How much money does the Orange Tulip Scholarship give?

Awards range from partial tuition fee waivers of EUR 2,500 to 5,000 up to full tuition coverage for select programmes, depending on the participating Dutch university and the specific scholarship track it offers that year.

Which Dutch universities participate in the Orange Tulip Scholarship?

Participation changes yearly, but regular participants have included Wageningen University, TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Maastricht University, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, among others. Each university sets its own eligible programmes and award amount.

Can the Orange Tulip Scholarship fund an internship, not just a degree?

The scholarship is primarily aimed at Indian students admitted to a full degree programme or exchange semester at a participating Dutch university. Internships that are a mandatory, credit-bearing part of that programme fall within its scope, but standalone internship placements without university enrolment do not qualify.

When should I apply for the Orange Tulip Scholarship?

Applications typically open in November and close between January and March for enrolment the following September, though exact windows vary by participating university. You must first receive an admission offer before the scholarship application is considered.

Is Orange Tulip Scholarship the same as the Holland Scholarship?

No. The Holland Scholarship is a general one-time EUR 5,000 grant open to non-EEA students at any participating Dutch university, while the Orange Tulip Scholarship is India-specific, funded jointly by the Dutch government, Dutch companies, and Dutch universities, and can offer larger or renewable awards depending on the track.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply?

Yes. Since the scholarship requires university admission first, you need to meet that university's standard English proficiency requirement, typically IELTS 6.5 or higher for most Dutch bachelor's and master's programmes.

FUNDING GUIDE

Orange Tulip Scholarship 2026: Netherlands Internship Funding for Indian Students

Internship Abroad·8 July 2026·9 min read

The Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS) gives Indian students admitted to a Dutch university between EUR 2,500 and full tuition coverage, funded jointly by the Dutch government, Dutch companies, and the university itself. It is India-specific, run through Nuffic Neso India, and covers a wider range of Dutch universities each year than most general international scholarships. Applications open in November and close between January and March, but you must already hold an admission offer before you can apply for the funding itself.

Quick summary: Award: EUR 2,500 to full tuition, depending on university. Administered by: Nuffic Neso India. Requirement: admission offer at a participating Dutch university first. Application window: November to March for September enrolment. English requirement: IELTS 6.5+ (varies by programme).

How the Orange Tulip Scholarship works

Unlike a standalone internship grant, OTS is tied to enrolment. You first apply and get accepted to a Bachelor's, Master's, or exchange programme at a participating Dutch university, then apply separately for the OTS award through that university's own scholarship office (not a single central portal). Each participating university sets its own award amount, number of scholarships, and internal deadline within the general November to March window.

If your programme includes a mandatory internship component, for example a research placement in the final semester of an MSc, that internship period is covered under the same scholarship, since it is part of the credit-bearing curriculum. A separate, non-academic internship placement in the Netherlands does not qualify for OTS funding on its own.

Which universities participate and how much do they award

University	Typical award range	Notes
Wageningen University	EUR 5,000 - full tuition	Strong for agriculture, food science, environmental programmes
TU Delft	EUR 5,000 - 10,000	Engineering and technology focus, limited slots
Erasmus University Rotterdam	EUR 2,500 - 5,000	Business, economics, public administration
Maastricht University	EUR 2,500 - 5,000	Broad range of Bachelor's and Master's tracks
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam	EUR 2,500 - 5,000	Varies by faculty each intake year

Participation and award amounts change year to year, so always confirm the current list directly on the Nuffic Neso India OTS page before applying, and check with the university's international office once you have an admission offer in hand.

Step by step: how to apply

Apply to a participating Dutch university through its standard admissions process, well before the scholarship deadline, since the scholarship application only opens after admission.
Receive your admission offer. This is the gatekeeper step. No offer, no scholarship application.
Apply for OTS through the university's scholarship office, not through Nuffic directly. Each university has its own form and required documents (academic transcripts, motivation letter, financial need statement in some cases).
Submit before the university's internal deadline, typically January to March, even though the general OTS window runs November to March.
Receive the scholarship decision, usually within 4 to 8 weeks, alongside or shortly after your final enrolment confirmation.

Orange Tulip Scholarship vs Holland Scholarship

Students researching Netherlands funding often confuse the two. The Holland Scholarship is a general EUR 5,000 one-time grant, open to non-EEA students of any nationality applying to a participating Dutch university. The Orange Tulip Scholarship is specifically for Indian students, can offer larger or renewable amounts depending on the university and track, and is co-funded by Dutch companies with a stake in the India-Netherlands talent pipeline. If you are eligible for both, check whether your target university allows you to apply to each separately, some do not allow double funding for the same enrolment year.

If your placement is a standalone internship rather than a degree programme, see our Netherlands Embassy New Delhi internship guide and our broader Netherlands internship guide for Indian students for routes that do not require university enrolment.

How to present yourself as a stronger candidate

Dutch universities and their scholarship committees review hundreds of applications for a handful of OTS slots. What sets a strong Indian applicant apart is a motivation letter with specific, verifiable details, not generic ambition. See an example profile from an engineering student to see how a Living Profile presents academic and project work clearly, or use the free internship toolkit to prepare your application materials before the window opens.

Ready to explore funded routes to the Netherlands? Create your free Living Profile and get visible to organisations across the Netherlands and 16 other countries.