What the funding covers
- Full tuition for a one- or two-year master's starting in September.
- A living allowance of €1,250 a month, €275 to settle in on arrival and €310 a year for books.
- Return economy flights with travel insurance, the train from Schiphol Airport to Groningen, and the cost of the entry visa.
- Insurance in the Netherlands for medical treatment, accidents, liability and an emergency flight home.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition | The fellowship |
| Living costs | The fellowship: €1,250 a month |
| Flights, visa and insurance | The fellowship |
| Master's application fee (€100) | You, paid once per academic year |
Who can apply
- Nationals of the 79 countries on the fund's list: the least developed countries and lower-middle-income countries such as Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt and Vietnam.
- A provisional or unconditional offer for a Groningen master's programme before February. Every master's programme qualifies.
- Excellent bachelor's grades, ideally backed by recommendation letters, and English at the level your programme requires.
- No other way to pay for the master's, good health, and the ability to attend the whole programme.
Which nationalities can apply
Citizens of 79 countries and territories can apply. The countries of origin listed on the fund's page. Official list, as of Nov 3, 2026.
See all 79
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Documents you will need
- A complete Groningen master's application before 1 December 2026, with the €100 application fee
- Your bachelor's transcripts and degree certificate
- Recommendation letters that speak to your academic record
- Proof of English at your programme's level. Groningen's 2027–28 rules exempt a three-year bachelor's from some countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria; check your programme's own page
- If you are nominated: an Eric Bleumink motivation letter within one week, and copies of your other funding applications
How to apply
- There is no scholarship form. Apply for a Groningen master's that starts in September 2027, and complete the application before 1 December 2026.
- In the first week of January, the Admissions Office and the faculty admission boards choose nominees from those applicants.
- Nominees are told and have one week to send an Eric Bleumink motivation letter to the Admissions Office.
- The fund's committee picks the fellows and tells every nominee before 1 March. If you have not heard by 1 February, you were not nominated.
Before you apply: things to know
- Only four fellowships are awarded each year, against hundreds of candidates. Apply for other funding too: the committee asks which other applications you have made.
- Candidates from the least developed countries come first, then other low-income countries, then lower-middle-income countries such as Ghana, India and Nigeria. Students of Groningen's partner universities are also favoured.
- You agree to return to your home country when the programme ends. You may not take paid work in the Netherlands, and the grant does not cover family members.
- You cannot hold another University of Groningen scholarship at the same time.
Common questions
Can I apply directly for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship?
No. Groningen nominates candidates from its master's applicants. Complete your master's application before 1 December 2026 and hold an offer before February to be considered.
How much does the Eric Bleumink Fellowship pay?
Full tuition, €1,250 a month for living costs, €275 on arrival, €310 a year for books, return flights and insurance.
Which countries can apply?
Nationals of 79 countries, including Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Vietnam. The full list is on this page.
When will I know?
Nominees hear in January. The committee tells every nominee whether they won before 1 March.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next deadline (Nov 30, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.