Post-graduate Scholarships at University of Amsterdam

The Univeristy of Amsterdam aims to attract the world's brightest students to its international classrooms. As from September 2007, outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

The Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (AMS) have specifically been designed by the Universiteit van Amsterdam to offer talented and hard-working non-EU/EEA students the opportunity to pursue a degree in one of the academic fields covered by the UvA. The AMS programme is highly selective: only applicants with excellent study results and motivation may receive a scholarship.

Eligibility
Applicants to one of the English-taught, selective Master's programmes of the Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS) must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be considered for the AMS scholarship.

The applicant should:
hold non-EEA nationality or nationalities only
not be entitled to receive a Dutch study grant or loan ("Studiefinanciering")
not be eligible to pay the reduced tuition fee rate for EEA students at the UvA
not receive a full coverage scholarship for the same period of study as the AMS scholarship
have submitted a complete application to one of the English-taught, selective Master’s programmes of the GSSS
have been (or will be) admitted to one of the English-taught, selective Master’s programmes of the GSSS
be enrolled at the time of receipt of the scholarship as a full time student in one of the English-taught, selective Master's programmes offered by the GSSS
be able to comply with the conditions to obtain a Dutch visa (if applicable)
demonstrate a financial need

Failure to meet one or more of these criteria automatically means that the student is not eligible for an AMS scholarship.

Selection criteria
We have a limited number of scholarships. The best eligible candidates are selected for a scholarship on the basis of the following criteria:
Their academic excellence and promise in the proposed field, as evidenced by their academic records, letters of recommendation, written work and/or publications and their proposed research questions;
The quality of their letter of motivation.

How to apply?
Applicants wishing to apply for an AMS scholarship should include their application for the scholarship in their application file for the Master's programme of their choice. Your application for the scholarship should contain the following documents:
Motivation letter for the scholarship
A comprehensive financial plan that shows expected income from all sources and all costs, to provide insight in the additional funds needed from a scholarship in order to finance participation in the Master's programme.
A research proposal, detailing your areas of interest and what you wish to research during your time at the GSSS.


When to apply?
Applications for an AMS scholarship should be submitted before 1 April when enrolling in September. For students wishing to start their studies in February, the deadline is 1 August.
Selection

Only students who have been admitted to one of the English-taught, selective Master's programmes of the GSSS can be awarded a scholarship. Students are selected on the basis of academic merit. Selection will take place in May and again in October. Applicants will be informed before the end of May or October.

The scholarship
The scholarship consists of € 6,000, € 9,000 or € 12,000, but awards are based on the comprehensive financial plan, which should demonstrate the extent of the need for additional funding. Please note that the scholarship cannot be used as a (partial) tuition waiver. The applicant must still pay the full amount of tuition due. Scholarship holders will receive their grant in monthly instalments.

Conditions
Amsterdam Merit Scholarships are only awarded to applicants who have been admitted to one of the English-taught, selective Master's programmes of the GSSS upon enrolment. A scholarship granted for one academic year cannot be transferred to another academic year. Students who are granted an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship are required to assent to the conditions applying to the scholarship in writing before the scholarship will be remitted.

For Queries contact: Ms. Sarah Kobus at S.M.Kobus@uva.nl