The Netherlands has launched a €5m annual national scholarship scheme funding international experiences for some 1,500 domestic and foreign students.
The Holland Scholarship programme, announced by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker last summer, will provide funding for international students to study a full degree and Dutch students to complete internships or research outside of Europe.
This is the first year of the 10-year programme that will enable inbound and outbound mobility for approximately 10,000 students
“An international experience adds a great deal of value for students,” commented Bussemaker.
“Leaving the comfort of your familiar surroundings behind for a while to study or do a work placement in a different culture and in a different environment is truly an enriching experience.”
To promote The Netherlands as a study destination, the programme will provide 768 scholarships of €5,000 each for non-European students to complete a full bachelor’s or master’s degree.
An additional 768 Dutch students will be given €1,250 to pursue research or work placements outside of the EU for a minimum of three months.
Forty-eight Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences are taking part in the programme and will share half of the scholarship costs. The remaining amount is provided by the government.
Individual institutions will award the scholarships based on their own admission standards.
This is the first year of the 10-year programme that Bussemaker said will enable inbound and outbound mobility for approximately 10,000 students.
