Netherlands - 2008 / 2009 Huygens Scholarship Programme (HSP) for International Students
November 12th, 2007
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The prestigious HSP Huygens Programme is open to excellent students from all countries of the world. It is aimed at talented students who want to come to the Netherlands in the final phase of their bachelor’s studies or during their master’s studies.
PhD applications can only be accepted from excellent students with the Croatian, Turkish, Bulgarian or Romanian nationality. Furthermore the minister has reserved part of the total budget for excellent students following programmes in Dutch language and literature, or Neerlandistiek.
The Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science has made four million euros available for excellent students coming to the Netherlands under the HSP Huygens Programme. There is no fixed number of available scholarships, but the actual number is determined by the total cost of the variable components of the scholarships.
Applications for HSP for the 2008–2009 academic year must be received by Nuffic by 1 February 2008 at the latest.
Requirements for eligibility
If you want to take part in the HSP Huygens Programme, you must meet the following requirements.
- You are an excellent student: you have obtained excellent results in all your previous studies and you are in the top 10% of students in your study or research programme.
- You must have already attended a programme of education (e.g. high school or above) in a country outside the Netherlands.
- The Dutch study programme should be registered in CROHO, the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes. You can find this information in the Dutch nomination letter.
- You should be in the final phase of your bachelor’s studies, or studying towards a master’s degree in the Netherlands, and your study must be used primarily to earn a degree at the Dutch institution.
- At the start of the academic year (1 September) in which you study in the Netherlands, you must be no older than 35 years of age.
- Scholarships are only awarded for studies lasting at least 6 months, but no longer than 24 months.
- Your studies or research in the Netherlands must constitute a deepening and broadening of your previous studies.
- If you are already a graduate, you must have graduated less than two years ago.
- If you want to do research or practical training, it is possible, but it must form part of your studies (a programme on the CROHO list), i.e. you must earn study credits for it.
- Scholarships are only awarded for an MPhil. programme if this programme leads to the award of a Dutch master’s degree.
Additonal information
Scholarship outline
The Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science has made four million euros available for international excellent students coming to the Netherlands under the HSP Huygens Programme.
There is no fixed number of available scholarships, but the actual number is determined by the total cost of the variable components of the scholarships.
Important: the 2008-2009 academic year starts on 1 September 2008. All scholarships awarded will start from that date, and not earlier. A later scholarship start date is possible, however.
The scholarships include the following components:
- a generous reimbursement of tuition fees or a contribution towards the costs of the PhD thesis, as estimated in the research proposal;
- a monthly allowance of € 900 euros (this includes a standard contribution towards healthcare insurance);
- visa fees (standard contribution);
- a one-off payment towards international travel costs (standard contribution based on nationality).
The average value of scholarships awarded in 2007 was € 22,000.
Application procedure
When you apply for admission to a programme in the Netherlands, you should indicate that your study performance is excellent and that you wish to be nominated for the prestigious HSP Huygens Programme by the Dutch institution you would like to study at.
After receiving the official HSP Huygens nomination letter 2008, you can start preparing your application dossier. If the Dutch institution does not agree with your candidacy for a HSP Huygens Programme, they will not provide you with a HSP Huygens nomination letter. This means that you cannot apply for a HSP Huygens scholarship. In that case, you can explore other ways of funding your studies or research activities in the Netherlands, e.g. at www.grantfinder.nl.
Download the list of HSP contact persons at the Dutch institutions (20 kB)
Closing date
Applications for HSP for the 2008–2009 academic year must be received by Nuffic by 1 February 2008 at the latest.
Further reading
Selection procedure
The most important criterion is top quality in all senses of the word. The Minister for Education has appointed a special committee to assess quality. The committee makes its assessment based solely on your application dossier.
There are no selection interviews. All aspects of your application dossier are considered when your application is assessed. The committee considers the following aspects:
- your study history and pace;
- your diplomas and grades;
- your nomination letter;
- your reference letters;
- the strength of your written motivation setting out why you have chosen to study this programme in the Netherlands and the value it can add to your prior education;
- the importance of the Dutch programme for your future career;
- how well the proposed studies match your previous education;
- extracurricular activities.
You will be informed about the decision of the selection committee as soon as possible after 1 May 2008. The outcome will first be published on our website. We will send all applicants an e-mail explaining how to access this information. You will also receive a letter by regular mail to let you know the outcome.
If you are selected your host institution will be, in most cases, of service by making arrangements for any practical matters, such as your accommodation, your healthcare insurance and applying for a residence permit.
Further reading
More information
Visa requirements
To enter the Netherlands and take up temporary residence, you will need to complete the correct immigration formalities. What the immigration authorities require depends on what nationality you have and on what purpose you are coming for. See Preparing your stay.
If you have been selected for the HSP scholarship: please contact the HSP contact person of your host institution for more information about the procedure before taking any action.
Payment of the scholarship
Nuffic will not pay the scholarship directly to students. You will receive the scholarship from your host institution at the start of the academic year. After making appropriate deductions for tuition fees and (where applicable) for health insurance premiums, immigration service fees and accommodation costs, your host institution will pay the scholarship to you in monthly payments.
End of scholarship
On completion of your studies, your host institution will send Nuffic a copy of your academic record (transcript) or, in the case of PhD students, an evaluation report of your PhD research activities.
Downloads
- List of HSP contact persons at Dutch institutions (20 kB)
- Rules and regulations of the Huygens Scholarship Programme (48 kB)
Entry Filed under: Netherlands
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