Netherlands scholarships for African students
The Netherlands hosts more English-taught degree programmes than any other non-Anglophone country in Europe — paired with the Holland Scholarship, Nuffic OKP and a deep bench of university-funded awards open to African students.
Browse the Holland Scholarship (EUR 5,000 for non-EEA Bachelors and Masters students), the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) and MENA Scholarship Programme run by Nuffic, plus university awards including Utrecht Excellence, Radboud Scholarship Programme, TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen, Eindhoven (TU/e) Amandus H. Lundqvist and the Wageningen Africa Scholarship. Use the filters below to narrow by level, field and funding type.
Loading…
Related pages
Read next
Dutch Scholarships for African Students Worth Checking Out in 2026
From the Holland Scholarship to Nuffic OKP and the Wageningen Africa Scholarship — the Netherlands quietly funds more African students than most realise. Here's what's on the table and what it takes to win.
Read article
Fully Funded vs Partial Scholarships: What African Students Should Know
Understanding the real cost of 'partial' funding and how to combine awards into a fully funded package.
Read article
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay (with Examples)
A step-by-step framework used by Chevening, Mastercard and Fulbright winners — including the exact opening lines that work.
Read articleFrequently asked questions
Can African students get fully funded scholarships in the Netherlands?
Yes. The Holland Scholarship, Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), MENA Scholarship Programme, and university awards like Utrecht Excellence, Radboud, TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen and Wageningen Africa Scholarship fully or substantially fund African students.
What is the Holland Scholarship?
The Holland Scholarship is a EUR 5,000 one-off award for non-EEA Bachelors and Masters students at participating Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. It is paid in the first year of study.
Do I need to speak Dutch to study in the Netherlands?
No — the Netherlands offers more English-taught degree programmes than any other non-Anglophone country in Europe. Almost every Masters and many Bachelors are delivered fully in English.
What is the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)?
OKP is a Nuffic-administered scholarship that funds professionals from selected African and Asian countries for short courses and Masters in the Netherlands, covering tuition, stipend, insurance and travel.
When do Dutch scholarship applications open?
The Holland Scholarship opens in October and closes 1 February or 1 May depending on the university. OKP windows run February–March and August–September each year. Always confirm dates on the specific scholarship page.
Can African graduates stay in the Netherlands after studying?
Yes — graduates qualify for the Orientation Year (zoekjaar) residence permit, giving 12 months to find skilled work, after which they can switch to a Highly Skilled Migrant or EU Blue Card permit.
Don't miss the next deadlineGet Netherlands scholarships for African students straight to your inbox.
Join 87,000+ African scholars getting weekly funded opportunities, deadlines and application tips — free.