The Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship is open for the 2027/28 academic year. It targets high-performing students from outside the EU/EEA who have been admitted to selected full-time master’s programmes at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
For Kenyan applicants, this is a major full-funding opportunity, but the process has two separate deadlines that must not be confused.
Key deadlines
The scholarship application window runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. However, applicants must first complete the admission application for an eligible master’s programme by 10 December 2026.
Official scholarship page: Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship
Who can apply?
Applicants must be nationals of a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and must not hold dual EU/EEA or Swiss nationality. They must apply to a participating full-time Maastricht master’s programme and meet that programme’s admission requirements.
The official scholarship page also states that applicants must be no older than 35 years on 1 September 2027.
Academic performance requirement
Maastricht University states that applicants should have excellent prior academic results and cites a latest transcript showing a GPA equivalent to 7.5 out of 10 or higher.
Applicants from universities using another grading system should submit their official results as issued and follow Maastricht’s instructions rather than inventing their own conversion.
How competitive is it?
The university describes the scholarship as highly competitive and states that only about 2% of applicants are awarded it.
What the scholarship covers
The award is designed as a full scholarship and covers major costs associated with study, including tuition and scholarship support for living and related study expenses according to the current Maastricht package.
Important admission-before-scholarship rule
A practical point is: do not wait until February to start. You must have completed your eligible master’s admission file by the December deadline. The scholarship application depends on that admission process.
Who is a competitive candidate?
A competitive applicant combines excellent academic performance with clear evidence of motivation and potential. The scholarship is not simply a reward for high grades; the application should show why the programme fits your goals and what you intend to do with the training.
Considerations for Kenyan applicants
Applicants should connect their proposed study to a specific problem or sector in Kenya or the wider region. Depending on the programme, this could involve health systems, governance, law, sustainability, digital transformation, psychology, public policy or European/international studies.
Documents to prepare early
- Degree certificate and transcript
- Programme-specific admission documents
- CV
- Motivation material
- Proof of nationality
- Reference material required by the scholarship process
- Any required English-language evidence
Scholarship strategy
Choose an eligible master’s programme because it fits your academic direction, not simply because it appears on the scholarship list. A stronger application is one where programme choice, academic background and long-term goals reinforce one another.
Common mistakes
- Missing the 10 December admission deadline.
- Applying to a master’s programme that is not eligible for the scholarship.
- Assuming the February scholarship deadline is the only important date.
- Using a generic motivation statement.
- Submitting documents that do not meet the scholarship instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can Kenyan students apply?
Yes, Kenyan applicants fall within the non-EU/EEA target group, provided they meet all academic and programme-specific requirements.
Can I apply if I already studied in the Netherlands?
The scholarship rules restrict previous degree-seeking higher education in the Netherlands, although exchange participation is treated differently under the official criteria.
Can I apply after age 35?
The current 2027/28 criteria state that applicants must not be older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
What applicants should know
This scholarship is should be approached as a two-stage application: secure a strong eligible master’s application first, then submit a focused scholarship file. The early December admission deadline is the date Kenyan applicants should protect most carefully.
Admission file deadline: 10 December 2026.
Scholarship deadline: 1 February 2027, 23:59 CET.
How to choose an eligible Maastricht programme
Do not begin with the scholarship and then force your profile into an unrelated course. Start with the list of participating master’s programmes and identify where your academic background already meets the admissions criteria. Scholarship reviewers will expect the programme choice to make sense.
How to prepare the motivation component
Your motivation should combine academic evidence, programme fit and future impact. Avoid writing only about financial need. Explain the intellectual or professional problem you want to address, why Maastricht is a strong environment for that goal and what you plan to do after graduation.
Reference strategy
If the scholarship requires a reference, select someone who can evaluate your academic performance, professional ability or potential in detail. Give the referee the scholarship criteria and your current CV so the recommendation supports the same strengths presented elsewhere in the application.
Frequently asked questions
Is admission the same as winning the scholarship?
No. Admission to an eligible master’s programme does not guarantee scholarship selection.
Can I apply to several Maastricht scholarships?
The university states that applicants can submit only one scholarship application, so choose the scheme that best matches your programme and profile.