About this opportunity
The VU Fellowship Programme 2027 offers a full tuition fee waiver for talented non-EU/EEA students starting a full time English taught masters at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in September 2027. With approximately EUR 1 million committed to the programme, VUFP covers tuition fees only for a one or two year masters, so living costs in Amsterdam must be funded separately. Applicants are automatically considered for the NL Scholarship, a one-off EUR 5,000 contribution towards living costs for the first year, although only a few VUFP recipients receive it. With academic excellence proven by a bachelor GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8 and a firm 1 February 2027 deadline, VUFP is one of the strongest Netherlands masters scholarships for high achieving international students.
The VU Fellowship Programme 2027 is a partially funded scholarship offered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for applicants heading to Netherlands. Applications close on Feb 1, 2027.
Who should apply?
This may be a fit if the following points describe you. Always use the official criteria as the final check.
- Hold a non-EU/EEA passport, not hold Dutch nationality, and not be eligible for the lower Dutch tuition fee
- Prove academic excellence with a bachelor GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8; VU converts grades using expert data, and applicants must not convert grades themselves
- Be conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full time English taught masters programme at VU Amsterdam starting in September 2027
- Note the exclusions: students starting in February cannot apply, joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are excluded, and the degree sought must not have been obtained in the Netherlands
- Not hold a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands, not currently be enrolled in a Bachelor or Master programme in the Netherlands, and not need a preparatory programme before the start of the masters
- Students already enrolled in a two year masters programme who were not awarded VUFP in 2026/2027 are not eligible to apply for VUFP for 2027/2028
- Apply for VUFP for only one masters programme, even if admitted to more than one
What the opportunity may offer
- Full tuition fee waiver for an eligible one or two year masters programme
- Second year tuition waiver for two year programmes, only if 100 percent of first year ECTS credits are achieved
- Automatic consideration for the NL Scholarship, a one-off EUR 5,000 contribution towards living costs for the first year only, with around 20 to 25 NL scholarships available per year
- Approximately EUR 1 million committed by VU Amsterdam to attracting highly motivated and excellent students through VUFP
- A VU ambassador role during studies, answering prospective student questions through the Unibuddy platform, with a kick-off session and ambassador handbook in October
Required documents
- Masters programme registration via Studielink and completion in the personal VU dashboard, with conditional admission in place before the VUFP application
- Completed VUFP-NLS application form, current version only; older versions are not accepted
- GPA proof or programme transcript plus a grading scale explanation, pasted at the end of the form and saved as one PDF file, uploaded in the Scholarship section of the personal dashboard on the Complete Registration page
- Bachelor GPA evidence only: even if you already hold a masters degree, VUFP assesses the bachelor GPA; applicants who have not yet graduated submit the most up to date grades
- Masters application fee of EUR 100 for applicants with a diploma obtained outside the Netherlands, unless an exemption applies
Application process
- Register for an eligible masters programme via Studielink from 1 October 2026 and complete the application in your personal VU dashboard, ideally by the advised deadline of 1 December 2026
- Secure conditional or unconditional admission to the first year of the programme
- From 1 November 2026, complete the VUFP-NLS application form with GPA proof and grading scale, save it as one PDF, and upload it in the Scholarship section of your personal dashboard
- Check the application carefully before submitting, since VUFP can be submitted only once and an incomplete application will not be evaluated
- Await the faculty review and Central Scholarship Committee decision, expected in mid-March 2027, and accept or decline the offer in your dashboard within 2 weeks, by the end of March 2027
Before you apply
- □Apply before Feb 1, 2027 — confirm the date in your own time zone
- □Confirm that you meet every eligibility condition set by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- □Prepare your 5 required documents in the format asked for
- □Ask referees early and share the official instructions
- □Review the official source once more before submitting
Deadline notes
VU Fellowship Programme applications open on 1 November 2026 and close on 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Masters programme registration opened on 1 October 2026, with an advised masters application deadline of 1 December 2026, since conditional admission must be in place before the VUFP application can be submitted. Results are expected in mid-March 2027, about 6 weeks after the deadline, and selected candidates must accept or decline in their personal VU dashboard within 2 weeks, by the end of March 2027, or the offer will be withdrawn.
Frequently asked questions
Is the VU Fellowship Programme fully funded?
No. VUFP covers tuition fees only. Living costs such as rent, food and insurance must be funded separately, although a few recipients also receive the one-off EUR 5,000 NL Scholarship for the first year.
What GPA do I need for VUFP?
Academic excellence equivalent to a Dutch 8 on the 1 to 10 scale, assessed on your bachelor GPA. VU converts grades using expert data, so you must not convert your grades yourself, and meeting the minimum does not guarantee an award.
Do I need admission before applying for VUFP?
Yes. You must be conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of an eligible full time English taught masters starting in September 2027 before you can submit the VUFP application, so apply for admission by the advised 1 December 2026 date.
Can I apply for VUFP for two masters programmes?
No. You can submit a VUFP application for only one masters programme, and you can submit it only once, so check completeness before submitting. An incomplete application will not be evaluated.
When will I hear the VUFP result?
Results are expected in mid-March 2027, about 6 weeks after the 1 February 2027 deadline. Selected candidates must accept or decline within 2 weeks, by the end of March 2027, or the offer will be withdrawn.
Programme details can change. Check the original listing before you prepare or submit an application.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-30UShireZone is not affiliated with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. We never charge applicants to apply. Always verify details and submit through the official website.