The glass-walled European Parliament Paul Henri-Spaak building facade in Brussels.

Netherlands For September 2026 entry — faculty merit-scholarship deadlines vary, typically December 2025 – March 2026, after a Master's application

University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship

Beyond its small, elite Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) — the Netherlands' largest and one of its highest-ranked universities — offers faculty-administered merit scholarships that provide partial tuition reductions to talented non-EU/EEA Master's students. Awards and amounts vary by faculty (Economics & Business, Humanities, Social & Behavioural Sciences, Science, Law), and are typically decided on academic merit alongside admission or via a short additional application. This is a more accessible route than the AES for strong-but-not-top-of-cohort Sri Lankan applicants who still want some funding toward UvA's tuition. UvA is globally ranked and strong across the social sciences, economics, humanities, and data science, in a vibrant, English-friendly city. Because each faculty runs its own scheme, confirm the specific merit-scholarship name, value, and deadline for your programme before applying.

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

University-funded

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Value

Partial Tuition Reduction

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Duration

Master's Programme

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Administered By

Individual Faculties

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Non-EU/EEA Applicant

Primarily for non-EU/EEA international students paying the institutional tuition rate. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. Exact eligibility differs by faculty scheme.

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Admission to a UvA Master's

You must apply for, and meet the requirements of, an eligible UvA Master's programme. The merit scholarship is tied to that faculty and programme.

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Academic Merit

Selection is merit-based. A strong upper-second or first-class Bachelor's in a relevant discipline from a recognised Sri Lankan university is competitive; the AES targets only the very top, while these faculty awards have a slightly broader reach.

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English Proficiency

Typically IELTS 6.5 (some programmes 7.0) or TOEFL equivalent. Sri Lankan applicants with an English-medium Bachelor's may qualify via an MOI waiver where UvA accepts it.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to a UvA Master's

Submit your Master's application with transcripts, degree certificate, motivation, CV, references, and English evidence by the programme deadline.

Apply for the faculty merit scholarship

Check your faculty's scholarship page and complete any required scholarship application or indicate interest. Some awards are assessed automatically from admission; others need a short form.

Merit assessment

The faculty assesses academic merit and confirms the reduction. Outcomes are released in line with each faculty's cycle.

Accept and apply for the Dutch permit

Accept your place and award, then apply for the Dutch student residence permit (MVV) with UvA as sponsor, showing your offer, scholarship letter, and proof of funds.

Why University of Amsterdam?

UvA is the Netherlands' largest and one of its top-ranked universities, globally strong in social sciences, economics, humanities, communication, and data science, in one of Europe's most international cities. Faculty merit scholarships plus the Dutch one-year orientation visa make UvA a high-value, English-friendly destination for Sri Lankan graduates.