Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for Developing Countries’ Students, 2017

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the budget for development cooperation is pleased to offer Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for developing countries’ students. Fellowships are available for masters degree programmes, short courses and PhD studies at a Dutch higher education institution.

The NFP aims to help increase both the number and the competencies of skilled staff at a wide range of government and non-government organisations.

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) promote capacity building within organisations in 51 countries by providing fellowships for training and education for professionals. The NFP is initiated and fully funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the budget for development cooperation.

Candidates must be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the NFP country. Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Course Level: Fellowships are available for masters degree programmes, short courses and PhD Studies at a Dutch higher education institution which offers the NFP-qualified course.

Study Subject(s): Fellowships are awarded in all subjects offered by Dutch higher education institutions.

Scholarship Award: An NFP fellowship is intended to supplement the salary that the fellow should continue to receive during the study period. The allowance is a contribution towards the costs of living, the costs of tuition fees, visas, travel, insurance and thesis research. If applicable, the fellowship holder is expected to cover the difference between the actual costs and the amount of the personal NFP allowances.

Scholarship can be taken in Netherlands

Eligibility: The fellowships are awarded in a very competitive selection to highly motivated professionals who are in a position to introduce the newly-acquired skills and knowledge into their employing organisation. The NFP is meant for professionals who are nationals of and work and live in one of the 51 NFP countries. The countries have been classified into two categories (I and II). Category I countries are priority countries and will receive more fellowships. Candidates have to be nominated by their employer to be eligible for the fellowship. There also has to be a clear need for training within the context of the organisation. Applicants must meet a number of criteria that support the aim of the NFP to be eligible for a fellowship. To be eligible applicants:

must be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the NFP country list;

must have an employer’s statement that complies with the format EP-Nuffic has provided. All information must be provided and all commitments that are included in the format must be endorsed in the statement;

must not be employed by an organisation that has its own means of staff-development. Organisations that are considered to have their own means for staff development are for example: multinational corporations (e.g. Shell, Unilever, Microsoft), large national and/or a large commercial organisations, bilateral donor organisations (e.g. USAID, DFID, Danida, Sida, Dutch ministry of Foreign affairs, FinAid, AusAid, ADC, SwissAid), multilateral donor organisations, (e.g. a UN organisation, the World Bank, the IMF, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, IADB) and international NGO’s (e.g. Oxfam, Plan, Care);

must have an official and valid passport;

must not receive more than one fellowship for courses that take place at the same time;

must have a government statement that meets the requirements of the country in which the employer is established (if applicable).

Nationality: Students of Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Macedonia, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe can apply for the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes. The chances of obtaining an NFP fellowship increase if you live and work in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or if you are a woman.

College Admission Requirement

Entrance Requirement: Candidates must be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the NFP country.

Test Requirement: No

English Language Requirements: Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

International Fellowships

How to Apply: Candidates need to apply directly with a Dutch higher education institution of your choice, taking into account the following steps:

Check whether applicants are in the above-mentioned target groups.

Check whether their employer will nominate them.

Find a course with Studyfinder tool.

Contact the Dutch higher education institution which offers the NFP-qualified course of their choice for application procedures.

Application Deadline: Applicants need to apply directly with a Dutch higher education institution of applicants choice.

NFP deadline overview

Scholarship Link