Orange Knowledge Programme

What the scholarship covers

• Tuition fees covered in full
• Living allowance for the study period
• International travel costs
• Insurance and visa costs

Eligibility requirements

• National of and working in a partner country
• Employed, with an employer statement supporting the application
• Admitted to an eligible Dutch course
• Not previously funded by the same programme

Documents you will need

• Admission letter from the Dutch institution
• Employer statement and government statement where required
• Motivation letter linking study to your work
• Passport copy
• Academic transcripts

How to apply, step by step

1. 1

   Check your country and field are eligible

   Eligibility is set per country and per thematic area, and both must match.

2. 2

   Get admitted to an eligible course first

   You need an admission letter from the Dutch institution before applying for funding.

3. 3

   Obtain the employer statement

   Your employer must confirm your role and support your return. This is mandatory.

4. 4

   Write the motivation letter

   It must connect the course directly to your current work and your organisation's needs.

5. 5

   Apply through the institution

   Most Dutch institutions administer the scholarship application themselves.

When to do what

Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.

1. 24 weeks before

   Confirm country and thematic eligibility with Nuffic.

2. 20 weeks before

   Apply for admission to the Dutch course.

3. 14 weeks before

   Request the employer statement in writing.

4. 10 weeks before

   Draft the motivation letter around your job.

5. 6 weeks before

   Assemble transcripts and passport documents.

6. 2 weeks before

   Submit through the institution's process.

What the panel is actually looking for

• Relevance of the course to your current employment
• Employer support and likelihood of return
• Fit with the thematic priorities for your country
• Academic and professional readiness

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without an admission letter from the Dutch institution.
• Missing the employer statement, which is not optional.
• Choosing a course outside your country's eligible themes.
• A motivation letter that never mentions your current job.

Fields of study