Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027: UvA Law and Business Funding Guide
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS), University of Amsterdam |
| Funded by | University of Amsterdam faculties and graduate schools |
| Best for | Outstanding non-EU/EEA master’s applicants |
| Coverage | Varies by faculty: Law lists €25,900 for 2026-2027; Business lists tuition fee plus €5,000 allowance |
| Deadline | 15 January 2027 expected for September intake based on current UvA faculty pages; Business also has 1 November for limited February intake tracks |
| Official pages | UvA Amsterdam Law School AMS; UvA Economics and Business AMS |
| Internal links | See also /law-scholarships-llm-2027-guide and /fully-funded-dutch-university-scholarships-2027-guide |
The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is one of the strongest Netherlands university awards for high-performing international master’s applicants. It is not a single central application with one identical value for every course: UvA faculties set their own instructions, award values, documents, and selection rules.
What Does It Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Law route | Amsterdam Law School states an AMS amount of €25,900 for academic year 2026-2027. |
| Business route | UvA Economics and Business states the scholarship value is the tuition fee plus €5,000 additional allowance for one year. |
| Payment model | Business notes the AMS works on a reimbursement basis, not a tuition-fee waiver, and is paid in 12 instalments. |
| Duration | Usually one year, without prolongation, for one-year master’s programmes. |
| Competition level | Very selective; Business says a recent year awarded 12 scholarships from 150 applications. |
Eligibility
✅ You Must:
- Hold a non-EU/EEA passport or non-EU nationality, depending on the faculty rule.
- Apply for an eligible UvA master’s programme by the faculty deadline.
- Show academic excellence: Law lists standards comparable to 4.0 USA, first-class honours UK, or 8.0 Dutch scale; Business lists at least magna cum laude/first-class honours/3.7 USA.
- Submit the scholarship application and documents before the deadline.
- Meet programme-specific English, GPA, and admission requirements.
- Be able to comply with Dutch visa regulations if relevant.
❌ Not Eligible If:
- You are entitled to Dutch study finance.
- You receive a full-coverage scholarship for the same period.
- Your master’s application or scholarship file is incomplete at the deadline.
- You apply to a faculty or programme that does not participate in AMS.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Choose the eligible UvA programme first
Start with the programme page, not the scholarship page. AMS rules differ for Law, Business, Science, Humanities and other faculties. Confirm that your exact master’s course accepts AMS applications.
Step 2: Prepare your admission application early
For Law, UvA says your scholarship application is only considered if the complete LLM application is also submitted by 15 January, 23:59 CET. For Business September intake, the scholarship deadline is also 15 January.
Step 3: Build the scholarship evidence file
Expect transcripts, GPA proof, CV, motivation letter, and sometimes a recommendation letter confirming top-10% class standing. Business may require English test and GMAT/GRE evidence if the programme requires them.
Step 4: Write a short, faculty-specific motivation letter
Law allows a motivation letter of maximum 500 words. Business asks for a 300-word scholarship motivation. Do not reuse a generic essay; connect your academic record, programme fit, and future contribution.
Step 5: Submit before CET deadline
Submit several days early. UvA states incomplete scholarship applications will not be considered.
Amsterdam Merit vs Similar Netherlands Awards
| Scholarship | Host | Value | Deadline Pattern | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Merit Scholarship | University of Amsterdam | Faculty-specific; Law €25,900; Business tuition + €5,000 | Jan 15 for many September intakes | Non-EU master’s applicants with top grades |
| Maastricht NL-High Potential | Maastricht University | Full package: tuition + living + visa/insurance | Admission file Dec 10; scholarship Feb 1 | Non-EU master’s applicants needing broader coverage |
| Leiden Excellence Scholarship | Leiden University | €10,000-€19,000 tuition award | Dec 1 for many February-start programmes | High-achieving non-EEA master’s applicants |
| University of Twente NL Scholarship | Twente | €5,000 first-year award | Opens Oct 15; closes Apr 1 | Non-EU master’s applicants with a Twente admission offer |
Insider Tips
1. Treat AMS as faculty-specific
The central UvA page points applicants to graduate schools. Always verify the faculty page before drafting.
2. Do not rely on admission alone
For Law and Business, the scholarship requires specific AMS documents in addition to the master’s application.
3. Quantify academic excellence
If your transcript does not clearly show class rank or GPA scale, add official grading explanations where allowed.
4. Apply before the final week
UvA warns that incomplete files are not considered. Technical delays close to 15 January can end the application.
5. Compare reimbursement risk
If your faculty pays by reimbursement, plan how to handle tuition payment timing before instalments arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship fully funded?
It can be high-value, but coverage varies. Law lists €25,900; Business lists tuition fee plus €5,000. Living, housing, and visa costs may still require personal planning.
Can EU students apply?
The main AMS target is outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA or with non-EU nationality, depending on faculty rules.
Does every UvA master’s offer AMS?
No. Each faculty and graduate school decides its own participation and instructions.
What is the main deadline?
For the official pages checked, 15 January is the key scholarship deadline for many September-start programmes. Business also lists 1 November for selected February intake tracks.
Timeline Table
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| September-October 2026 | Select eligible UvA programme and confirm AMS faculty page |
| October-November 2026 | Prepare transcripts, CV, English tests, recommendation letter if required |
| 1 November 2026 | Business February-intake AMS deadline for listed tracks |
| 15 January 2027 | Main AMS deadline for Law and Business September intake |
| End of March-April 2027 | Faculty decision periods stated on official pages |
| 1 September 2027 | Enrolment deadline context for Law award completion |
Your Action Plan
1. Open your exact UvA programme page and identify the graduate school.
2. Confirm the AMS instructions for that faculty.
3. Submit the master’s application before the same scholarship deadline.
4. Prepare a concise scholarship motivation tailored to UvA and your faculty.
5. Keep proof of submission and monitor the portal for missing documents.
Official sources checked: University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Law School AMS page and UvA Economics and Business AMS page. Share this with someone targeting a Netherlands master’s scholarship in 2027.