Eric Bleumink Fund — University of Groningen
Full scholarship covering tuition, travel, books, insurance and living costs for talented students from developing countries (with strong African focus) to do a master's at the University of Groningen.
- Provider
- University of Groningen
- Host country
- Netherlands
- Deadline
- 1 December (annual)
- Region
- Africa
About this scholarship
Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Nationality of an eligible developing country (incl. many African countries)
- admitted to a participating UG master's programme
- outstanding academic record and motivation.
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
- Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
- Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (1 December (annual)). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.
- 12 months out6 Dec 2000
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out4 Jun 2001
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out2 Sept 2001
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out1 Nov 2001
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline1 Dec 2001
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Eric Bleumink Fund — University of Groningen?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Masters level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by University of Groningen, and be able to relocate to Netherlands for the duration of the programme.
Is the Eric Bleumink Fund — University of Groningen fully funded?+
Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is 1 December (annual). Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.