The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is a highly competitive program for gifted overseas students who want to pursue a master’s degree at Utrecht University but are not from the European Economic Area (EEA, which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway).
However, the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship Fund, which was started by Utrecht University, and donations from former students provide the funding for the scholarships.
Benefits
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship may be given out in the following ways:
- The tuition cost, or the tuition cost plus the annual income needed for a study-related residence permit as established by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND).
- For the second year of two-year master’s programs, the scholarship may be renewed.
Individuals Targeted
Certain individuals are been targeted for several scholarships and individuals targeted for the Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for International Students are Non-EEA International Students (EEA = the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway).
Criteria for Selection
There are criteria needed for Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for International Students and the following standards will be used to choose qualified applicants for a scholarship:
- Your master’s application demonstrates academic quality and promise in the proposed topic of study.
- Proof of academic excellence, such as a class ranking certificate, a GPA with a grade distribution breakdown, or a statement or reference letter signed and stamped by your university, attesting to your placement in the top 10% of your graduating class.
- The caliber and applicability of your letter of motivation for the master’s program (academic substance, communication, intercultural skills, personal motivation).
- The completeness, accuracy, and consistency of the application for the master’s program itself.
Eligibility Criteria
The following requirements must be fulfilled to be eligible for a Utrecht Excellence Scholarship:
- You have to place in the top ten percent of your graduating class.
- You must not be a citizen of the EU or EEA and be ineligible for a Dutch study grant and financial assistance.
- Your bachelor’s degree and secondary education must have been earned outside of the Netherlands.
- You have to have submitted an application for an international master’s program that begins on September 1, 2025. Not every program takes part. Please see if the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is listed as a scholarship opportunity under the Master’s program > Tuition fees and financial support.
How to Apply
Upon completing an application (or applications) for a master’s program qualifying for UES by the specified date, non-EU/EEA students will be entitled to apply for one Utrecht Excellence Scholarship starting on November 1, 2024. On your OSIRIS Online Application account dashboard, you will be able to view the UES application or applications.
Going further, to apply for a UES linked to your desired program, click View/Edit. Then, upload the required documentation proving you were in the top 10% of your class, complete the questions, and submit your application.
Deadline
To be eligible for the award, prospective students must apply by February 1st, 2025 at 23:59 CET to be eligible for the award. At this point, the application portal will close. Only after the deadline will the selection process begin.
Website
Official Scholarship Website; https://www.uu.nl/en/masters/general-information/application-and-admission/scholarships-and-grants/utrecht-excellence-scholarships.
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