International students interested in human rights, social justice and the rule of law can apply for the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028 in the Netherlands. The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for one highly talented student admitted to the Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University.
The UM Social Justice Scholarship is specifically intended for talented students from outside the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) who have demonstrated a strong record of contributing to human rights and/or the rule of law. Maastricht University awards one full scholarship each academic year, including a tuition fee waiver and monthly living stipend.
For the 2027–2028 academic year, applications are scheduled to open on 1 October 2026, while the final scholarship deadline is 1 February 2027. Candidates must complete their application for admission to the Globalisation and Law programme by 10 December 2026.
Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028 Overview
Host institution: Maastricht University
Country: Netherlands
Scholarship: UM Social Justice Scholarship
Academic year: 2027–2028
Study level: Master’s degree
Eligible programme: Globalisation and Law
Scholarships available: 1
Duration: 13 months
Living allowance: €20,150 for 13 months
Monthly living allowance: €1,550
Tuition fees: Covered at cost
Health and liability insurance: €700
Visa application costs: Covered at cost
Pre-Academic Training: Covered
Eligible applicants: Qualified students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Surinam
Applications open: 1 October 2026
Master’s admission application deadline: 10 December 2026
Scholarship deadline: 1 February 2027
The scholarship lasts 13 months, corresponding to the one-year Globalisation and Law master’s programme.
About the UM Social Justice Scholarship
The UM Social Justice Scholarship supports Maastricht University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, human rights and strengthening the rule of law.
It is particularly relevant for students who have already demonstrated that their interest in human rights or the rule of law extends beyond academic study.
Applicants must provide evidence of contributions through extracurricular or intra-curricular initiatives and projects connected to human rights and/or the rule of law.
The scholarship is highly competitive because Maastricht University offers only one full award per academic year.
What Does the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship provides extensive financial support for the successful candidate.
For the 2027–2028 programme, the listed scholarship benefits include:
- €20,150 toward living expenses for 13 months
- €700 for health and liability insurance
- Full tuition fees at cost
- Visa application costs at cost
- Pre-Academic Training costs
- International Student Ambassador Programme costs for the first block
The university notes that the stated amounts may be adjusted for the 2027–2028 academic year.
€20,150 Living Allowance
The scholarship currently lists €20,150 for living expenses, equivalent to €1,550 per month for 13 months.
According to Maastricht University’s indicative breakdown, the monthly amount is intended to cover expenses including accommodation, groceries, personal hygiene, telephone costs, local travel, books, study materials, clothing, hobbies and miscellaneous expenses.
Students should note that airfare is not included in the scholarship. A cleaning fee of approximately €75 is also excluded and must be paid directly to Maastricht Housing.
Accommodation for Scholarship Recipients
Accommodation is an important condition of the scholarship.
Maastricht University states that scholarship recipients will be allocated a room until July 2028. Accepting the scholarship means accepting the allocated accommodation.
The accommodation is not suitable for students bringing partners, spouses, or children. The university can, however, take certain accommodation preferences, including those related to religious beliefs, into consideration.
Refusing the allocated room results in cancellation of the scholarship.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy several eligibility requirements.
Candidates must hold nationality in a country outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Surinam and meet the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for the Netherlands.
Applicants must also:
- Not hold dual nationality from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- Apply for the full-time Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law for 2027–2028.
- Submit a complete programme application meeting the admission requirements before 10 December 2026.
- Have a proven record of supporting human rights and/or the rule of law.
- Meet the programme’s specific academic admission requirements.
- Be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027.
- Demonstrate excellent previous academic performance.
- Submit only one scholarship application.
Preference is given to candidates who have not previously obtained a master’s degree.
Academic Requirements
Academic excellence is an important eligibility requirement.
Maastricht University requires applicants to demonstrate a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10.
The university explains that this corresponds to approximately 75% out of 100% or 3 out of 4, depending on the applicant’s grading system.
Candidates need an official document from their previous university showing their latest GPA together with documentation explaining the institution’s grading system.
Eligible Master’s Programme
A major restriction applicants need to understand is that the scholarship cannot be used for any Maastricht University master’s programme.
Only the:
Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law
is eligible for the UM Social Justice Scholarship.
Candidates must therefore first apply for admission to this programme before completing the scholarship application.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must prepare several supporting documents for the scholarship application.
1. Curriculum Vitae
Candidates must submit an updated CV containing relevant information about their education and professional experience.
The CV must not exceed two A4 pages. Applicants who have received awards or prizes are encouraged to include them.
2. Motivation Letter
Applicants must complete their motivation letter using the official Maastricht University scholarship template.
Because this is a Social Justice Scholarship, candidates are specifically asked to emphasize what they have already done to improve or advance human rights.
3. Proof of Academic Excellence
Candidates must submit their university transcript or another official university document demonstrating the required GPA.
A separate document explaining the applicant’s grading system must also be provided.
4. Personal Statement of Financial Needs
Applicants must provide a statement explaining why receiving the scholarship would benefit them financially.
This section allows candidates to explain relevant personal and financial circumstances that demonstrate their need for scholarship support.
5. Reference Letter
A reference letter is also required.
Referees should be current or former professors, lecturers, or employers. Family members cannot act as referees.
Recommendation letters must be dated and written no earlier than February 2026 and must follow Maastricht University’s scholarship reference letter guidelines.
6. Referee Contact Details
Applicants must provide contact information for one referee, including the referee’s relationship to the applicant, work telephone number, and institutional or professional email address.
Maastricht University may contact the referee to verify the authenticity of the recommendation. Personal email addresses alone are not accepted for this purpose.
How to Apply for the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship
The application process consists of two main stages.
Step 1: Apply for Globalisation and Law
Candidates must first apply for the Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law.
After submitting the programme application through Studielink, applicants receive a Maastricht University student ID number.
This student number is necessary to submit the scholarship application.
Applicants must complete their programme application and satisfy the relevant admission requirements by 10 December 2026.
Step 2: Submit the Scholarship Application
After receiving their Maastricht University account and student number, candidates can complete the official scholarship application form.
All required supporting documents must be uploaded before submission.
Applicants should check everything carefully because Maastricht University states that the scholarship application can only be submitted once, and documents cannot be added or replaced after submission.
Important Application Dates
Candidates should pay particular attention to the different deadlines.
1 October 2026: Scholarship applications open.
10 December 2026: Deadline to submit the complete application for admission to the Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law.
1 February 2027: Final UM Social Justice Scholarship deadline.
Applying for the master’s programme and applying for the scholarship are separate steps, so applicants should not wait until the scholarship deadline to begin the university admission process.
Selection Process
After the 1 February 2027 scholarship deadline, the UM International Services Desk reviews applications for completeness.
Complete applications are forwarded to the Maastricht University Law Faculty in February.
The Faculty then selects and ranks its top three scholarship candidates, with the results sent to the International Services Desk for a final review in March.
Selected candidates are subsequently invited to an online interview.
Candidates invited to interview must prepare an action plan explaining how studying at Maastricht University will help them contribute to strengthening human rights and/or the rule of law in their home country or elsewhere.
Applicants are expected to receive their final status—selected, waitlisted or rejected—by the beginning of May 2027 at the latest.
Mandatory Pre-Academic Training
Successful scholarship recipients must participate in Maastricht University’s two-week Pre-Academic Training programme.
The programme is a mandatory part of the Social Justice Scholarship and is scheduled to begin during the first week of August 2027.
Candidates should therefore consider this requirement when making travel and arrival arrangements.
Why the UM Social Justice Scholarship Is Worth Considering
The scholarship offers considerably more than a tuition waiver.
For the selected student, Maastricht University provides tuition funding, a substantial living allowance, health and liability insurance, visa-related support, accommodation arrangements and Pre-Academic Training.
It also provides an opportunity to pursue advanced studies specifically connected to globalisation, law, human rights and the rule of law.
However, with only one scholarship awarded each academic year, candidates should expect a highly competitive selection process.
Applicants with excellent academic results and substantial evidence of real-world human rights or rule-of-law engagement are likely to be particularly well positioned.
Final Thoughts
The Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2027–2028 provides a significant opportunity for talented non-EU/EEA students seeking a fully funded master’s education in the Netherlands.
The successful applicant receives €20,150 in living support for 13 months, tuition coverage, health and liability insurance, visa application costs, and other scholarship benefits.
Applicants must have a strong academic record and, importantly, demonstrate a proven history of contributing to human rights and/or the rule of law.
Scholarship applications open on 1 October 2026. Candidates should prioritize the earlier 10 December 2026 Globalisation and Law admission deadline before preparing for the final scholarship deadline of 1 February 2027.
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