The Maastricht University NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship is open for the 2027/28 academic year. The scholarship supports high-performing students from outside the EU/EEA who are admitted to selected master’s programmes linked to Maastricht’s Brightlands innovation campuses.
The 2027/28 cycle focuses on programmes connected to the Chemelot Campus and Maastricht Health Campus, making the award especially relevant to students in science, materials, health, technology and innovation-related fields.
Application deadline
The official Maastricht University scholarship page states that applications run from 1 October 2026 until 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Applicants must complete the admission application for a participating master’s programme before the programme-specific scholarship consideration deadline, commonly in December.
Official scholarship page: UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship
How many scholarships are available?
The university states that two full-coverage scholarships are awarded per academic year for the selected participating programmes.
What the scholarship covers
The 2027/28 package includes tuition fees, living expenses, health and liability insurance, visa costs, pre-academic training and support connected to the International Student Ambassador Programme.
The published living-expense support is €20,150 for a 13-month programme or €38,750 for a 25-month programme.
Who can apply?
Applicants must come from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam and must not hold dual nationality from those areas. They must be admitted to an eligible Brightlands-linked master’s programme.
The official criteria also state that applicants should be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027 and should have excellent academic results.
Academic standard
Maastricht currently refers to a latest transcript showing results equivalent to at least 7.5 out of 10. Because grading systems differ internationally, applicants should follow the university’s documentation instructions rather than converting their grades informally.
What makes Brightlands different?
The scholarship is tied to the Brightlands innovation ecosystem, where universities, researchers and companies work together in areas such as chemistry, materials, health, agrifood, data science and digital services.
This means applicants should demonstrate more than academic excellence. They should show curiosity about innovation, collaboration and the practical application of research.
Considerations for Kenyan applicants
Applicants can strengthen the case by connecting their proposed study to a specific technical or societal challenge. Examples include medical technology, digital health, advanced materials, biotechnology, food systems, data-driven services or industrial innovation.
Prepare the master’s application first
Like other Maastricht scholarships, Brightlands depends on a completed eligible master’s admission file. Do not treat the February scholarship deadline as the beginning of the process.
Application checklist
- Confirm your chosen programme is eligible for Brightlands funding.
- Check the earlier programme admission deadline.
- Prepare academic records and English-language evidence.
- Build a CV that highlights research, innovation and technical experience.
- Draft a scholarship motivation that explains programme fit.
- Submit only when all documents meet the stated requirements.
Career relevance
The scholarship is well suited to applicants targeting research-intensive careers, health innovation, industry R&D, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, digital technology and science-driven entrepreneurship.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every Maastricht master’s is eligible.
- Missing the earlier admission deadline.
- Writing a general scholarship motivation without an innovation focus.
- Listing technical skills without showing how they were applied.
- Ignoring the one-scholarship application restriction published by Maastricht.
What applicants should know
Brightlands is extremely selective because only a small number of awards are available. Kenyan applicants should apply only where there is a strong academic and technical match, and should make the innovation connection explicit throughout the application.
Scholarship deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET.
How to show innovation potential
The scholarship is connected to the Brightlands ecosystem, so applicants should demonstrate more than strong grades. Useful evidence can include research projects, prototypes, laboratory work, data projects, entrepreneurship, internships or professional experience where you helped improve a process, product or service.
Preparing the Brightlands motivation
Start with a specific technical or societal problem. Explain your current level of knowledge, what skills the selected master’s will add, and how the Brightlands environment could help you translate knowledge into practical impact. Avoid generic statements about wanting to study in Europe.
Programme-selection strategy
Check both the scholarship page and the individual master’s admission page. Some programmes have scholarship-related admission deadlines earlier than the general master’s deadline. Protect the earliest deadline in your application plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can Kenyan students apply?
Yes, Kenyan nationals fall within the non-EU/EEA group, subject to the full scholarship and programme requirements.
Does the scholarship include tuition?
Yes. Maastricht University describes the Brightlands award as full coverage and includes tuition fees in the published package.
How competitive is it?
Only two full-coverage Brightlands scholarships are offered per academic year, so applicants should expect very strong competition.
Can I apply to Brightlands and NL-High Potential at the same time?
Maastricht states that applicants may submit only one scholarship application. Choose the scheme that best matches your programme and eligibility.