Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2026 at University of Amsterdam (Fully Funded)

The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2026 is a highly competitive award designed for exceptional international students from outside the EU who want to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Amsterdam. This scholarship, which is fully funded, is mainly offered for programs in Business and Economics. It covers the entire tuition cost and provides an additional €5,000 allowance to help with living expenses. For those looking to study at one of Europe’s leading universities, this scholarship is an excellent opportunity to achieve academic success in the Netherlands.

Eligibility 

• The applicant must be a non-EU national.

• Must have excellent academic results (top 10% of your class).

• The applicant must not receive a Dutch study grant or loan.

• The applicant must not receive a full scholarship for the same period as the AMS scholarship.

• The applicant must submit a complete application to one of the Master’s programs of UvA Economics and Business before 15 January.

Program Date

• 1 November: For February intake (only for MSc Business Administration tracks).
• 15 January: For September intake (all other programs, including Accountancy and Control).

What Does It Cover?

• Scholarship value = Tuition fee + €5,000 additional living allowance.
• Duration: 1 year only (no extension possible).
• Paid in 12 equal monthly instalments.
• You must first pay your tuition fee — the scholarship is not a fee waiver, it’s a reimbursement-based scholarship.

Selection Criteria

1. Proof of an outstanding GPA at least (Magna) Cum Laude (Dutch system), a first-class honours (UK) or 3.7 (USA)

2. Motivation letter (use no more than 300 words to tell us why you deserve this scholarship).

3. Proof of English proficiency (if applicable):

   • TOEFL IBT: overall score of 100 (minimum score of 22 in each component, higher subscores give you an advantage);

   • IELTS (Academic test): overall score of 7.0 (minimum score of 7.0 in each component, you can apply with a subscore of 6.5 but higher subscores give you an advantage);

   • Cambridge Assessment English: Certificate in Advanced English: 190 points overall and in each skill or Certificate of Proficiency in English: 190 points overall and in each skill.

4. GMAT/GRE test (if applicable) with at least the expected scores for the programme, see admission and application info for the programme. A high score gives you an advantage.

Application Process

• Apply for the MSc programme via Studielink and the online application form (Embark).

In addition, please upload the following documents under the scholarship section in Embark:

1. A recommendation letter by a dean, teacher, or academic supervisor that also confirms that you belong to the top 10% of your class or year

2. Motivation letter explaining why you deserve this scholarship (300 words):

• Why would you need a Scholarship?

• Why would you deserve a Scholarship? Include a description of academic excellence and, if applicable, other merits.

For more information about the scholarship: https://www.uva.nl/en/shared-content/subsites/amsterdam-business-school/en/masters/accountancy-and-control/tuition-fee/amsterdam-merit-scholarship.html?cb&cb