Nuffic Dutch government scholarships for African students
Nuffic administers Dutch government study funding for international students. Its flagship development scholarship, the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), ended in 2024 with no further rounds, so African applicants now apply for the NL Scholarship and university excellence awards at Dutch institutions.
The NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship) gives non-EEA Bachelor's and Master's students EUR 5,000 in their first year, applied for through each participating Dutch university. Alongside it, Dutch universities fund their own awards — Leiden LExS, Radboud, TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen, Maastricht NL-High Potential, Groningen Eric Bleumink, Wageningen's Africa Scholarship Programme and IHE Delft's water scholarships for the Sahel and Horn of Africa. The MENA Scholarship Programme remains open, but only to North African and MENA nationals.
About studying in Netherlands
See all Netherlands scholarships →The Netherlands runs NL Scholarship for African applicants, with English-taught Masters across Wageningen, TU Delft, Leiden and Erasmus Rotterdam.
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Languages
- English / Dutch
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Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Are Nuffic NL Scholarship scholarships open to African students?
Yes — African applicants are eligible for Nuffic NL Scholarship, subject to the country and academic eligibility set by the funder. Each listing on this page links to the official sponsor page where you can confirm the latest country list.
Are Nuffic NL Scholarship awards fully funded?
Most Nuffic NL Scholarship programmes cover full tuition, a monthly stipend, return airfare and health insurance. Each card on this page states the exact funding type so you can compare like-for-like.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for Nuffic NL Scholarship?
English proficiency is required when the programme is taught in English. Some Nuffic NL Scholarship streams accept Medium-of-Instruction letters or waive testing for Anglophone graduates — confirm on the official call.
When does Nuffic NL Scholarship open each year?
Nuffic NL Scholarship typically opens once a year. We refresh this page daily so only currently-open or imminently-opening calls appear.
Where can I study with a Nuffic NL Scholarship scholarship?
Nuffic NL Scholarship sends scholars to universities in the Netherlands. Specific eligible institutions and fields are listed on each scholarship card.
Are Dutch programmes really taught in English?
Yes — over 2,000 English-taught degree programmes run in the Netherlands, more than any country in continental Europe.
What does the NL Scholarship cover?
NL Scholarship covers tuition, monthly stipend, insurance, return flights and a study materials allowance for short courses and Masters at Dutch institutions on the eligible programme list.
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