Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship

Overview

The Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship is awarded by Erasmus University Rotterdam through the Erasmus Trustfonds, the university's own foundation. It's built for high-achieving master's students who have the grades but not the means, combining a tuition waiver with a monthly living allowance so you can study without a constant funding gap.

For 2026-2027 the package is worth up to EUR 17,500 for one year. That includes a full tuition-fee waiver, a monthly living allowance of EUR 1,200 (EUR 14,400 over the year), a one-off personal allowance of EUR 249, and a waiver of the immigration fee where it applies. Only the living and personal allowances are paid to your account; the tuition and immigration fees are waived directly rather than transferred to you.

Unlike a pure merit award, this one weighs financial need alongside academic excellence, so your application has to make both cases. It's open to students from both EEA and non-EEA countries, but it's competitive and tied to specific eligible programmes, and you can receive it only once, for a single year.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Funding Body	Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus Trustfonds)
Host Country	Netherlands
Degree Levels	Master's
Value	Up to EUR 17,500 for 2026-2027: full tuition waiver, EUR 1,200/month living allowance (EUR 14,400/yr), one-off EUR 249 personal allowance, plus immigration-fee waiver where applicable. One year only, once.
Deadline	For 2026-2027, applications closed 31 January 2026; results by 13 March 2026
Eligible Nationalities	EEA and non-EEA students
Official Website	Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship page

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

You need excellent results in your previous bachelor's, defined as an average final grade of at least 7.50. You'll be asked to confirm this with a certified transcript and a separate GPA confirmation statement.

Financial Requirements

Financial need is part of the selection. You have to submit a detailed financial statement describing your situation and how you plan to fund your studies, backed by a budget plan on the university's template. The scholarship is meant for students who genuinely can't cover the cost on their own.

Enrolment Requirements

You must be a first-year master's student and never have been enrolled as a full degree master's student in the Netherlands. A pre-master's programme in the Netherlands doesn't disqualify you. Current ESE master's students are not eligible.

Programme Requirements

The scholarship is tied to specific eligible master's programmes set by the faculty, such as those in accounting, auditing and control, econometrics and management science, and economics and business at the School of Economics. Confirm your programme is on the eligible list before applying.

What the Scholarship Covers

• A full tuition-fee waiver, whether you pay the statutory or the higher institutional rate.
• A monthly living allowance of EUR 1,200, totalling EUR 14,400 over the year, paid into your account.
• A one-off personal allowance of EUR 249.
• A waiver of the immigration fee where it applies to you.
• The whole package is for one academic year, and you can receive it only once.

How to Apply

1. Apply for admission: Apply to an eligible Erasmus master's programme and register through Studielink.
2. Prepare your documents: Write your motivation letter, financial statement, and budget plan, and gather your certified transcript and GPA confirmation.
3. Submit through the application portal: Upload the required documents in the EUR application portal by the stated deadline.
4. Complete enrolment steps: Make sure your Studielink registration and portal documents are in before the deadline, and plan to enrol by the start of the academic year.
5. Handle immigration in time: If you need a visa or residence permit, start the immigration procedure early so it's complete before the summer cut-off.
6. Wait for the result: The committee reviews applications and notifies you of the outcome by the published results date.

Required Documents

• A motivation letter, two pages maximum (Arial 11pt).
• A financial statement, one page maximum (Arial 11pt).
• A budget plan using the provided template.
• A certified academic transcript with an official stamp and signature.
• A GPA confirmation statement.
• Your admission and Studielink registration details.

Key Dates & Deadlines

Stage	Timing (2026-2027 cycle)
Application period	1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 (23:59)
Results announced	By 13 March 2026
Immigration procedure	Complete by 10 July (submit by around May)
Enrolment	By 1 September 2026

The 2026-2027 window has already closed. The scholarship runs on an annual cycle, so if you're aiming at a future intake, expect the application window to open around December and close at the end of January, with results in March. Check the official page for the next year's exact dates.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Make both cases clearly: strong grades and a real, documented financial need.
• Use the official budget template and keep your financial statement specific and honest about income, costs, and gaps.
• Get your transcript certified with the official stamp and signature well before the deadline.
• Confirm your programme is on the eligible list and that you meet the first-year, no-prior-Dutch-master's rule.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a vague financial statement without a clear budget that shows the shortfall.
• Ignoring the formatting limits (page counts and Arial 11pt) on the letter and statement.
• Applying when you've already been a full master's student in the Netherlands or are a current ESE master's student.
• Leaving immigration steps too late and missing the summer cut-off after winning the award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

It's a scholarship from Erasmus University Rotterdam, funded through the Erasmus Trustfonds, for high-achieving master's students with financial need. It combines a tuition waiver with a monthly living allowance.

How much is the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship worth?

Up to EUR 17,500 for 2026-2027, made up of a full tuition waiver, a EUR 1,200 monthly living allowance (EUR 14,400 a year), a one-off EUR 249 personal allowance, and an immigration-fee waiver where it applies.

Is the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship fully funded?

It's close to fully funded for one year, covering tuition plus a living allowance. It's awarded for a single year only and you can receive it just once, so plan how you'll fund any further years.

Who is eligible for the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

First-year master's students from EEA and non-EEA countries with an average bachelor's grade of at least 7.50, demonstrable financial need, no prior full master's enrolment in the Netherlands, and an eligible programme. Current ESE master's students are excluded.

What GPA do I need for the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

An average final grade of at least 7.50 in your previous bachelor's, confirmed with a certified transcript and a GPA confirmation statement.

What is the deadline for the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

For 2026-2027 the application window ran from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, with results by 13 March 2026. Future cycles follow a similar December-to-January pattern, so check the official page for exact dates.

How do I apply for the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

Apply to an eligible Erasmus master's, register through Studielink, and upload your motivation letter, financial statement, budget plan, certified transcript, and GPA confirmation through the EUR application portal before the deadline.

What documents do I need for the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship?

A motivation letter (max two pages), a financial statement (max one page), a budget plan on the provided template, a certified transcript with an official stamp and signature, and a GPA confirmation statement.

Does the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship cover living costs?

Yes. It pays a EUR 1,200 monthly living allowance, EUR 14,400 over the year, alongside a one-off EUR 249 personal allowance. These amounts are paid into your account.

Can I get the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship more than once?

No. It's awarded for one year only and you can receive it just once. You also have to stay in the programme you were awarded it for.

Can I combine the Erasmus Trustfonds Scholarship with another scholarship?

No. It can't be combined with other scholarships, so it has to stand on its own for the year you hold it.