The Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (AMS) have specifically been designed by the University of 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 might be eligible to receive a scholarship.

Candidates wishing to take part in the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship programme must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans ("Studiefinanciering"; for more information please refer to: www.DUO.nl) and/or the low tuition fee. The scholarship office should be notified as soon as possible of any change in nationality, type of residence permit, and/or possible “Studiefinanciering” support, throughout the academic year.
• Be fully admitted to a degree programme at the Graduate School of Social Sciences. Scholarship continuation is not guaranteed when a candidate changes their degree programme.
• The AMS will not be awarded to candidates having to complete a preparatory programme (pre-master’s) before their master,
  • The only exception is if a candidate is required to only complete the Summer School Programme: Comprehensive Introduction to Research Methodology and Design (of which the costs are borne by the applicant).
• Be admitted unconditionally to a Master's programme of the Graduate School of Social Sciences, and this programme being the first programme for the applicant, either on bachelor level or master level, in The Netherlands.
• Be able to comply with Dutch visa regulations.
• Be enrolled at the UvA as full-time student for the academic year and the programme for which the scholarship is awarded.
• The candidate should not receive a full coverage scholarship for the same period of study as the AMS scholarship. Notify the scholarships office when another full scholarship has been awarded and accepted.
• Scholarship continuation for subsequent year(s) of study depends upon satisfactory study progress. The programme you will be enrolled in, as it depends on the curriculum and rules and regulations of the department, sets the standard for satisfactory progress, and the time and manner in which progress will be measured. Please be advised that you are expected to gain approximately 80% of credits in any one year.

The master’s programme you wish to apply for might set extra requirements such as academic and language requirements. 

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 and letter of recommendation;
• The quality of their letter of motivation.

How to apply?

You can submit your AMS application by completing the following steps:

1. First, submit your application for the Master programme of your choice. Note that your Master’s application needs to be complete, with all required documents including valid language test scores.
2. Receive your UvA student number and MyInfo reference number.
3. Fill out and submit the application form for the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.  You will need to upload the following documents: 

• Scan of identity page of passport
• Letter of motivation

Your letter of motivation should entail how the master’s programme of your choice will help you fulfil both your personal and academic goals and should explain why you are the best candidate for the scholarship.

• Letter of recommendation

Your letter of recommendation should foremost give an indication of your academic qualities. This letter should be written by a professor or another member of academic staff.

• Financial plan

Your financial plan serves to show that you do need the scholarship as well as to proof that you have sufficient funds to cover for all other costs

When to apply?

Applications for an AMS scholarship should be submitted no later than 12 January 2022, 23:59 CET.

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 for the AMS on the basis of academic merit. Selection takes place in March. Applicants will be informed no later than mid-May. 

Please note that the AMS is highly competitive. In 2020 two scholarships were awarded to students of the Graduate School Social Sciences (0.5% of received scholarship applications).

The scholarship

The scholarship consists of an amount equal to the tuition fee. Please note that the scholarship cannot be used as a (partial) tuition waiver. The applicant must still pay the full amount of tuition due, and can do this in instalments. Scholarship holders will also 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.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the AMS please send an email to international-office-csw@uva.nl. 

More scholarships?

Would you like to know more about scholarships for GSSS students? Please be referred to the scholarships overview.