Radboud University Scholarship Programme 2027-28 | Radboud University | Brilliant Scholarship
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Radboud University Scholarship Programme 2027-28
Partial Master's scholarships of up to 22 places, reducing tuition and covering visa/insurance costs at Radboud University.
Radboud University
Overview
Radboud University, based in the Dutch city of Nijmegen, offers the Radboud Scholarship Programme for the 2027-28 academic year, providing a limited number of partial scholarships to highly talented international students pursuing an English-taught Master's degree. Designed for outstanding candidates from outside the European Union and European Economic Area, the scholarship reflects Radboud's effort to attract strong academic talent from around the world while keeping the overall award selective and closely tied to demonstrated merit. Although it does not offer full funding, the tuition reduction it provides is substantial, making Dutch graduate education considerably more financially accessible for the students who receive it.
Scholarship Details
Unlike many scholarships that promise complete tuition waivers, the Radboud Scholarship Programme is explicitly a partial award. For the 2027-28 academic year, successful recipients pay a significantly reduced tuition fee of approximately €2,771, compared with a standard rate that can reach around €19,000 depending on the specific programme. Beyond the tuition reduction, the scholarship covers visa costs, residence permit costs, health insurance, and liability insurance arranged through Aon Student Insurance. The scholarship is awarded for the nominal duration of the student's Master's programme, meaning it generally supports a single academic year of study, matching the typical length of Dutch Master's degrees. Importantly, the award does not extend to general living expenses, which remain the student's own responsibility throughout their studies in the Netherlands.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must hold a passport from a country outside the European Union and European Economic Area, and they must be applying to an eligible English-taught Master's programme at Radboud University; notably, Erasmus Mundus Master's programmes and joint-degree Master's programmes are excluded from scholarship eligibility. Candidates must have completed, or be in the process of completing, a Bachelor's degree obtained outside the Netherlands, and they must not have previously earned a degree within the Netherlands. Prior education in the Netherlands is generally disqualifying, with one specific exception: qualifying exchange studies that formed part of a Bachelor's degree completed abroad do not count against eligibility. Applicants must also meet the specific English-language requirements attached to their chosen Master's programme, be fully admitted or on track to meet the admission requirements for that programme, and be able to satisfy Dutch visa and residence permit conditions. Enrollment as a full-time student is mandatory for scholarship recipients. Selection itself is based on two broad categories of evaluation: academic excellence, which considers grades, test scores, publications, and the standing of the applicant's previous institution, and motivation and ambition, which weighs the quality of the applicant's motivation letter, relevant internships or volunteering, and other evidence of drive and potential. Because the scholarship is highly selective, simply meeting the baseline eligibility criteria does not guarantee an award; only a maximum of 22 scholarships are available across all participating faculties for the 2027-28 cycle.
Fields of Study & Programs
The 22 available scholarships are distributed unevenly across Radboud University's faculties, reflecting differing levels of demand and available funding in each area. The Nijmegen School of Management and the Faculty of Social Sciences receive the largest allocations, with five and seven scholarships respectively, while the Faculty of Science also receives five. The Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Law each receive two scholarships, and the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies receives one. Eligible fields span a wide academic range, including Arts and Culture, Law, Business and Management, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Science, Social Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Behavioural Science, and International Business, among other Master's programmes. Because eligibility and specific admission requirements can vary by programme, applicants are strongly advised to confirm the details for their intended course of study directly with the relevant faculty.
Participating Universities
Radboud University is located in Nijmegen, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, and is recognized as one of the country's leading research universities, particularly noted for strengths in the social sciences, natural sciences, and law. As a research-intensive institution with a broad range of English-taught graduate programmes, Radboud attracts a substantial international student population each year. Nijmegen itself offers a smaller, more compact university-city atmosphere compared with Amsterdam or Rotterdam, often appealing to students seeking a close-knit academic community alongside easy access to the rest of the Netherlands and neighboring Germany and Belgium.
How to Apply
Applicants do not submit a separate, standalone scholarship application; instead, the scholarship process is integrated directly into the standard Master's admission procedure. Prospective students should first select an eligible English-taught Master's programme at Radboud University, keeping in mind the exclusions for Erasmus Mundus and joint-degree programmes. From there, applicants begin their Master's application through the university's online application system and, within that process, explicitly indicate their interest in being considered for the Radboud Scholarship Programme. Alongside the standard admission documents, applicants must provide the specific motivation and supporting information the scholarship committee requires to assess non-academic factors such as ambition and potential. It is essential that the full application, including all scholarship-related materials, is complete before the relevant scholarship deadline, since incomplete files are unlikely to be considered. After submission, applicants wait for the relevant faculty's scholarship selection committee to conduct its review and reach a final decision. Because admission to the Master's programme and selection for the scholarship are handled as two distinct processes, applicants should understand that receiving an offer of admission does not automatically guarantee a scholarship award; both outcomes depend on separate evaluations.
Deadlines & Important Dates
Radboud University has not published a single fixed deadline applicable to all applicants; instead, the relevant deadline depends on the specific Master's programme and its associated scholarship application timeline for the 2027-28 academic year. Applicants are explicitly cautioned not to rely on deadlines published for the 2025 or 2026 scholarship cycles, since these do not apply to the current round. Prospective students should check the official Radboud University application system directly for the correct, currently published deadline tied to their chosen programme, and should apply with enough lead time to complete both the admission and scholarship components of their application.
Life as a Scholar
Students who receive a Radboud Scholarship join a well-established international student community at a university known for its research strength across the social sciences, natural sciences, and professional fields such as law and management. Beyond the direct tuition reduction, the coverage of visa, residence permit, and insurance costs removes several of the more unpredictable administrative and financial burdens that international students often face when relocating to a new country. Because the scholarship does not cover general living expenses, students should plan realistically for housing, food, and other day-to-day costs in the Netherlands, which, while generally more moderate than in some Western European capitals, still require careful budgeting. Nijmegen's relatively compact size can make it easier for new international students to settle in and build a support network during their single year of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radboud Scholarship fully funded? No, it is a partial scholarship that reduces tuition and covers specific insurance and immigration-related costs.
How many scholarships are available? A maximum of 22 for the 2027-28 academic year, distributed across six faculties.
Do I need a separate scholarship application? No, scholarship interest is indicated within the standard Master's application process.
Can I also apply for the NL Scholarship? Yes, and in fact Radboud requires NL Scholarship applicants to also apply for the Radboud Scholarship; students may receive one or both.
Are Erasmus Mundus programmes eligible? No, Erasmus Mundus and joint-degree Master's programmes are excluded.
Does admission guarantee the scholarship? No, admission and scholarship selection are evaluated separately.
Final Thoughts
The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers a meaningful, if partial, financial pathway for highly motivated non-EU/non-EEA students to pursue an English-taught Master's degree in the Netherlands. Given its selectivity and the limited number of awards, applicants are best served by presenting a strong, well-documented case for both their academic excellence and their personal motivation, while confirming the exact deadline and requirements for their specific programme well in advance.
Award Amount
Reduced tuition of approximately €2,771 for the Master's programme, instead of the standard rate of around €19,000, plus visa, residence permit, and insurance cost coverage
Payment: Total Program
Deadline
2027-01-01
Deadline follows the specific Master's programme's application and scholarship deadline; applicants should not rely on 2025 or 2026 deadlines
Duration
Covers the nominal duration of the eligible Master's programme
Renewable
No
About This Scholarship
The Radboud Scholarship Programme 2027-28 offers up to 22 partial scholarships to highly talented non-EU/non-EEA students pursuing an eligible English-taught Master's degree at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. It is not a fully funded award: it substantially reduces tuition to approximately €2,771 (versus roughly €19,000 standard) and covers visa, residence permit, and insurance costs, but does not cover living expenses. Scholarships are distributed across six faculties, with selection based on academic excellence, motivation, and the relevance of the applicant's prior education. A related but separate €5,000 NL Scholarship is also available, and Radboud Scholarship applicants must also apply for the NL Scholarship, though students may receive one or both awards.
Eligible Study Levels
Master
Fields of Study
Arts and CultureLawBusiness and ManagementPhilosophyTheology and Religious StudiesScienceSocial SciencesArtificial IntelligenceBiologyBehavioural ScienceInternational Business
Available Countries
Netherlands
Eligibility Requirements
Non-EU/non-EEA passport holders
Applying for an eligible English-taught Master's programme at Radboud University
Completed or completing a Bachelor's degree obtained outside the Netherlands
No previous degree obtained in the Netherlands
No previous education in the Netherlands except qualifying exchange studies during a Bachelor's degree completed abroad
Meets English-language requirements of the selected programme
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: Outstanding academic results required; no fixed minimum published
Language Requirements:
English-language requirement of the selected Master's programme
Application Process
1Choose an eligible English-taught Master's programme at Radboud University
2Begin the Master's application through the university's online application system
3Indicate interest in the Radboud Scholarship Programme
4Submit required admission documents
5Provide motivation and supporting information for scholarship consideration
6Ensure the application is complete before the scholarship deadline
7Await the faculty's scholarship selection process and final decision
Required Documents
Master's Admission Application*Required
Standard Radboud University online application
Motivation Letter*Required
Explains goals, ambitions, and fit for the scholarship
Academic Records*Required
Bachelor's degree transcripts and grades
Partner Universities
Radboud University
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Additional Benefits
Coverage of visa costs
Coverage of residence permit costs
Health insurance coverage
Liability insurance through Aon Student Insurance
About the AuthorActive ApplicantUniversity Graduate
I'm a university graduate currently navigating the world of scholarship applications. I run this blog as an active, personal database of opportunities I'm researching — every listing here is one I've evaluated myself. My goal is to help fellow students cut through the noise and find funding that actually fits their profile.
📚 Researched & curated by a current applicant · Updated regularly
AmountReduced tuition of approximately €2,771 for the Master's programme, instead of the standard rate of around €19,000, plus visa, residence permit, and insurance cost coverage
Deadline2027-01-01
Duration1 year
Fully FundedPartial
RenewableNo
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