University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 in the Netherlands | One Award per Faculty

Last checked: 20 October 2026

Are you dreaming of a Master’s in Amsterdam but worried about the cost? Many students search for the University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 hoping for a full scholarship.

So, does UvA give full scholarships? The Amsterdam Merit Scholarship (AMS) does not. This guide uses the official UvA pages for the Faculty of Science and the Amsterdam Law School. It shows the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship requirements, the amounts, and the steps to apply.

In the end, each faculty awards only one AMS, and the Science grant does not replace tuition. However, it can still help, and the deadline is 15 January 2027.

Quick Answer

The University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027 is a merit grant for non-EU/EEA students who apply to a UvA Master’s programme. Each faculty gives one award. The Faculty of Science award is €26,125 for the September 2027 start, and the Amsterdam Law School amount is not announced yet. The deadline is 15 January 2027, and you apply through your Master’s application.

Details About the University of Amsterdam Merit Scholarship 2027

• Provider: University of Amsterdam (UvA)
• Level: Master’s (MSc at the Faculty of Science, LLM at the Amsterdam Law School)
• Country: Netherlands
• Who can apply: Non-EU/EEA applicants
• Awards: One per faculty (this guide checked Science and Law)
• Amount: Science, €26,125. Law, not announced yet for 2027-28.
• Start: September 2027
• Deadline: 15 January 2027 (23:59 CET for Law)

Also check: Maastricht University Scholarships 2027 for Non-EU Students

Benefits

• Science grant: €26,125 for the September 2027 start, paid in monthly instalments.
• Law grant: One scholarship each year. The amount for 2027-28 is “to be announced”.
• Two-year Master’s (Science): You get the second year only if you complete at least 40 ECTS in year one with good results.
• Extra scholarship (Law): In the same application, you can also select the Mr Julia Henriette Jaarsma-Adolfs Fund Scholarship.

What It Does NOT Cover

• Full funding: The official pages never call it fully funded, and one award per faculty cannot support many students.
• Tuition (Science): The grant cannot be used as a full or partial tuition fee waiver. The recipient pays the full tuition, with monthly instalments possible.
• Living costs: You need enough funds to cover all other costs.
• Other faculties: Not confirmed here. This guide checked only Science and Law.

Also check: VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme 2027

Eligibility

Both faculties

• Hold a non-EU/EEA passport (Science also excludes Swiss nationals).
• Not be eligible for Dutch study grants and loans (DUO).
• Be admitted for the first time to a UvA Master’s programme.
• Be able to meet Dutch visa conditions.

Faculty of Science (MSc)

• Not be eligible for the reduced EEA tuition rate.
• Not receive a full coverage scholarship for the same period.
• Have finished your last academic programme no more than 3 years ago.
• Be in the top 10% of your class. This generally means about 3.5 (US 4-point scale), first class or upper division (UK), or 8+ (Dutch scale).
• Have a strong motivation letter (maximum 500 words), a CV with extracurricular activities, and a good academic institution record.

Amsterdam Law School (LLM)

• Apply to International and European Law, Transnational and European Private Law, Law & Finance, or International Criminal Law.
• Study full-time. You cannot already hold a UvA Master’s degree. A Master’s from another university is fine.
• Have a GPA comparable to 4.0 (USA), first class honours (UK) or 8.0 (Dutch). For a non-law bachelor, only law courses count.
• Upload a motivation letter of up to 500 words.

Who Is NOT Eligible

• EU/EEA nationals (and Swiss nationals for Science)
• Anyone who qualifies for Dutch study grants and loans
• Science applicants who finished their last programme more than 3 years ago
• Science applicants who receive a full coverage scholarship for the same period
• Law applicants who already hold a UvA Master’s degree
• Anyone who misses one or more requirements, because the Science page says this makes you automatically ineligible

Also check: Hamad Bin Khalifa University Scholarship 2027 in Qatar

Be Realistic About Your Chances

There is one award per faculty, so the odds are low. UvA does not publish how many people apply.

At the Faculty of Science, the selection is based on grades, the quality of your institution, your motivation letter and your CV. At the Amsterdam Law School, the scholarship is awarded through a lottery among applicants who meet all the requirements. Therefore, meeting the GPA rule only puts you in the draw.

Also, do not plan your budget around this grant. The official page says you need enough funds for all other costs, so treat the AMS as a bonus.

Required Documents

• Motivation letter: Maximum 500 words. Explain why you chose the programme and why the scholarship matters for your future.
• Academic records: Needed for your Master’s application and to show your GPA.
• CV (Science): Include extracurricular activities, such as student commissions, international experience or volunteer work.
• Other Master’s application documents: Not listed on the scholarship pages. Check your programme page.

Who Should Apply?

• Non-EU/EEA graduates with top grades who already plan to apply to UvA
• Science graduates in the top 10% who finished within the last 3 years
• Law graduates with a first class or equivalent degree
• Applicants who can pay for tuition and living costs without the grant

How to Apply

Faculty of Science

1. Choose your MSc programme. The scholarship is part of the programme application.
2. Check the programme page. Follow its application and admission steps.
3. Tick the scholarship box. The form asks if you want to be considered for a UvA scholarship. Tick it only if you meet every requirement.
4. Prepare your letter and CV. Keep the letter within 500 words.
5. Submit before 15 January 2027.
6. Wait. Selection takes place in March, and you hear in April.

Amsterdam Law School

1. Choose one of the four LLM programmes.
2. Open the “Scholarship” tab in your LLM application and select the scholarship.
3. Open the “Additional documents” tab and upload your motivation letter.
4. Submit your whole application before 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.
5. Wait. You hear the result by the end of March.

If you skip step 2 or step 3 at the Law School, your scholarship application is incomplete and is not considered. Also, programme admission rules may differ, so read your programme page.

Also check: Erasmus Mundus GLOCAL Scholarship 2027

Apply via the Faculty of Science page Page

Apply via the Faculty of Science page

Important Dates

Frequently Asked Questions