Amsterdam Merit Scholarships
University of Amsterdam · All India
| Scheme Name | Amsterdam Merit Scholarships |
| Provided By | University of Amsterdam |
| Eligibility Summary | Masters · No income limit |
About the Program
Comprehensive guide for Amsterdam Merit Scholarships. Get eligibility details, stipend amounts, and registration instructions here.
Benefits & Financial Support
€25,900,/mo (approx. ₹23.3 Lakh+)
The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) amount varies by faculty and programme. For the academic year 2026-2027, the Amsterdam Law School LLM award was €25,900, which is approximately INR 28,47,964 (using an exchange rate of 1 EUR = 109.96 INR). For some MSc Business Administration tracks, it covers the full tuition fee plus an additional €5,000 (approx. INR 5,49,800) allowance for the one-year programme. Other programs may offer amounts ranging from €2,000 (approx. INR 2,19,920) upwards. Please note that the scholarship is generally not a tuition fee waiver. Instead, the student is required to pay the full tuition fee upfront (either in one payment or installments), and the scholarship amount is then reimbursed to the student separately, typically in monthly installments across the academic year. There is no information indicating Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-seeded accounts, as this is an international scholarship provided by a Dutch university.
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Nationality:Must hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans (Studiefinanciering).
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Academic Excellence:Must have achieved excellent academic results in previous studies, typically evidenced by a GPA equivalent to at least: 3.0 out of 4.0 (USA), First Class Honours (UK), or 8.0 out of 10 (Dutch EC-system). Applicants should preferably be in the top academic range of their previous studies (e.g., top 10% of their class).
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Program Application:Must have applied for a full-time Master's degree program at the University of Amsterdam for the first time. The scholarship will not be awarded to candidates who have already obtained a Master's degree at UvA.
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Visa Compliance:Must be able to comply with Dutch visa regulations.
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Other Scholarships:Must not be receiving another full-coverage scholarship for the same study period.
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Specific Programs:The scholarship is often faculty-specific, applying to eligible Master's programs within faculties like Law, Economics and Business, Social Sciences, etc.
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit
| Education Level | Masters |
| Course / Stream | Masters |
| Minimum Marks | 80% |
| Income Limit | No income bar |
| Category / Caste | General, OBC, SC, ST |
| Domicile State | All India |
Mandatory Documents Checklist
- ✓Academic records (transcripts and GPA demonstrating excellent academic performance, preferably in the top academic range)
- ✓Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- ✓Motivation letter (typically 300-500 words, demonstrating interest in the program and scholarship)
- ✓Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Assessment English)
- ✓GMAT/GRE test scores (if applicable and required for the chosen program, with at least the expected scores)
- ✓Letters of recommendation (required by some Graduate Schools, e.g., Graduate School of Social Sciences)
- ✓Complete Master's program application (submitted before the scholarship deadline)
- ✓Written work and/or publications, and proposed research questions (for some specific fields/faculties)
Selection Process
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Candidates are selected based on academic excellence and promise in their field
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Applicants are expected to have achieved excellent academic results in their previous studies, comparable to a GPA of 4.0 (USA), First Class Honours (UK), or 8.0 (Dutch EC-system, 10-point scale), often indicating placement in the top 10% of their class
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The selection process involves a review of the Master's application, including a strong motivation letter
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Some graduate schools may conduct interviews for shortlisted applicants
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For the Amsterdam Law School, the AMS scholarship is awarded through a lottery system among applicants who meet the requirements.
Renewal Policy
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Scholarship continuation for subsequent year
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(s) of study depends on satisfactory study progress
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The specific academic program sets the standard for satisfactory progress, and students are generally expected to gain approximately 80% of the required credits in any one academic year to maintain their AMS benefits
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The scholarship continuation is not guaranteed if a candidate changes their degree programme.
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.
- 1Check Eligibility and Deadlines
Ensure you meet the scholarship requirements (non-EU/EEA passport, excellent academic results) and note the specific application deadline for your chosen Master's program, as these vary by faculty. Scholarship deadlines can be as early as January 15th for some programs (for September intake).
- 2Register in Studielink
Initiate your application by registering in Studielink, the Dutch national online application system. This is the first mandatory step for all applicants to Dutch universities.
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Activate UvAnetID and Access UvA Application Portal: Within 48 hours of registering in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID and instructions to activate it. You will then use your UvAnetID to access the University of Amsterdam's online application system (e.g., DataNose for Faculty of Science or SIS for Social Sciences).
- 4Complete UvA Online Application
Fill out the UvA online application form and upload all required documents. This typically includes academic records (transcripts and diplomas), proof of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS), a curriculum vitae (CV), a letter of motivation, and a recommendation letter. Ensure your academic records demonstrate outstanding performance (e.g., GPA of 8.0 out of 10 or equivalent, top 10% of class).
- 5Indicate Scholarship Application
Within the UvA online application form, locate the 'Scholarship' section or tab. Select that you wish to apply for a scholarship and specifically indicate your interest in the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship. For some programs, you may need to upload a separate scholarship motivation letter.
- 6Submit Application
Ensure all sections of both your Master's and scholarship applications are complete and submitted before the specified deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
- 7Track Application Status
After submission, you can typically track the status of your application through the UvA online application portal using your UvAnetID. Admissions decisions, including scholarship outcomes, are generally communicated via email.
Common Questions (FAQs)
Is the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship a full tuition fee waiver?
No, the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is generally not a tuition fee waiver. Scholarship recipients are usually required to pay the full tuition fee to the University of Amsterdam upfront. The scholarship amount is then reimbursed to the student in installments, typically on a monthly basis throughout the academic year.
Am I eligible for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship if I am an EU/EEA student?
No, the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is specifically designed for outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA (European Union/European Economic Area) who hold a non-EU/EEA passport. EU/EEA students are generally not eligible for this scholarship.
How do I apply for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship?
The application for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship is integrated with your application for a Master's programme at the University of Amsterdam. You must first apply for your chosen Master's programme through Studielink and then complete the UvA's online application form. Within this application, there will be a section or tab where you can indicate your interest in applying for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship and submit any required scholarship-specific documents, such as a motivation letter.
Plan your study abroad
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Legal Disclaimer
IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. Scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official University of Amsterdam website before final submission.