Law Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded LLM Options for International Students

An LLM is one of the most expensive degrees per year — UK and Dutch tuition for international students routinely runs £25,000–38,000. Yet dedicated law scholarships are fewer than in business or STEM, so the ones that exist are fiercely competitive and close early.

The good news: the Netherlands is the strongest market for international LLM funding, and the biggest awards open October 2026 – February 2027 for September 2027 entry. Here’s your verified guide.

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Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Full name	Law Scholarships 2027: LLM funding guide
Funded by	Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, Maastricht University, UK/EU governments
Coverage	Full funding to €25,900 tuition scholarships
Levels	LLM, Advanced LLM, one-year Master’s in law
Deadline window	October 2026 – March 2027 (for 2027 entry)
Best for	Law graduates (non-EU/EEA especially) targeting European law schools

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What Does It Cover? (benefits table)

Benefit	Details
Tuition fees	€10,000–€25,900 (Leiden LExS, Amsterdam Merit); full waiver (Maastricht Social Justice)
Living expenses	€20,150/13 months (Maastricht Social Justice)
Health & liability insurance	Covered (Maastricht)
Visa costs	Covered (Maastricht)
Pre-academic training	Covered (Maastricht, 2-week mandatory programme)
Government flagships	Chevening, DAAD, Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus accept law applicants

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The Top Law Scholarships for 2027 Entry

1. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) — Netherlands

• Coverage: €10,000 / €15,000 / €17,500 / €18,500 / €19,000 off tuition for the full duration of your Master’s — including Advanced LLM programmes (e.g., European and International Human Rights Law, International Dispute Settlement and Arbitration, Public International Law)

• Deadline: 1 February 2027 (Advanced LLM programmes: 1 March 2027); some program-specific earlier dates apply — check the official page

• Eligibility: Non-EEA/non-EFTA students for most programs; Advanced LLMs are open to ALL nationalities (including EU). Regular (non-Advanced) LLM programmes at Leiden Law School are NOT eligible for LExS. Top 10% of your previous cohort recommended.

• Official source: universiteitleiden.nl

2. Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) — University of Amsterdam

• Coverage: €25,900 for 2026–27 (amount for 2027–28 to be confirmed) for non-EU/EEA students on selected Amsterdam Law School LLMs (International and European Law; Transnational and European Private Law; Law & Finance; International Criminal Law)

• Deadline: 15 January (you must also submit your complete LLM application by 15 January)

• Eligibility: Outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA; admission not required at scholarship deadline, but you must enrol by 1 September

• Also available: Julia Henriëtte Jaarsma-Adolfs Fund Scholarship (€25,900 non-EU / €12,000 EU; deadline 15 January)

• Official source: uva.nl

3. Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship — Netherlands

• Coverage: 1 full scholarship per year — full tuition waiver + €20,150 living allowance (13 months) + insurance + visa costs + pre-academic training — for the Master’s in Globalisation and Law

• Deadline: Applications reopen October 2026; scholarship deadline 1 February 2027; programme admission deadline via Studielink: 8 December (2026)

• Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals with a proven track record supporting the rule of law and/or human rights; applied for admission to Globalisation and Law (2027–28)

• Official source: maastrichtuniversity.nl

4. Lutfia Rabbani Scholarship Fund — Leiden University (MENA students)

• Coverage: One annual scholarship for a Master’s student from an Arab country at Leiden (faculties incl. Law)

• Deadline: 31 March annually (applications open 1 January)

• Eligibility: Nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, or Yemen; must hold a Leiden admission letter

• Official source: universiteitleiden.nl

5. Government Flagships That Fund Law (any law school)

• Chevening (UK): fully funded one-year Master’s incl. LLM — closes Oct 6, 2026 → guide

• DAAD (Germany): Master’s funding incl. law-related development programs — Oct–Nov 2026 → guide

• Erasmus Mundus (Europe): joint Master’s in law-adjacent fields — Nov 2026–Jan 2027 → guide

• Eiffel Excellence (France): Master’s/PhD incl. law — opens ~Oct 2026 → guide

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Comparison Table

Scholarship	Coverage	Tuition offset	Deadline	Best for
Leiden LExS (Advanced LLM)	€10K–19K tuition	Partial	Feb 1 / Mar 1, 2027	All nationalities, top-10% graduates
Amsterdam Merit	€25,900 tuition	Near-full	Jan 15, 2027	Non-EU/EEA students, 4 specific LLMs
Maastricht Social Justice	Tuition + €20,150 living	Full	Feb 1, 2027 (opens Oct 2026)	Rule-of-law/human-rights advocates
Lutfia Rabbani (Leiden)	One annual award	Partial–full	Mar 31, 2027	MENA nationals
Chevening (UK)	Full tuition + stipend	Full	Oct 6, 2026	2+ yrs work experience, any LLM

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Eligibility (✅/❌ checklist)

✅ You Must:

• Hold (or be completing) a law degree — most LLM scholarships require an LLB or equivalent

• Meet residency rules (Amsterdam: non-EEA; Maastricht: non-EU/EEA/Swiss; Lutfia Rabbani: MENA national)

• Submit your admission application in parallel — every award above is linked to a specific program

• Demonstrate excellence: top 10% cohort (Leiden), strong academic record + motivation (Amsterdam)

❌ Not Eligible If:

• You apply to a regular (non-Advanced) LLM at Leiden for LExS — excluded by design

• You’re an EU/EEA student for Amsterdam Merit (AMS is non-EEA only; the Jaarsma-Adolfs Fund covers EU at €12,000)

• You missed the parallel admission deadline (Maastricht: 8 December via Studielink)

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How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Pick your law school + scholarship pair (September–October 2026)

Each award is tied to a specific program. Decide between Leiden (Advanced LLMs), Amsterdam (4 LLMs), or Maastricht (Globalisation and Law) first, then apply for the scholarship inside/parallel to the admission application.

Step 2: Prepare documents

Transcripts + GPA ranking, CV, 500-word motivation letter (Amsterdam), references, English test scores (most require IELTS ~6.5–7.0).

Step 3: Submit admission + scholarship together

• Maastricht: programme admission by 8 December via Studielink, then scholarship by 1 February 2027

• Amsterdam: complete LLM + AMS application by 15 January

• Leiden: admission application (3 working days to process) then LExS section before 1/2 February — treat 25 January as your personal deadline

Step 4: Interviews (March–April 2027)

Maastricht interviews shortlisted candidates in March–April; decisions by early May 2027. Leiden notifies by end of April (September intake).

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Insider Tips

1. The human-rights niche is the funding sweet spot

Maastricht’s Social Justice Scholarship and Leiden’s human-rights Advanced LLMs are fully funded specifically because universities want rule-of-law champions. If your profile shows human-rights work, lead with it.

2. Apply to the admission program FIRST

Every scholarship above requires a valid admission application. Dutch universities can take up to 3 working days just to process your admission submission — never start on deadline day.

3. Don’t ignore the EU-friendly options

Leiden LExS Advanced LLMs are open to all nationalities, and the Jaarsma-Adolfs Fund at Amsterdam covers EU students at €12,000. EU students aren’t locked out of law funding.

4. Partial funding stacks with other awards

A €10,000 LExS + a €12,000 Jaarsma-Adolfs + a partial UK award can approach full funding. Check each award’s combining rules before assuming they conflict.

5. Chevening covers law — if you have work experience

Chevening funds any one-year UK Master’s, LLM included, with no field restrictions. Its 2-year work-experience rule is the main filter. For fresh graduates, the Dutch route above is more realistic.

6. Watch the York Sam Pegram Scholarship (UK)

York Law School’s Sam Pegram Scholarship (full funding for its International Human Rights Law and Practice LLM) closed for 2026/27 on 31 May 2026 — the 2027/28 cycle should open in early 2027. Bookmark it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fully funded LLM in the UK?

Yes but it’s rare. Chevening (work experience required) and a handful of full awards like York’s Sam Pegram cover everything. The Netherlands offers more systematic LLM funding.

Do I need work experience for LLM scholarships?

Not for the Dutch awards. Leiden, Amsterdam and Maastricht evaluate academic excellence and motivation. Chevening requires 2+ years.

Can EU students apply for Amsterdam Merit?

No — AMS is for non-EEA students. EU students should target the Jaarsma-Adolfs Fund (€12,000) or Leiden LExS Advanced LLMs.

What English score do I need?

Most Dutch law schools require IELTS 6.5–7.0 (or equivalent). Check the specific program page — some Advanced LLMs ask for 7.0.

Is an LLM worth it without funding?

That’s a personal call — but with tuition at £25–38K, only apply unfunded if the degree clearly changes your earning trajectory. The scholarships above exist precisely to avoid that choice.

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Timeline Table

Date	Action
Aug–Sep 2026	Shortlist law schools; start documents; Chevening opens (Aug 4)
Oct 2026	Maastricht Social Justice Scholarship reopens; Eiffel opens; DAAD prep
Oct 6, 2026	Chevening closes
Dec 8, 2026	Maastricht programme admission deadline (Studielink)
Jan 15, 2027	Amsterdam Merit + Jaarsma-Adolfs deadline
Feb 1, 2027	Leiden LExS + Maastricht Social Justice deadline
Mar 1, 2027	Leiden LExS Advanced LLM deadline
Mar 31, 2027	Lutfia Rabbani deadline
Apr–May 2027	Decisions (Maastricht by early May; Leiden by end April)
Sep 2027	LLM begins

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Your Action Plan (numbered checklist)

1. ☐ Choose your target: Leiden Advanced LLM, Amsterdam, or Maastricht Globalisation and Law

2. ☐ Request transcripts and references this month

3. ☐ Book English test (IELTS 6.5–7.0 target)

4. ☐ If eligible for Chevening, start essays now — closes Oct 6, 2026

5. ☐ Submit Maastricht admission by Dec 8; Amsterdam by Jan 15; Leiden by Feb 1

6. ☐ Prepare a 500-word motivation letter emphasizing human-rights/rule-of-law impact

7. ☐ Prepare for interviews (Maastricht: March–April 2027)

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Share this with a law graduate hunting for LLM funding — the January and February deadlines decide who studies free.