The UM Social Justice Scholarship at Maastricht University (UM) supports the university’s core values of diversity, inclusivity, and global engagement. It promotes the rule of law and human rights—key themes reflected in UM’s UNESCO Chair on Human Rights and Peace. The scholarship provides one full award worth €34,000 per year, including tuition, living expenses, insurance, and visa costs, for a talented non-EU/EEA student admitted to the Master’s in Globalisation and Law program.

This scholarship is designed for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights, social justice, or the rule of law through academic or community initiatives. Eligible applicants must be non-EU/EEA nationals under 35 years old, possess a GPA of 7.5/10 or higher, and meet the admission requirements for the Globalisation and Law program. Preference is given to those who have not yet earned a master’s degree. The scholarship duration is 13 months, covering all study-related costs and a monthly living allowance of €1,225.

Candidates must first apply for admission to the Master’s program through Studielink, then complete the online scholarship application form with required documents—including a CV, motivation letter, academic transcripts, financial statement, and a reference letter. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview in March 2026, and final results will be announced by May 2026.

Selected scholars will receive further details about the Pre-Academic Training—a mandatory two-week program held in August 2026 before studies begin.

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Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: 1 February 2026 (23:59 CET)
• Result Announcement: April–May 2026
• Master’s admission deadline: 8 December 2025
• Pre-Academic Training: August 2026
• Funding Type: Fully funded scholarship
• Host Institution: Maastricht University (UM)
• Eligible Countries: Non-EU/EEA countries, excluding Switzerland and Suriname
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Students committed to human rights and the rule of law
• Field: Globalisation and Law
• Study Level: Master’s degree
• Degree Required: Bachelor’s degree
• Number of Opportunities: 1 scholarship
• Duration: 13 months
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Netherlands

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship program will provide the following benefits for the selected candidates:

• Living Expenses:
  • €15,925 for 13 months paid monthly (€1,225/month)
• Tuition Fees
• Health & Liability Insurance of €700
• Visa Application Costs
• Pre-Academic Training & ISAP
• Guaranteed room provided by UM (mandatory acceptance required)

The €15,925 13 months living stipend breakdowns are as follows:

• Housing: €600
• Groceries & hygiene: €160
• Telephone: €60
• Travel: €100
• Books & study materials: €90
• Clothing, hobbies & leisure: €125
• Miscellaneous: €90

Note: Airfare is not included.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold nationality from a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Suriname.
• Meet Dutch visa and residence permit requirements for the Netherlands.
• Residence permit (if any) valid until at least 2 September 2026.
• No dual nationality with an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Applied for admission to the full-time Master’s in Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University for 2026–2027.
• Proven contribution to promoting human rights and/or the rule of law.
• Meet all admission requirements of the UM master’s program.
• Preference given to applicants without a previous master’s degree.
• Under 35 years old by 1 September 2026.
• GPA of 7.5/10 (75%) or higher in previous studies.
• Apply only once and for this scholarship only; incomplete applications are not accepted.

Required Documents

Applicants should submit the following documents:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae (max two pages)
• Motivation Letter (using the official template)
• Proof of Academic Excellence (official transcript showing GPA 7.5/10)
• Personal Statement of Financial Need
• Reference Letter (from a professor, lecturer, or employer—not family)
• Referee’s Contact Information (official institutional email and phone number)

Selection Process

The following are the highlights of the selection procedure:

• Step 1: UM International Services Desk reviews applications for completeness after 1 February 2026.
• Step 2: Complete applications are sent to the UM Law Faculty in February 2026.
• Step 3: The Faculty selects and ranks the top 3 candidates, forwarding them to the International Services Desk in March 2026.
• Step 4: International Services Desk confirms selections by the end of March 2026 and invites shortlisted candidates for an online interview. Applicants prepare an action plan on how their studies will strengthen human rights or the rule of law.
• Step 5: All candidates are notified of results (selected, waitlisted, or rejected) by April–May 2026.
• Step 6:You must sign and return the award letter to the UM International Services Desk to accept the scholarship.

How to Apply?

• Apply for admission to the Social Justice master’s program via Studielink.nl.
• Once you receive your UM student ID, access the UM Brightlands Scholarship Application Form.
• Upload all required documents (PDF or .doc/.docx).
• Submit before 1 February 2026 (23:59 CET) — applications cannot be edited afterward.

Further details are available on the UM’s official website. For any inquiries or questions, email the UM International Services Desk: scholarships@maastrichtuniversity.nl

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