UM Global Studies Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Bachelor’s in the Netherlands

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Full name	UM NL Global Studies Scholarship
Funded by	Maastricht University
Study level	Bachelor’s in Global Studies
Coverage	Tuition, living allowance, insurance, visa costs, pre-academic training and first-block ISAP costs
Duration	36 months
Application window	1 October 2026 – 1 February 2027, 23:59 hrs
Admission-file deadline	10 December 2026 for the Global Studies bachelor’s application file
Official URL	https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/studeren/toelating-inschrijving/financing-your-studies/scholarships/um-global-studies-scholarship

The UM Global Studies Scholarship is one of the strongest undergraduate scholarships in the Netherlands for students from eligible ODA countries. It supports selected bachelor-level Global Studies students with full coverage rather than a small tuition discount.

What Does It Cover?

Benefit	Details
Living expenses	€20,150 per academic year, paid by UM International Services Desk
Tuition fees	Covered at cost per academic year
Health and liability insurance	Arranged and paid by UM
Visa application costs	Arranged and paid by UM
Pre-Academic Training	Covered at cost
Housing note	A mandatory room is allocated until 16 July 2028; later years require planning
Not covered	Air tickets and some upfront costs such as cleaning fee are not covered

Eligibility

✅ You Must:

• Hold nationality from an OECD Official Development Assistance eligible country, excluding Surinam.

• Meet visa/residence-permit requirements for the Netherlands.

• Apply for the Maastricht University Global Studies bachelor’s programme for 2027-2028.

• Submit the full admission file before 10 December 2026.

• Have no completed higher-education diploma equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

• Be under 35 years old on 1 September 2027.

• Show academic excellence, financial need, and personal development potential.

• Agree to act as a Global Studies and Maastricht University ambassador.

❌ Not Eligible If:

• You have dual nationality from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Surinam.

• You already hold an equivalent bachelor’s-level higher-education diploma.

• You miss the 10 December admission-file deadline or the 1 February scholarship deadline.

• You cannot meet Dutch visa/residence requirements.

How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Apply for the Global Studies bachelor’s programme

Submit the Studielink and Maastricht admission steps early enough to receive a UM student ID.

Step 2: Finish the admission file by 10 December 2026

The official scholarship page ties eligibility to a complete Global Studies admission file before this date.

Step 3: Use your student ID to access the scholarship form

You need the UM account/student number before submitting the scholarship application.

Step 4: Upload scholarship documents

Prepare a CV, motivation letter using UM’s template, proof of academic excellence, and a personal statement of financial need.

Step 5: Monitor selection communication

UM indicates that the International Services Desk checks completeness after 1 February 2027 and candidates are informed of status by early June 2027.

Comparison: Netherlands Scholarships for 2027

Scholarship	Level	Value	Deadline
UM Global Studies Scholarship	Bachelor’s	Tuition + €20,150/yr living + visa/insurance	Admission Dec 10, scholarship Feb 1
Maastricht NL-High Potential	Master’s	Tuition + living support	Admission Dec 10, scholarship Feb 1; see /maastricht-university-nl-high-potential-scholarship-2027-guide
Leiden LExS	Master’s	€10,000–€19,000 tuition award	Dec 1, 2026
University of Twente NL Scholarship	Master’s	€5,000	Apr 1, 2027

Insider Tips

1. Do not confuse the two Maastricht deadlines

The scholarship closes on 1 February 2027, but the Global Studies admission file must be complete by 10 December 2026.

2. Write a financial-need statement with evidence

This scholarship explicitly targets candidates with demonstrable financial need, so vague statements are weak.

3. Use the programme mission in your motivation

Global Studies focuses on complex global issues, interdisciplinary learning, and societal problem solving. Connect your background to that mission.

4. Plan housing for years two and three

The page notes a room allocation until 16 July 2028, so successful applicants still need longer-term housing planning.

5. Budget flights separately

Air tickets are not included. Build a travel-cost plan before accepting an offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UM Global Studies Scholarship fully funded?

It is full coverage for listed scholarship items: tuition, living expenses, insurance, visa costs, and required training costs. Flights are not included.

Who is this best for?

High-performing undergraduate applicants from eligible ODA countries who want an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands.

What is the most important early deadline?

10 December 2026 for the complete Global Studies admission file.

Can master’s applicants apply?

No. This specific scholarship is for the bachelor’s in Global Studies. Master’s applicants should compare /maastricht-university-nl-high-potential-scholarship-2027-guide.

Timeline Table

Date	Action
Now	Check eligibility country, admission requirements, and documents
1 Oct 2026	Scholarship window opens
10 Dec 2026	Complete Global Studies admission file deadline
1 Feb 2027	Scholarship application deadline
Early Jun 2027	UM expects to inform candidates of status
Aug 2027	Mandatory Pre-Academic Training period

Your Action Plan

1. Confirm your country and age eligibility.

2. Start the Maastricht Global Studies admission process early.

3. Prepare school transcripts showing strong results.

4. Draft the motivation letter and financial-need statement before October.

5. Compare other Europe options in /fully-funded-phd-scholarships-2027-guide only if you are not an undergraduate applicant.

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