VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme (VUFP) 2027

The VU Fellowship Programme is Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’s own merit award for non-EU and non-EEA students taking an English-taught Master’s degree. It waives tuition in full, which for international students facing institutional Dutch fees is the largest single cost removed, and VU Amsterdam commits roughly EUR 1 million a year to it.

One detail makes it more valuable than it first appears. Applying for VUFP automatically enters you for the NL Scholarship, worth EUR 5,000 or EUR 10,000 toward living costs, with no separate form to complete. The university has only around 20 to 25 NL Scholarships, so only a minority of VUFP awardees receive both, but there is no cost to being considered.

Be clear about what VUFP is not. On its own it covers tuition and provides no living allowance, so unless you also secure the NL Scholarship you will need to fund your own costs in one of Europe’s more expensive cities. Plan on that basis rather than assuming a full ride.

The sequencing catches people out. You must already hold a conditional or unconditional admission offer before you can apply for the fellowship, which in practice means submitting your Master’s application around 1 December for a 1 February scholarship deadline. February starters are not eligible at all.

• Hold a non-EU or non-EEA passport and not be eligible for the lower statutory tuition fee.
• Not hold Dutch nationality.
• Demonstrate academic excellence, with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.
• Conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master's programme at VU Amsterdam starting in September.
• The degree you are seeking admission with must not have been obtained in the Netherlands.
• You must not need a preparatory programme before starting the Master's.
• Students starting in February cannot apply, and joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not administer admission are excluded.
• Second-year continuation requires achieving 100 percent of the first year's credits.

• A full tuition waiver, which for non-EEA students at a Dutch research university is the single largest cost removed.
• Automatic consideration for the NL Scholarship with no separate application, adding EUR 5,000 or EUR 10,000 toward living costs.
• VU Amsterdam commits around EUR 1 million a year to the programme, so the number of awards is meaningful rather than token.
• Amsterdam is a major research and employment hub, and the Netherlands offers a post-study orientation year for graduates seeking work.
• Renewable into the second year of a two-year Master's on full credit completion.
• A wide range of English-taught Master's programmes participate.
• Be clear on the limit: VUFP covers tuition only and provides no living allowance by itself. Only a small number of VUFP awardees also receive the NL Scholarship, of which the university has roughly 20 to 25.

• Admission application to an eligible English-taught Master's programme at VU Amsterdam.
• Separate VUFP scholarship application, once conditionally admitted.
• Academic transcripts and degree certificate.
• Evidence of academic excellence equivalent to a Dutch 8 GPA.
• Motivation letter.
• Letters of recommendation as specified.
• English proficiency test results.
• Passport showing non-EU or non-EEA nationality.

• Submit your Master's programme application by around 1 December 2026, because you must be conditionally or unconditionally admitted before you can apply for the fellowship.
• Check that your programme participates, since joint programmes administered elsewhere are excluded.
• Apply for VUFP through the scholarship application once admission is confirmed, by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.
• Note that applying for VUFP automatically enters you for the NL Scholarship; no separate form is needed.
• Plan your living costs independently, since VUFP itself covers tuition only.
• If awarded, keep on top of credits: second-year continuation requires 100 percent of first-year credits.
• February starters are not eligible, so confirm your intake is September.