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Netherlands Applications open Closes 1 May 2027

NL Scholarship at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht is one of the Netherlands' larger universities of applied sciences — a hogeschool, not the research-focused Utrecht University, and the distinction matters when you apply. Its English-taught bachelor's degrees are practical and placement-heavy, covering international business, communication and media, IT and business IT, digital media, and life sciences. HU's instance of the national NL Scholarship (the government-funded scheme formerly called the Holland Scholarship) is worth EUR 5,000, roughly LKR 1.7 million at current rates, paid once in your first year only. Between ten and fifteen are awarded each year, so this is competitive but not lottery-odds. For Sri Lankan school-leavers, the practical points are these: your A/Ls or equivalent must meet HU's entry requirements, you must be paying the non-EU institutional fee rather than the lower statutory fee, and you must never have studied at a Dutch institution before — the scheme exists to attract new international students, not to top up people already in the country. The award cannot be combined with other scholarships, and the deadline is a firm 1 May for a September start, which in practice means having your admission application well underway by March.

Annual cycle — applications close 1 May for the academic year starting that September, so the round for September 2027 entry closes 1 May 2027

HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

University-funded

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Value

EUR 5,000 (one-off)

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Level

First-year Bachelor's

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Awards

10–15 per year

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

EUR 5,000 One-Off First-Year Award. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Non-EEA Nationality

Your nationality must be non-EEA and you must pay the higher, non-EU institutional tuition fee. Sri Lankan citizens are in exactly this group — the scheme is designed for you.

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First-Year Bachelor's Entrant

The award applies to students entering the first year of an English-taught bachelor's programme at HU. Sri Lankan A/L results, or a recognised foundation or diploma, must satisfy HU's programme-specific entry requirements.

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No Prior Study in the Netherlands

You must never have studied at a Dutch higher-education institution before. This rules out students transferring from another Dutch hogeschool or university.

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Cannot Be Combined

The NL Scholarship cannot be held alongside other scholarships. If you are shortlisted for a second award, you will have to choose.

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English Proficiency

Dutch bachelor's programmes typically require IELTS 6.0–6.5. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium schooling can sometimes evidence proficiency with an MOI letter or accepted equivalent, but HU's requirement is programme-specific — check before assuming a waiver.

account_tree Application Process

Apply for admission via Studielink and HU

Register your programme choice in Studielink and complete HU's own application, uploading A/L or diploma transcripts, passport copy and English evidence. Start by February or March — the scholarship deadline is not extended for slow admissions.

Submit the NL Scholarship application by 1 May

Complete HU's separate NL Scholarship form, including the motivation statement, before 1 May for a September start.

Selection

HU selects 10–15 recipients from eligible applicants. Awards are announced ahead of enrolment.

Enrol and apply for the residence permit

Accept your place, then let HU sponsor your Dutch student residence permit (VVR). You still need to show the required living-cost amount to the IND — the EUR 5,000 helps but does not replace that proof.

Why HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht?

HU is a large university of applied sciences in Utrecht, a compact and very liveable city in the centre of the Netherlands with fast rail links to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Schiphol. Its programmes are built around internships and real client projects, which suits students who want a job at the end rather than a research career.

EUR 5,000

One-off first-year award

1 May

Annual deadline

Utrecht

Central Netherlands campus city

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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