VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme (VUFP)

Critères d'éligibilité

Non-EU/EEA students paying the higher institutional tuition fee, including African applicants, admitted to a VU Amsterdam master's programme.

Présentation du programme

# VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) Brief ## Overview The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) is a prestigious, merit-based tuition fee waiver offered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Designed to attract highly motivated and academically excellent international students, the VUFP provides a unique opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in the Netherlands. The university demonstrates its commitment to global talent by allocating approximately 1 million euros to this program. It is specifically intended for students from non-EU/EEA countries who are subject to higher tuition fees. The VUFP can be combined with the NL Scholarship, which offers a contribution towards living costs, although a separate application for the NL Scholarship is not required as it is integrated into the VUFP application process. This brief outlines the key aspects of the VUFP to assist prospective applicants. ## Benefits * **Tuition Fee Waiver:** The primary benefit of the VUFP is a full tuition fee waiver, significantly reducing the financial burden of pursuing a Master's degree in the Netherlands for non-EU/EEA students. It is crucial to note that the scholarship *only* covers tuition fees and does not include allowances for living expenses such as rent, food, or insurance. * **Opportunity to Combine with NL Scholarship:** While applying for the VUFP, applicants are automatically considered for the NL Scholarship. This additional scholarship provides a contribution towards living costs, typically €5,000 or €10,000 for the first year of study. However, the NL Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of VUFP recipients (around 20-25 per year) and is only for the first year of a Master's program. * **Two-Year Programme Coverage (Conditional):** For students enrolled in a two-year Master's programme, the VUFP scholarship can be extended for the second year, provided that 100% of the first-year ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) have been successfully achieved. * **International Student Ambassador Role:** As a recipient of the VUFP, students agree to become an international student ambassador for VU Amsterdam. This involves engaging with prospective international students, for example, through the Unibuddy chat platform, and contributing to the university's international community. A Kick-Off session and an Ambassador Handbook are provided to support this role. ## Eligibility To be considered for the VU Fellowship Programme, applicants must meet the following stringent criteria: * **Nationality:** Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for the lower tuition fee. Dutch nationality holders are not eligible. * **Academic Excellence:** Demonstrate academic excellence with a GPA (Grade Point Average) equivalent to a Dutch 8.0 on a 1-10 scale. This is a minimum requirement, and actual awardees typically have higher overall scores based on multiple factors. * **Admission Status:** Be conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master’s programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, starting in September. Students starting in February are not eligible. * **Programme Exclusions:** Joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not manage the admission process are excluded from VUFP eligibility. * **Prior Education Location:** The degree with which the applicant is seeking admission must not have been obtained in the Netherlands. Furthermore, applicants must not currently be enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's programme in the Netherlands. * **Preparatory Programmes:** Applicants should not require a preparatory programme before the commencement of their Master's studies. * **Two-Year Programme Specifics:** Students already enrolled in a two-year Master’s programme who did not receive the VUFP in the previous academic year are not eligible to apply for the current VUFP cycle. ## Required Documents Applicants for the VUFP must prepare and submit specific documentation as part of their application. Failure to provide complete and accurate information will result in the application being considered incomplete. * **Completed VUFP-NLS Application Form:** This is the primary application document. Applicants must ensure they use the correct and most recent version of the form (e.g., "VUFP-NLS Application form 2026-2027.pdf"). All questions on the form must be answered thoroughly. * **GPA Proof / Programme Transcript:** This document serves as evidence of academic excellence. It should clearly show the applicant's grades from their Bachelor's degree. Even if a Master's degree has been completed, only the Bachelor's GPA will be considered for VUFP purposes. * **Grading Scale Explanation:** Alongside the transcript, a clear explanation of the grading scale used by the applicant's previous institution is required. This helps the VUFP Scholarship Committee accurately assess the GPA against the Dutch grading system. * **Single PDF File:** The completed application form, GPA proof/programme transcript, and grading scale explanation must be saved as a *single* PDF file and uploaded to the Scholarship section of the applicant's personal VU dashboard. ## How to Apply The application process for the VU Fellowship Programme involves several distinct steps, emphasizing timely submission and careful adherence to instructions: 1. **Register for a Master’s Programme (from 1 October):** Begin by registering for your desired Master's programme via Studielink and then in your personal dashboard on vu.nl. Applicants must achieve conditional admission to their chosen Master's programme *before* they can apply for the VUFP scholarship. It is highly recommended to submit the Master's programme application no later than 1 December to allow sufficient time for processing, especially if the programme includes an intake or assessment procedure. 2. **Submit VUFP Application (from 1 November):** Once conditionally admitted, applicants can submit their VUFP application through their personal VU dashboard. It is crucial to note that applicants can only apply for the VUFP for *one* Master's programme. If applying to multiple Master's degrees, a choice must be made for which programme the VUFP application is submitted. 3. **Complete the VUFP-NLS Application Form:** Fill out the specific VUFP-NLS application form, ensuring all questions are answered and the correct version is used. At the end of the form, paste the GPA proof/programme transcript and a grading scale explanation. The entire document (form, GPA proof, grading scale) must be saved as a *single* PDF file. 4. **Upload the Application:** Upload the single PDF file to the Scholarship section located on the "Complete Registration" page of your personal VU dashboard. Applicants can only submit their application once, so thorough review before submission is essential. ## Key Dates Adhering to the application timeline is critical for prospective VUFP applicants. Missing deadlines will result in the inability to be considered for the scholarship. * **Master's Programme Registration Opens:** 1 October 2025 * **Advised Deadline Master's Programme Application:** 1 December 2025 (to ensure conditional admission in time for scholarship application) * **VUFP Application Opens:** 1 November 2025 * **Deadline VUFP Application:** 1 February 2026 (23:59 CET) * **Notification of Results (Expected):** Mid-March 2026 (approximately 6 weeks after the application deadline) * **Deadline for Acceptance of Scholarship Offer:** End of March 2026 (2 weeks after results are published) ## Selection Criteria The selection process for the VU Fellowship Programme is highly competitive, with a small percentage of applicants ultimately receiving the scholarship. The Central VUFP Committee makes the final decisions based on a holistic review that considers several factors beyond just academic grades. * **Academic Performance (GPA):** While a minimum GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.0 is required, meeting this threshold does not guarantee a scholarship. The committee assesses academic excellence based on the GPA from the Bachelor's degree and its comparative standing within the applicant's home country's grading culture. * **Motivation:** The applicant's motivation for choosing Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and their specific Master's programme, as well as their future ambitions, play a significant role in the evaluation. * **Extracurricular Activities:** Engagement in extracurricular activities can also strengthen an application, demonstrating a well-rounded profile. * **Overall Score:** A total score is calculated based on these various factors, including GPA, motivation, and extracurricular engagement. Faculties nominate applicants to the Central Scholarship Committee, which then awards scholarships to the most talented students based on this comprehensive assessment. ## Tips Given the competitive nature of the VUFP, prospective applicants should consider the following tips to maximize their chances of success: * **Apply Early for Master's Programme:** Start your Master

Le descriptif détaillé du bailleur reste en anglais, car c'est la langue du dossier de candidature.

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