Maastricht University in the Netherlands is offering the UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship for the 2027/28 academic year, providing two full scholarships for talented international students who want to pursue selected Master’s programmes connected to the Brightlands campuses.
The scholarship is open to eligible students from outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Suriname. This makes the opportunity relevant to qualified applicants from Nigeria and other African countries who meet the academic and programme requirements.
Applications open on October 1, 2026, while the scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2027.
SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW
Scholarship: UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship 2027/28
University: Maastricht University
Country: Netherlands
Degree level: Master’s
Number of scholarships: 2
Eligible applicants: Students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname
Application opens: October 1, 2026
Scholarship deadline: February 1, 2027 at 23:59 CET
Master’s admission deadline: December 10, 2026
WHAT DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP COVER?
The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for selected students.
For a one-year Master’s programme, the scholarship provides:
• €20,150 for living expenses over 13 months
• Tuition fees
• Health and liability insurance
• Visa application costs
• Pre-Academic Training costs
• International Student Ambassador Programme costs for the first block
For a two-year Master’s programme, the scholarship provides:
• €38,750 for living expenses over 25 months
• Tuition fees
• Health and liability insurance
• Visa application costs
• Pre-Academic Training costs
• International Student Ambassador Programme costs for the first block
The scholarship also includes accommodation arrangements through Maastricht Housing for the first year. Students undertaking a two-year Master’s programme are responsible for arranging accommodation for their second year.
Airfare is not covered by the scholarship.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applicants must:
• Be nationals of a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname.
• Meet the requirements for obtaining a Dutch entry visa and residence permit.
• Apply for admission to one of the participating Master’s programmes for the 2027/28 academic year.
• Submit the complete Master’s admission application by December 10, 2026.
• Meet the admission requirements of the selected Master’s programme.
• Not have previously participated in a degree-seeking higher-education programme in the Netherlands. Exchange students can still apply.
• Be 35 years old or younger on September 1, 2027.
• Have an excellent academic record with a minimum GPA of 7.5 out of 10, or an equivalent grading standard.
• Agree to participate as a Brightlands and Maastricht University ambassador.
Applicants can submit only one scholarship application and apply for only one Maastricht University scholarship.
ELIGIBLE MASTER’S PROGRAMMES
The scholarship is not available for every Master’s programme at Maastricht University.
For the 2027/28 academic year, only the following Master’s programmes are eligible:
Brightlands Chemelot Campus
• MSc Biobased Materials
Maastricht Health Campus
• MSc Systems Biology and Bioinformatics
• MSc Biomedical Sciences
• MSc Research Master in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience — Neuropsychology specialisation
• MSc Imaging Engineering
Applicants should check the official eligible-programmes document before applying.
Official Eligible Master’s Programmes:
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/file/overzicht-programmas-umnlbts-2027-2028pdf
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT
Scholarship recipients are required to participate in the Thesis-Internship Programme (TIP).
Under the programme, students complete their Master’s thesis based on an assignment from a company located on the relevant Brightlands campus.
The scholarship also includes a mandatory two-week Pre-Academic Training programme scheduled for the first week of August 2027.
HOW TO APPLY
Step 1: Apply for an eligible Master’s programme.
Applicants must first apply for an eligible Master’s programme at Maastricht University through Studielink.
Official Master’s Application:
https://www.studielink.nl/
The complete Master’s admission application must be submitted by December 10, 2026.
After receiving a Maastricht University student ID, eligible applicants can proceed with the scholarship application.
Step 2: Apply for the scholarship.
Scholarship applications open on October 1, 2026.
Applicants will need their Maastricht University student ID to access the scholarship application system.
The scholarship application requires documents including:
• Curriculum vitae
• Scholarship motivation letter
• Academic transcript or proof of GPA
• Explanation of the university grading system
• Personal statement explaining financial need
• Reference letter
• Contact details of one referee
IMPORTANT DATES
Application opens: October 1, 2026
Master’s admission deadline: December 10, 2026
Scholarship deadline: February 1, 2027 at 23:59 CET
Study period: 2027/28 academic year
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS RELEVANT TO AFRICAN STUDENTS
The UM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship is relevant to African students because Maastricht University accepts applications from eligible students outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname.
This means qualified Nigerian and other African applicants can apply, provided they meet the academic, programme, age, visa and scholarship requirements.
However, applicants should note that only two scholarships are available and the opportunity is restricted to five specific Master’s programmes.
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection.
The scholarship may be particularly relevant to students interested in biobased materials, biomedical sciences, systems biology, neuroscience and imaging engineering.
OFFICIAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Official Scholarship Information:
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/studeren/toelating-inschrijving/financing-your-studies/scholarships/um-nl-brightlands-talent
Official Eligible Master’s Programmes:
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/file/overzicht-programmas-umnlbts-2027-2028pdf
Official Master’s Application:
https://www.studielink.nl/
Applicants should use only the official Maastricht University sources above when applying.
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