NL Scholarships for excellent Master’s candidates (non-EEA)
Students from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who have not previously studied at a Dutch institute of higher education and who wish to follow a Master’s programme at the Royal Conservatoire may be eligible for a scholarship from the NL Scholarship (previously:Holland Scholarship) programme.

NL Scholarships are provided by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and 48 universities and universities of applied sciences. The scholarship is worth €5.000 and is awarded once at the beginning of the first year of the student’s course. If you are awarded a NL Scholarship, this will be paid into your bank account to help in the cost of living. In addition, the Royal Conservatoire has lowered the tuition fee for NL Scholarship recipients to € 5.000 for the academic year of 2024/2025.

The entrance exam
The Royal Conservatoire only awards a NL Scholarship to Master’s students who have demonstrated an exceptionally high standard by securing a grade of 9 or 10 in their entrance exam and have submitted a convincing Master Plan. If you are awarded a grade of 10, you will be proposed as a candidate for a NL Scholarship. If you are awarded a grade of 9, you may also be considered.

Awarding of scholarships
The scholarships are awarded depending on several factors. The Conservatoire’s Principal will make the final selection of candidates.

After the NL Scholarship, and depending on your results during the first year of the masters’ programme, you may be awarded an Excellence Scholarship by Fonds Koninklijk Conservatorium for the second year of the programme. The Excellence Scholarship will cover the applicable tuition fees.

It is not necessary to apply separately for a NL Scholarship. You will be notified if your name has been put forward for a scholarship on the basis of the results of your entrance exam and your Master Plan.

More information

Please note
If you are awarded an NL Scholarship you are not eligible for an Excellence Scholarship and vice versa.