Maastricht University Scholarship 2027-28 for Pakistan

The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship 2027-28 is open to eligible Pakistani students. Maastricht University is accepting applications from 1 October 2026 until 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Before applying for the scholarship, you must submit a complete application for an eligible full-time master’s programme by 10 December 2026.

This guide explains the official funding, eligibility, deadlines and two-step application process for applicants from Pakistan. Admission and scholarship selection are competitive and are not guaranteed.

Quick Overview

Official name	Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
Current status	Open for the 2027-28 academic year
Study level	Participating full-time master’s programmes
Number of awards	18 full scholarships per academic year
Programme application deadline	10 December 2026
Scholarship deadline	1 February 2027, 23:59 CET (2 February 2027, 03:59 Pakistan time)
Study duration	13 months for a one-year master’s or 25 months for a two-year master’s
Official source	Maastricht University scholarship page

About the Maastricht University Scholarship

The UM NL-High Potential Scholarship combines funding from the Maastricht University Scholarship Fund and the Dutch NL Scholarship. It is intended for highly talented students from outside the EU/EEA who have admission to an eligible master’s programme at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Pakistani nationals fall within the non-EU/EEA applicant group, but nationality alone does not make an applicant eligible. You must satisfy every academic, age, visa, programme and document requirement listed by Maastricht University.

The university states that only about 2% of applicants receive the scholarship. Treat the published criteria as minimum requirements, not a promise of selection.

Financial Benefits

For 2027-28, Maastricht University lists the following scholarship coverage:

• Living expenses: €20,150 for 13 months or €38,750 for 25 months, paid by the UM International Services Desk.
• Health and liability insurance: €700, arranged and paid by the university.
• Tuition fees: covered at cost.
• Visa application costs: covered at cost.
• Pre-Academic Training: covered at cost.
• International Student Ambassador Programme: first block covered at cost.

The living allowance is calculated at €1,550 per month and includes housing and ordinary living costs. Air tickets are not included. The university also states that an approximately €75 cleaning fee is not covered.

Scholarship Structure

The award lasts 13 months for a one-year master’s and 25 months for a two-year master’s. A university-arranged room is mandatory for scholarship recipients until 16 July 2028. Recipients in a two-year programme must arrange their own housing for the second year.

The Pre-Academic Training is a mandatory two-week component beginning in the first week of August 2027. Scholarship holders must also agree to act as UM NL-High Potential and Maastricht University ambassadors during and after their studies.

Eligibility Requirements for Pakistani Students

You must meet all of the following official conditions:

• Hold nationality outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam, and qualify for a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
• Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Apply for a participating full-time master’s programme for 2027-28 and submit the complete admission file by 10 December 2026.
• Meet the specific admission requirements of the selected master’s programme.
• Have never joined a degree-seeking higher education programme in the Netherlands. A previous exchange programme in the Netherlands is allowed.
• Be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
• Show a latest GPA equivalent to at least 7.5 out of 10. Maastricht University explains this as at least 75 out of 100 or 3 out of 4, depending on the grading system.
• Submit only one scholarship application and apply for only one Maastricht University scholarship.
• Agree to the university ambassador commitment.

Preference is given to candidates who have not already completed a master’s degree. Check the university’s 2027-28 scholarship overview and the participating-programme list before paying any programme handling fee.

Required Documents

The scholarship application requires these documents and details in Word or PDF format:

• An up-to-date CV of no more than two A4 pages.
• A motivation letter using Maastricht University’s scholarship template.
• An official transcript or university document showing your most recent GPA.
• An official explanation of your university’s grading system.
• A personal statement explaining your financial need and relevant circumstances.
• A dated reference letter from a professor, lecturer or employer, written no earlier than February 2026.
• Your referee’s relationship to you, institutional email address and work telephone number with country code.

The referee cannot be a family member. Maastricht University says a personal email address for the referee will be rejected. Review every file before submission because the scholarship form may be submitted only once and documents cannot be added or replaced afterward.

How to Apply

1. Choose an eligible programme. Confirm that your full-time master’s appears on the official 2027-28 participating-programme list.
2. Apply through Studielink. Submit the master’s application and complete the Maastricht University admission file by 10 December 2026. You need the resulting UM student ID for the scholarship form.
3. Prepare the scholarship documents. Use the university’s current motivation and reference-letter guidance.
4. Submit the online scholarship form. Log in with your UM account and upload the complete application once.
5. Finish all registration requirements. Maastricht University requires these to be met by 1 February 2027, apart from legal residence, tuition payment and the hard-copy diploma.

Open the official Maastricht University application instructions.

Plan ahead: the university says its scholarship portal will be unavailable from 22 to 26 October 2026 due to an upgrade. The final scholarship deadline is 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET, equivalent to 2 February at 03:59 in Pakistan.

Further Scholarships for Pakistani Students

• University of Twente Scholarship 2027-28
• Erasmus Mundus Catalogue application guide
• Open Doors Russian Scholarship guide
• University of Luxembourg Scholarship status guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Pakistani students apply for the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship?

Yes. Pakistani nationality is outside the EU/EEA, but applicants must also meet all programme, GPA, age, visa and document requirements.

Is the Maastricht University scholarship fully funded?

It covers tuition, the listed living allowance, insurance, visa costs and required training. Airfare and the approximately €75 housing cleaning fee are not covered.

What is the deadline for 2027-28?

The complete master’s admission file is due by 10 December 2026. The scholarship form closes on 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET.

Can I apply before receiving a UM student ID?

No. First apply for an eligible master’s programme through Studielink. Maastricht University requires the UM student ID to access and submit the scholarship application.

Does meeting the GPA requirement guarantee the award?

No. The university describes the scholarship as highly competitive and says only about 2% of applicants are selected.

Official information checked on 16 October 2026. Always recheck the Maastricht University page before submitting because programme lists and instructions can change.