The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) for Short Courses

Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for short courses can be used for a number of programs selected and offered by educational institutions in the Netherlands. Institutions providing professional training at the postsecondary level in several fields of study. Courses lead to certificates or diplomas and duration of the Netherlands is different from two weeks to twelve months.

Requirements
Candidate applying for an NFP fellowship for a short course must:

a mid-career professionals with relevant work experience of at least three years;
be a national of and working and living in a developing country in the NFP country list valid at the time of application;
nominated by their employers, who promised to continue paying their salaries and guarantee that they will be able to return to the same or equivalent position at the end of the award period;
have been unconditionally admitted by a Dutch institution to one of the short course on the list of courses 2012-2013. This means that candidates must meet all requirements established by the Dutch institution;
not have received more than one scholarship NFP short courses;
not have received scholarships NFP short courses in the previous year to the application of the partnership;
is not an employee:
multinational companies (for example Shell, Unilever, etc.) or
large national and / or commercial organizations or
bilateral donor organizations (eg USAID, DFID, Danida, Sida, FinAid, AusAid, ADC, SwissAid etc.) or
multilateral donor organizations, (eg UN agencies, World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, IADB, etc.) or
International NGOs (eg Oxfam, Plan, Care, etc.)
has been completed and submitted short courses NFP fellowship applications, including all necessary documents before the deadline applicable NFP fellowship applications;
employed in areas where the research will contribute to relevant information;
have a clear, functional relationships with relevant organizations and are in a position to introduce the newly acquired skills and knowledge into the organization;
available for the entire period of the course and be physically and mentally able to take part in the entire program;
support the goals and objectives of the NFP. NFP goals are not achieved if the holder of the fellowship did not return to his own country. Nuffic would like to encourage recipients to return to their home countries after completing the course or program to meet NFP objectives in the most effective.

Fellowship application procedure
As stated above, to be eligible for an NFP fellowship, candidates must be received in the short courses they wish to fellowship NFP.

Please note that the scholarship application procedure has two important types of deadlines:

academic deadlines
fellowship application deadline.

Gain academic recognition for short courses
The first candidates apply for admission directly to the Dutch institution which offers short courses of their choice.

Dutch institutions will assess the application and decide whether or not to admit candidates for short trips. Candidates will receive a letter from the agency informing them if they have received. Nuffic has no part in the process of academic acceptance. Candidate applying for an NFP fellowship must have been unconditionally admitted to the university in the Netherlands for a course or program which the candidate applies for NFP fellowship. This means that the student has met all academic and administrative requirements set by the Dutch institution.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to go to the Dutch to allow these institutions enough time to process all applications for entry in time.

Academic entry deadline
This shows the latest date that the institution of the Netherlands will accept applications from candidates who also want to apply for a NFP fellowship.

The registration deadline for entry into the academic short courses vary according to course and may change throughout the year. For this reason, candidates are advised to contact the Dutch institution directly for up-to-date information. Sometimes, the Dutch institution's deadline to apply for admission to the course longer than the NFP deadline for fellowship applications. However, to be eligible for an NFP fellowship, candidates must be received in the short courses they wish to receive a scholarship at the NFP NFP fellowship application deadline.

Applying for an NFP fellowship
Candidates can only apply for a scholarship for short course per fellowship application deadline. Being admitted more than one course with a scholarship application deadline means that candidates have the same choise one course before applying for a scholarship. If a candidate filed more than one application per deadline scholarships for courses in the same application deadline of the last application received will be considered as valid.

Scholarship applications must be submitted through Online (SOL). Through SOL candidate can apply for scholarships online and they can check the status of the application. Other parties such as the Dutch institutions, embassies and consulates will use SOL to add information about an NFP fellowship applications. Embassies and consulates will also use SOL to assess the NFP fellowship applications.

SOL can be accessed via www.nuffic.nl / nfp. This page also contains further instructions on registering online.

What short NFP fellowship application program consist of?

NFP fellowship completed online applications submitted via SOL6;
employer's statement nominating candidates for NFP fellowships;
copy of valid official identification document;
Statement of Authority (if applicable7);
motivation on why you want to pursue this course;
motivation on the relevance to your organization (how your organization will benefit from the course you want to follow?);
motivation on the relevance to your country (state how you benefit from the course you want to follow?);
plan of action (how do you put your new skills and knowledge to work when you return to your organization use?).

For more information and the format of the documents requested visit www.nuffic.nl / nfp.

Fellowship application deadlines
Three deadlines have been introduced to apply for scholarships for short courses. Application for scholarships for short courses must be submitted before the application deadline the following scholarships.

Fellowship application deadline February 7, 2012, May 1, 2012 and October 2, 2012

Fellowship applications received after deadline scholarships are not considered.

What happens after the application is filed?
Dutch institute that offers courses will show on the online scholarship if the candidate has been accepted. Each application will be assessed against the eligibility criteria listed above and, if formulated, to the country-specific priorities.

The selection procedure
Both institutions and the Netherlands embassy or consulate will evaluate fellowship applications. The Dutch will focus on academic quality while embassies and consulates will see the relevance of the application for development by the leaders of the organization or country. If applicable, the application also needs to comply with country-specific priorities. This assessment will lead to a choice.

Finally, Nuffic awards a grant covering part of the fellowship holders' expenses, including tuition fees, to the Dutch institution. Dutch institutions make logistical arrangements and pay each fellowship holder a monthly allowance for the duration of the master's degree program. They also manage and provide guidance to scholarship recipients.

Selection procedures have a very tight time. Between 10 to 16 weeks after the fellowship application deadline candidates must respond to requests for availability. Indicates the availability of means that if the chosen candidate is still available for NFP fellowship. Participants must respond within 7 days after the request has been sent.