Who can apply
VU Amsterdam lists the following conditions for the VUFP:
- You hold a non-EU/EEA passport and you are not eligible for the lower tuition fee.
- You do not have Dutch nationality.
- You can prove academic excellence, with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8.
- You are conditionally or unconditionally admitted to the first year of a full-time English-taught Master's programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam starting in September 2027.
- The degree with which you are seeking admission was not obtained in the Netherlands.
- You do not have a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands.
- You are not currently enrolled in a Bachelor or Master programme in the Netherlands.
- You do not need to complete a preparatory programme before the start of your Master.
Students starting in February cannot apply. Joint programmes where VU Amsterdam does not administer the admission process are excluded from the VUFP.
The award text does not name Nigeria or list individual eligible countries. It states that eligible candidates hold a non-EU/EEA passport and are not eligible for the lower tuition fee, and that they do not have Dutch nationality. Nigerian applicants should confirm their own eligibility with VU Amsterdam before relying on this.
What the GPA requirement means for a Nigerian transcript
VU Amsterdam bases grade conversion on data collected by expert institutions such as ECCTIS (UK). The comparison between the Dutch and foreign grade is based on grade distribution statistics — how often a certain grade is given — rather than a simple percentage conversion.
The university warns that a Dutch 8 or higher is a very high and quite rare grade in the Netherlands, so only a small portion of students graduate with a GPA of at least 8 out of 10. When Dutch grades are compared with foreign grades, only a small portion of the distribution of foreign grades qualifies for the minimum GPA requirement. You do not need to convert your grades yourself: the VUFP Scholarship Committee decides on the local grade equivalents for the Dutch grade of 8.0.
For VUFP application purposes, only the GPA from your bachelor's degree is considered, even if you have already completed a Master's degree. If you have not yet officially graduated, you provide a GPA proof or programme transcript showing your most up-to-date grades.
Meeting the minimum GPA is only a minimum that must be reached for your application to be accepted and processed. It is not a guarantee of an offer. The total score used to rank applicants is based on several factors, of which GPA is only one; motivation for the university or specific programme, future ambitions and extracurricular activities also play a significant part. The university states that only a very small percentage of all VUFP applicants are offered the scholarship in the end.
What the award covers — and what it does not
The VUFP scholarship covers the tuition fees only. It does not provide any additional allowance towards study or living costs such as rent, food or insurance. VU Amsterdam states plainly that you must be able to finance these living expenses yourself.
The NL Scholarship is separate: a one-time €5,000 contribution towards the costs of living, awarded only for the first year of your study programme. There are around 20–25 NL Scholarships available per year, and only a few VUFP awardees receive one. If you are not awarded the VUFP, you have also not been awarded the NL Scholarship.
Two-year Master's programmes
The VUFP can be granted for a one- or two-year Master's programme. It is extended for the second year only if 100% of the ECTS during the first year have been achieved. Current VUFP scholars in a two-year programme do not need to re-apply; VU Amsterdam emails around July–August to confirm whether the scholarship will be extended. Students already enrolled in a two-year Master's programme who were not awarded the VUFP in 2026/2027 are not eligible to apply for 2027/2028.
How to apply
Step 1: Register for a Master's programme (from 1 October 2026). Register in Studielink and complete the process in your personal dashboard on vu.nl. You must already have been conditionally admitted to the Master's programme before you can apply for the VUFP. The advised deadline for the Master's programme application is 1 December 2026; if your programme includes an intake or assessment, apply even earlier.
Step 2: Submit the VUFP application (from 1 November 2026). Submit it in your personal VU dashboard. You can apply for the VUFP for only one Master's programme, so if you apply for admission to more than one, you must choose one programme for the VUFP. Fill out the VUFP-NLS application form — older versions will not be accepted. At the end of the form, paste the GPA proof or programme transcript and a grading scale explanation, save everything as one PDF and upload it in the Scholarship section of your dashboard. An application missing answers or the GPA proof/transcript is considered incomplete and will not be evaluated. You can submit only once, so check it carefully first.
Step 3: Decision. Applications received by the deadline are reviewed by the faculty of the Master's programme applied for. Faculties nominate applicants to the Central VUFP Committee, which awards scholarships based on academic performance and motivation.
Step 4: Results. All students receive an email or notification of the Central Scholarship Committee's decision. The expected date is mid-March 2027, about six weeks after the deadline.
Step 5: Accepting the offer. Selected candidates accept or decline in their personal VU dashboard by the end of March 2027, two weeks after results are published. If you do not act within two weeks of receiving the results, the offer is withdrawn. A scholarship granted for one academic year cannot be postponed to another academic year.
Ambassador commitment
As one of the university's most excellent students, you agree to become an international student ambassador during your studies at VU Amsterdam — for example, answering questions from prospective international students through the Unibuddy chat platform. The ambassador role lasts for the duration of your Master's studies, and a Kick-Off session is organised in October.
Other scholarships mentioned
VU Amsterdam also lists scholarships funded by external organisations. It says the global scholarships it mentions are open to students from all countries, but applicants should check whether their programme is eligible. Several external scholarships are available based on country of origin. The page also lists MBA scholarships offered by the School of Business and Economics, including the VU Future Women Leaders Scholarships, VU First-Generation Leader Scholarships, VU Change-Maker Scholarships, VU Personal Impact Scholarships, VU Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships and VU Scholarships for Excellence. The Aon Scholarship is not available for the academic year 2026–2027.
