Application Procedure
26 Jul 2010
The application and selection procedure for a master’s degree programme consists of the following nine steps, divided into two phases:
Application for admission at a Dutch educational institution
1) You first apply for admission to the master’s degree programme of your choice. Applications should always be directed to the Dutch institution that offers the programme. The deadlines for these applications vary. The master’s degree programmes overview shows the application deadlines for each master’s degree programme.
2) The Dutch institution assesses your application and decides whether or not your educational background and other experience meet the specific requirements for the programme in question. The Dutch institution then informs all applicants of its decisions.
Successful candidates will receive a letter indicating that they have been (provisionally) admitted. Admission must be unconditional in terms of the candidate’s education and language proficiency. Admission may be granted provisionally, subject to the candidate finding suitable funding for the programme.
Candidates are eligible for a fellowship only if they have been admitted to their chosen master’s degree programme and meet all the criteria. Candidates can only apply for a fellowship for one programme per fellowship application deadline. Being admitted to more than one programme with the same fellowship application deadline means that candidates will have to select one programme before applying for a fellowship.
Application for a fellowship
3) After receiving your letter of admission, you can apply for an NFP fellowship by presenting a completed NFP master’s degree programme application form to the Netherlands Embassy or Consulate in your own country, accompanied by the required documentation. Your application should be submitted well before the deadline for applications set by the Embassy or Consulate.
The form can also be obtained from the Netherlands embassy or consulate. Some embassies require applications to be submitted in duplicate. In other countries, applications have to be submitted to the embassy through local governmental organizations. You are therefore advised to check any local regulations with the Netherlands embassy in your country. You should NOT send your fellowship application forms directly to Nuffic or to the Dutch provider, but should forward them to the Netherlands embassy or consulate in your own country.
4) The embassy or consulate assesses each application against the criteria listed above. Special attention is given to:
- whether the application was submitted before the deadline;
- whether the application stems from multi-year agreements made with selected organizations;
- whether the candidate has presented a letter of admission to the programme in question;
- whether the information accompanying the application is complete and correct, and whether the required documentation (such as passport, diplomas and language test) is in order;
- whether the programme is on the list of master’s degree programmes starting in 2009;
- whether the programme has added value for the sustainable capacity development of the employing organization and the development of the NFP country;
- whether the candidate fulfils any other specific requirements set by the embassy, consulate or country in question.
5) The embassies and consulates forward the fellowship applications that meet all of the criteria to Nuffic.
6) Nuffic decides how many fellowships will be available for each programme. The allocation of fellowships between the various programmes is based on the number of eligible applicants for each programme.
7) The Dutch institutions select the candidates who will receive fellowships. The Dutch institution informs all candidates of its decisions, and applies to Nuffic for a grant.
8) Nuffic awards the grant for the Dutch institution to cover the fellowship holders’ expenses, including the tuition fees.
9) The Dutch institutions pay each fellowship holder a monthly allowance for the duration of the master’s degree programme; they also administer the fellowships, make logistical arrangements and assist fellowship holders.
Three-year rule
Please note that as of the 1 November 2009 NFP application deadline candidates are not allowed to have received a fellowship in the three years prior to the start of the proposed short course or master’s degree programme.
