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Netherlands Check current round

Zuyd Excellence Scholarship (ZES / NL-ZES)

Zuyd is a government-funded Dutch university of applied sciences based in Maastricht, Heerlen and Sittard, and its excellence scholarships are unusual in the Netherlands for running the full length of a degree rather than one year. Two versions exist. The NL-Zuyd Excellence Scholarship (NL-ZES) combines the EUR 5,000 national NL Scholarship, paid in the first year only, with the Zuyd Excellence Scholarship worth up to a EUR 3,600 net discount on tuition for the nominal duration of your studies. The standalone Zuyd Excellence Scholarship (ZES) gives the same up-to-EUR 3,600 annual discount without the first-year EUR 5,000. Over a four-year bachelor's that is up to EUR 14,400 in discounts, roughly LKR 4.97 million, and with the NL-ZES the first-year package is worth close to EUR 8,600. Eligibility is precise and worth checking line by line. You must be a non-EU/EEA, Swiss or Surinamese national, must be paying the highest institutional tuition fee, must reside in the Netherlands during your studies, and must not have abandoned or interrupted studies at Zuyd previously without completing a degree. For the NL-ZES specifically you must not have previously studied at a Dutch educational institution; the ZES allows applicants who have. Eligible programmes are named: European Studies, Hospitality Management, Interdisciplinary Arts, International Business, Music at bachelor's and master's level, and the master's in Interior Architecture. Deadlines differ — NL-ZES closes 1 May with results before 1 June, while the ZES has deadlines of 1 September for semester one and 1 February for semester two. Applications go through Osiris with a one-page motivation letter, an academic reference and a CV. Awards are assessed individually, in order of arrival, and subject to supply and demand, so applying early genuinely matters. To keep the scholarship you must complete a minimum of 45 credits each year — academic progress is monitored and falling behind ends the award.

NL-ZES: deadline 1 May, results notified before 1 June. ZES: 1 September for semester one and 1 February for semester two. Assessed in order of arrival and subject to supply and demand — confirm on zuyd.nl

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Annual Discount

Up to EUR 3,600 a year

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NL-ZES First Year

Plus EUR 5,000

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Duration

Nominal programme length

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences — 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

Up to EUR 3,600 a Year Tuition Discount, Plus EUR 5,000 in Year One. 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-EU/EEA Highest-Fee Payer

You must be a non-EU/EEA, Swiss or Surinamese national paying the highest institutional tuition fee, and you must reside in the Netherlands during your studies. Sri Lankan applicants meet the nationality condition.

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Named Programmes Only

Eligible programmes are European Studies, Hospitality Management, Interdisciplinary Arts, International Business, Music at bachelor's and master's level, and the master's in Interior Architecture. Other Zuyd programmes are not covered.

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NL-ZES Excludes Prior Dutch Study

For the NL-ZES you cannot have previously studied at a Dutch educational institution. The standalone ZES does allow applicants who have. Neither is open to anyone who abandoned or interrupted studies at Zuyd without completing a degree.

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45 Credits a Year to Keep It

Academic progress is monitored and a minimum of 45 credits annually is required to retain the scholarship. Falling below that ends the award for the remaining years.

account_tree Application Process

Apply for admission to an eligible programme

Apply to Zuyd for one of the named English-taught programmes at Maastricht, Heerlen or Sittard, with transcripts, passport and English test results.

Prepare the scholarship documents

Motivation letter, maximum one page
Academic reference letter
CV explaining why this programme fits your goals

Submit through Osiris before the deadline

Apply via Osiris by 1 May for the NL-ZES, or by 1 September or 1 February for the ZES. Awards are assessed in order of arrival and subject to supply and demand — apply as early as the window allows.

Await the outcome

NL-ZES results are notified before 1 June. Have a fallback funding plan in case the award goes elsewhere, since assessment is partly on arrival order.

Apply for the Dutch student residence permit

Zuyd applies to the IND as a recognised sponsor. You must evidence living funds for the year alongside tuition, so document your bank position well in advance.

Why Zuyd?

Zuyd is a government-funded Dutch university of applied sciences in the southern province of Limburg, with strong programmes in international business, hospitality, European studies and the arts. Maastricht, Heerlen and Sittard are all cheaper to live in than the Randstad cities, and the scholarship runs the full length of your degree rather than one year.

EUR 14,400

Potential Discount Over 4 Years

45

Credits Needed per Year

3

Campus Cities in Limburg

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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