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Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028: Full Master’s Funding for Non-EU/EEA Students in Globalisation and Law

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Maastricht University - Social Justice Scholarship.

Maastricht University - Social Justice Scholarship.

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Applications will open on 1 October 2026 for the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028, a highly competitive full scholarship for talented international students who want to pursue the full-time Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

The scholarship is particularly aimed at applicants who have already demonstrated a meaningful commitment to human rights and/or strengthening the rule of law through academic, extracurricular, professional or community initiatives.

Only one full scholarship is awarded each academic year, making this an exceptionally selective funding opportunity.

The scholarship provides substantial financial support for the entire 13-month programme, including:

The scholarship is available to applicants from outside the European Union and European Economic Area, subject to additional nationality, residence, academic and visa requirements. Maastricht University describes the programme as supporting its commitments to diversity, inclusivity and strengthening the rule of law, including through its wider human rights and peace initiatives.

There are two particularly important deadlines:

Master’s programme application deadline: 10 December 2026

Scholarship application deadline: 1 February 2027

Applicants should understand that they must first apply to the Globalisation and Law Master’s programme before completing the separate Social Justice Scholarship application.

About the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship

The UM Social Justice Scholarship is an international funding programme created by Maastricht University to support academically excellent students who have demonstrated a record of contributing to:

The scholarship reflects Maastricht University’s broader emphasis on diversity, inclusion and global engagement.

The University explicitly connects the scholarship to its Global Engagement Policy and to its commitment to strengthening the rule of law.

Unlike a general international scholarship available across all Maastricht University programmes, this scholarship is tied to one specific Master’s degree:

Globalisation and Law

Applicants seeking admission to another Maastricht University Master’s programme cannot use that programme to qualify for this particular scholarship.

Number of Scholarships Available

Maastricht University awards:

One full Social Justice Scholarship per academic year.

This means competition is likely to be extremely strong.

Academic excellence alone is therefore unlikely to be sufficient.

Applicants must also demonstrate a convincing combination of:

The scholarship is designed for highly talented students from outside the EU/EEA who have already made demonstrable contributions to human rights or the rule of law.

Eligible Master’s Programme

The scholarship is available only for the:

Full-time Master’s programme Globalisation and Law

at Maastricht University.

Applicants must apply for the:

2027–2028 academic year.

Applications to other Law Faculty programmes do not qualify for the UM Social Justice Scholarship.

This restriction is explicitly stated in the application procedure.

Why Globalisation and Law?

The programme is particularly relevant for students interested in legal questions shaped by international and transnational developments.

The scholarship’s own selection criteria emphasize applicants with previous involvement in:

As a result, it may be especially attractive to applicants whose academic or professional interests concern:

Applicants should still review the actual Globalisation and Law curriculum before applying and ensure that their interests align with the programme itself.

Scholarship Duration

The UM Social Justice Scholarship covers:

13 months

for the one-year Globalisation and Law Master’s programme.

This extended funding period is important because the scholarship is designed to support students not only with tuition but also with living expenses throughout their stay.

Scholarship Financial Benefits

The Social Justice Scholarship is a substantial full funding package.

For the 2027–2028 cycle, the published support includes several components.

Living Expenses: €20,150

Scholarship recipients receive:

€20,150 for 13 months

in living expenses.

This is equivalent to:

€1,550 per month.

The living allowance is paid to the student by the Maastricht University International Services Desk.

The published amount is subject to change for the 2027–2028 academic year.

Monthly Living Expense Breakdown

Maastricht University provides a detailed estimate showing how the monthly €1,550 living allowance is intended to cover expenses.

The indicative monthly breakdown is:

These amounts are estimates and may change.

Applicants should therefore understand that the €20,150 living allowance is designed to cover normal student living costs rather than being an additional discretionary cash award on top of accommodation and everyday expenses.

Tuition Fees

The scholarship covers:

Tuition fees at cost.

The Maastricht University International Services Desk arranges and pays the tuition component.

For scholarship recipients, this effectively provides full tuition funding for the eligible programme.

Health and Liability Insurance

The scholarship includes:

€700 for health and liability insurance

based on the current published amount.

The International Services Desk arranges and pays for the insurance.

The amount may change for 2027–2028.

Visa Application Costs

The scholarship also covers:

Visa application costs at cost.

These are arranged and paid by the University’s International Services Desk.

This is particularly important because the scholarship is specifically intended for many students who will need Dutch immigration authorization.

Applicants must nevertheless meet all eligibility conditions for obtaining the appropriate entry visa and residence permit.

Pre-Academic Training Costs

The scholarship covers the cost of Maastricht University’s:

Pre-Academic Training programme

at cost.

This training is not optional for scholarship recipients.

It is a:

Mandatory two-week component

and is scheduled to begin in the:

First week of August 2027.

Successful applicants should therefore plan to arrive in time to participate.

International Student Ambassador Programme

The scholarship also covers the cost of the:

International Student Ambassador Programme, or ISAP

for the:

First block only.

Applicants should consult Maastricht University for the current structure of this programme and any later participation costs that may fall outside the scholarship.

Accommodation Is Mandatory

A particularly important condition of the Social Justice Scholarship is its accommodation arrangement.

Scholarship recipients are allocated a room until:

July 2028

and accepting the scholarship means accepting this accommodation.

The University explicitly states that:

Refusing the allocated room results in cancellation of the scholarship.

This is therefore not an optional housing service.

It is a mandatory part of the scholarship package.

Accommodation and Families

The accommodation allocated to scholarship students is:

Not suitable for partners, spouses and/or children.

Applicants planning to move to the Netherlands with family members should consider this condition carefully.

Maastricht University does state that accommodation preferences connected to considerations such as religious beliefs will be taken into account where possible.

Is Airfare Included?

No.

The scholarship explicitly states that:

Air tickets are not included.

Students are responsible for paying for their own flight or other travel to the Netherlands.

This is an important distinction when describing the scholarship as “fully funded.”

It comprehensively covers tuition, living support, accommodation allocation, insurance, visa costs and training, but it does not cover airfare.

Cleaning Fee

The scholarship also does not cover the accommodation cleaning fee.

The current estimate is approximately:

€75

and must be paid directly to Maastricht Housing by the student.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must satisfy all published eligibility conditions.

This includes requirements concerning:

Nationality Requirement

Applicants must hold nationality in a country:

Outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam.

They must also meet the requirements for obtaining the appropriate Dutch:

This means the scholarship is specifically aimed at international students from outside those listed jurisdictions.

Dual Nationality Restriction

Applicants are not eligible if they have dual nationality from:

A candidate holding both a non-EU nationality and an EU nationality would therefore not satisfy this condition.

Existing Schengen Residence Permit

Applicants who already hold a residence permit for another Schengen country may still potentially apply, but special conditions apply.

The permit must remain valid until at least:

2 September 2027

If it expires before that date, applicants can only apply for the scholarship through the applicable MVV visa procedure from their home country.

Applicants with complicated immigration status should review Maastricht University’s Visa Office guidance before applying.

Programme Admission Requirement

Applicants must have applied for:

Full-time Globalisation and Law

at Maastricht University for:

2027–2028

and must submit the complete programme application, meeting all admission requirements, before:

10 December 2026.

This deadline is earlier than the scholarship deadline.

Applicants cannot wait until February to start their Master’s application.

Human Rights or Rule-of-Law Contribution

One of the defining requirements is that applicants must have already made a:

Proven contribution to supporting the rule of law and/or human rights

through:

This means simply stating an interest in human rights is unlikely to satisfy the requirement.

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate actual involvement.

What Could Count as Human Rights or Rule-of-Law Experience?

The official source does not provide an exhaustive list, but applicants should use their application to document relevant activities clearly.

Potential evidence could include, where genuinely applicable:

The strongest applications will describe both:

rather than listing organization names without context.

GPA Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic results.

The minimum required GPA is:

7.5 out of 10

or equivalent.

The application guidance further explains that this corresponds to approximately:

depending on the grading system.

Applicants must provide both:

  1. An official transcript or university document showing their GPA.
  2. A document explaining their institution’s grading system.

GPA Must Be Cumulative

The scholarship application instructions state that Maastricht University only accepts candidates with a:

Cumulative GPA of at least 75% of the maximum scale in the Bachelor’s degree.

Applicants should therefore not rely only on a particularly strong final semester if their cumulative result does not meet the threshold.

Age Limit

Applicants must be:

35 years old or younger on 1 September 2027.

Candidates older than 35 on that date are not eligible under the published rules.

Previous Master’s Degree

Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree are not automatically excluded.

However:

Preference will be given to candidates who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree.

This distinction matters.

An applicant with a previous Master’s may still apply if all other conditions are met, but they may be at a disadvantage compared with an otherwise similarly strong candidate seeking their first Master’s.

Only One Scholarship Application

Candidates may:

Apply once and for one scholarship only.

After submission, Maastricht University will not add or replace documents.

Applicants should therefore check every document carefully before submitting the final scholarship application.

Important Application Dates

Applications for the Social Justice Scholarship open on:

1 October 2026.

The major deadlines are:

Globalisation and Law programme application

10 December 2026

UM Social Justice Scholarship application

1 February 2027

By the scholarship deadline, candidates must have completed the relevant registration requirements except for:

Application Process

The Social Justice Scholarship application involves two main stages.

Step 1: Apply for Globalisation and Law

Applicants must first apply to the:

Globalisation and Law Master’s programme

through:

Studielink

After submitting the programme application, the applicant will receive a Maastricht University student ID number.

This student number is required for the scholarship application.

Programme Application Deadline

For scholarship eligibility, the complete Globalisation and Law application must be submitted by:

10 December 2026.

This includes fulfilling the admission requirements.

Applicants should not confuse this with any later general programme deadline that may apply to candidates who are not seeking the Social Justice Scholarship.

APPLY HERE

Handling Fees

If the programme requires an admissions handling fee:

The scholarship does not cover it.

The applicant is personally responsible for paying any applicable fee by:

10 December 2026.

Step 2: Complete the Scholarship Application Form

After obtaining a Maastricht University account and student number, applicants complete the scholarship application through the official online form.

The University accepts scholarship applications only through this form.

Supporting documents may be uploaded in:

Please fill out the application form here.

Required Scholarship Documents

Candidates must prepare several important documents.

1. Curriculum Vitae

The CV must:

Because the scholarship is highly competitive, applicants should prioritize evidence relevant to:

2. Motivation Letter

Applicants must use the:

Official Maastricht University scholarship motivation letter template.

The template focuses specifically on motivation for the scholarship.

Applicants are instructed to emphasize:

What they have already done to improve human rights.

This is especially important.

The scholarship is not intended solely for applicants who want to work in human rights in the future.

It seeks people with a proven record of engagement already.

How to Strengthen the Motivation Letter

A competitive motivation letter should explain:

Applicants should avoid making the letter entirely aspirational.

Evidence of past contribution is a formal eligibility factor.

3. Proof of Academic Excellence

Candidates must upload:

  1. Transcript or official university documentation showing a GPA of at least 7.5/10 or equivalent.
  2. Documentation explaining the grading scale.

This requirement is particularly important for applicants whose universities use grading systems that differ substantially from the Dutch system.

4. Personal Statement of Financial Need

Applicants must submit a:

Personal statement of financial needs.

The University asks candidates to explain why receiving the scholarship would benefit them.

Examples of relevant personal circumstances explicitly mentioned include:

The statement should be factual and personal rather than generic.

5. Reference Letter

Applicants must submit:

One reference letter.

The University provides specific scholarship reference-letter guidelines that should be sent to the referee.

Eligible referees include:

Family members cannot act as referees.

Reference Letter Date Requirement

Recommendation letters must be:

Dated no earlier than February 2026.

Letters failing to follow the official guidelines will not be considered, which can cause an application to be treated as incomplete.

Applicants Upload the Reference Letter Themselves

Unlike some scholarship systems where referees upload recommendations directly, the UM Social Justice Scholarship requires:

The applicant to upload the reference letter.

The referee cannot submit it directly through the scholarship application.

Applicants should therefore request their reference well before the deadline.

6. Referee Contact Details

Applicants must also provide one referee’s contact information.

This includes:

A recommendation linked only to a:

Personal email address

will be rejected.

The University may contact the referee to verify the authenticity of the recommendation.

Selection Process

Because only one scholarship is available, selection involves several stages.

Stage 1: Completeness Check

After:

1 February 2027

the UM International Services Desk checks whether applications are complete.

Incomplete applications do not progress.

Stage 2: Faculty Review

Complete applications are sent to the:

UM Law Faculty

in:

February 2027.

Faculty reviewers assess eligible candidates.

Stage 3: Top Three Candidates

The Law Faculty selects and ranks its:

Top three scholarship applicants

and sends their files to the International Services Desk for a final check in:

March 2027.

This means only a very small final group moves forward to the interview stage.

Stage 4: Online Interview

By the end of March, Maastricht University confirms the Faculty selections and invites selected candidates to:

An online interview.

Candidates invited to interview must prepare an:

Action plan

explaining how studying at Maastricht University will enable them to contribute to strengthening:

in their home country and/or elsewhere.

This makes future impact an explicit part of final selection.

Preparing the Action Plan

Applicants who reach the interview should be prepared to explain:

A generic career plan will likely be less persuasive than a specific and realistic pathway.

Final Results

Following interviews, applicants will be informed of their status in:

April 2027

with final statuses communicated by:

The beginning of May 2027 at the latest.

Possible outcomes include:

Waitlisted candidates will receive a final selected/rejected result during May 2027.

Accepting the Scholarship

Successful candidates must:

Sign and return the scholarship award letter

to the UM International Services Desk.

This formally confirms acceptance of the scholarship and its associated conditions, including the mandatory accommodation requirement.

Pre-Academic Training

Scholarship recipients must participate in the:

Two-week UM Pre-Academic Training programme

beginning in:

The first week of August 2027.

Successful candidates should therefore plan their immigration and arrival arrangements accordingly.

What the Scholarship Does Not Cover

Despite its comprehensive funding package, several costs remain the responsibility of the applicant.

The scholarship does not cover:

Applicants should budget for these expenses in advance.

Important Dates at a Glance

Scholarship applications open: 1 October 2026

Globalisation and Law application deadline for scholarship candidates: 10 December 2026

Scholarship application deadline: 1 February 2027

Completeness checks: After 1 February 2027

Law Faculty review: February 2027

Top three ranking: March 2027

Interviews: Around late March/April 2027

Final decisions: April to early May 2027

Mandatory Pre-Academic Training: First week of August 2027

Academic year: 2027–2028

Scholarship Benefits at a Glance

Number of awards: 1

Programme: Globalisation and Law

Duration: 13 months

Living allowance: €20,150

Monthly equivalent: €1,550

Tuition fees: Covered

Health and liability insurance: €700, arranged and paid

Visa application costs: Covered at cost

Pre-Academic Training: Covered

International Student Ambassador Programme: First block covered

Accommodation: Mandatory room allocated as part of scholarship arrangements

Airfare: Not covered

Cleaning fee: Not covered

Eligibility Checklist

Before applying, candidates should confirm that they:

  1. Hold nationality outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam.
  2. Do not hold dual EU/EEA or Swiss nationality.
  3. Can meet Dutch visa and residence requirements.
  4. Have applied to full-time Globalisation and Law for 2027–2028.
  5. Complete their Master’s application by 10 December 2026.
  6. Meet all Globalisation and Law admission requirements.
  7. Have demonstrated previous support for human rights and/or the rule of law.
  8. Are no older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
  9. Have a GPA of at least 7.5/10 or equivalent.
  10. Can provide documentation explaining their grading scale.
  11. Understand that applicants without a previous Master’s receive preference.
  12. Submit only one scholarship application.
  13. Have all documents ready before submitting because they cannot be replaced afterward.
  14. Are prepared to accept the mandatory scholarship accommodation.
  15. Can participate in the mandatory August 2027 Pre-Academic Training.

Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application

1. Demonstrate Proven Human Rights Impact

This is one of the most important features of the scholarship.

Do not simply write:

“I am passionate about human rights.”

Instead, explain:

The scholarship explicitly requires previous contribution.

2. Make Your Motivation Letter Evidence-Based

Connect your past activities with your future goals.

A strong narrative might follow:

Past contribution → current knowledge gap → Maastricht training → future human rights/rule-of-law impact

This creates a clear argument for why the scholarship should be invested in you.

3. Explain Why Globalisation and Law Specifically

Avoid describing Maastricht University only in broad terms.

Research the actual programme and identify:

that directly support your intended work.

4. Treat Financial Need as a Serious Application Component

The personal financial statement is not simply an administrative formality.

Explain your financial circumstances honestly and specifically.

Where relevant, describe issues such as:

without exaggeration.

5. Select a Strong Referee

Your referee should be someone who can credibly discuss:

The referee must use a professional or institutional email.

6. Prepare for the Interview Early

Because shortlisted candidates need to present an action plan, start considering:

What will you do with this degree?

before submitting the scholarship application.

The strongest candidates will likely demonstrate a realistic pathway from education to practical impact.

Conclusion

The Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028 is an exceptional full funding opportunity for highly talented international students who want to pursue the Master’s in Globalisation and Law while building on an existing record of engagement with human rights and the rule of law.

Only one scholarship is awarded annually, making the programme highly competitive.

The financial package includes €20,150 in living support for 13 months, full tuition funding, health and liability insurance, visa application costs, mandatory pre-academic training and other programme-related support. Maastricht University also allocates accommodation to scholarship recipients as a mandatory part of the award.

Applicants must come from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Surinam, may not hold dual EU/EEA or Swiss nationality, must be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027 and must have a minimum GPA equivalent to 7.5/10 or 75% of the maximum scale. They must also demonstrate a proven contribution to human rights and/or the rule of law.

Candidates seeking the scholarship must complete their application to the Globalisation and Law programme by 10 December 2026, while the final Social Justice Scholarship deadline is 1 February 2027.

Selection involves an initial completeness check, Law Faculty assessment, ranking of the top three candidates and an online interview requiring an action plan explaining how the Maastricht degree will help the applicant strengthen human rights or the rule of law in their country or elsewhere.

For applicants with excellent academic results, demonstrated social-justice engagement and a clear vision for translating legal education into practical impact, the UM Social Justice Scholarship represents a rare opportunity to complete a fully funded Master’s degree in the Netherlands.

To know more about this scholarship, VISIT HERE.

To discover more global scholarship opportunities,  CLICK HERE.

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