for Kenyan Students: NL Scholarship, Wageningen & More (2026)

Every Dutch scholarship worth a Kenyan student's time in 2026 — the NL Scholarship, Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme, TU Delft Global Initiative, Erasmus Trustfonds, Groningen and Leiden awards — with eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.

By Scholarships for Africans EditorialSeptember 14, 202610 min read

A Kenyan student with a backpack cycling alongside a canal past brick Dutch university buildings

We just re-verified our entire Dutch catalogue — and the Netherlands is quietly one of the best-funded destinations for Kenyan students right now. Between the national NL Scholarship, university excellence awards and one fully funded programme reserved for Africans, a strong applicant can realistically stack enough funding to cover most of a degree.

For the live list with apply links, keep the Kenya → Netherlands scholarships page and our Dutch scholarships overview open alongside this guide.

The seven awards to know

1. NL Scholarship

€5,000 for non-EEA Bachelor's and Master's starters, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education and participating universities. Kenyans qualify at every participating institution. Deadlines are typically 1 February or 1 May depending on the university.

2. Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme

The crown jewel: a fully funded MSc at Wageningen — one of the world's top universities for agriculture, food and environment — reserved for citizens of African countries. Tuition, living costs, travel and insurance. Extremely competitive; apply early in the admissions cycle.

3. TU Delft Global Initiative & van Effen Scholarships

TU Delft funds a small number of excellent international MSc students, including full-scholarship Justus & Louise van Effen awards. Strong fit for Kenyan engineering and tech graduates; deadlines fall in early December.

4. Erasmus Trustfonds — Erasmus University Rotterdam

Merit awards for non-EEA Master's students in economics, business, law, social sciences and health — fields where Kenyans apply in large numbers.

5. University of Groningen LLM Talent Grant

Partial tuition grants for the one-year LLM programmes — the most accessible funded law route in the Netherlands for Kenyan law graduates.

6. Leiden University — Lutfia Rabbani Foundation Scholarship

Supports outstanding students with a demonstrated interest in Euro-Arab dialogue — relevant for Kenyan applicants from coastal and Islamic scholarly traditions, among others.

7. IHE Delft Water Scholarships (Horn of Africa window)

Kenya sits in the eligible Horn of Africa region for IHE Delft's funded MSc places in water and sustainable development — tuition plus living costs for selected candidates. The next deadline is 1 October 2026.

Application timeline for a September 2027 start

October–December 2026: submit university applications; TU Delft van Effen and Leiden excellence deadlines land 1 December.
1 February 2027: first NL Scholarship deadline at many universities.
1 May 2027: second NL Scholarship deadline at others.
May–July 2027: award decisions, visa (MVV) processing — the university sponsors it — and housing applications.

Next steps

Start with the Netherlands destination hub, cross-check your eligibility on the Kenya scholarships page, and let the matching tool rank these against your profile.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kenyan students get fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands?

Yes. The standout is the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme, which is fully funded and reserved for African citizens — Kenyans included. TU Delft's Justus & Louise van Effen scholarships and several university excellence awards also cover full or near-full costs. The NL Scholarship (€5,000) is partial but stacks with university awards.

What is the NL Scholarship and who can apply?

The NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) is a €5,000 award from the Dutch Ministry of Education and participating universities for non-EEA students — including Kenyans — starting a Bachelor's or Master's in the Netherlands. You apply through your chosen university, with deadlines typically on 1 February or 1 May.

Do Kenyan students need IELTS to study in the Netherlands?

Usually yes — most Dutch universities ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90. Some accept a letter confirming your prior degree was taught in English; check each university's admissions page.

Can I stay and work in the Netherlands after graduating?

Yes. The orientation year (zoekjaar) gives graduates a 12-month residence permit to find work, and during study non-EU students may work up to 16 hours per week or full-time in summer.

Hubs in this guide

Open the full scholarship pool for any topic referenced above.

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