The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) for Master Degree

Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) can be obtained for a number of selected master's degree program. Dutch higher education institutions offering international master's degree program a lot. Candidates can receive graduate education and obtain one of the following Dutch title: Master of Arts, Master of Science, or a Master Professional. A Master of Arts or Master of Science is an academic degree, usually provided by traditional (researchoriented) researchoriented university graduate course on completion of one to two years. Professional Master's degrees awarded by various types of institutions of higher education that offers more professionally oriented programs. Professional master's degree is usually short duration of the program's research degree-orientedmaster. Program length varies between 9 and 24 months.

Requirements
Candidate applying for an NFP fellowship for a master's degree program 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 her employer, who promised to continue paying salaries and guarantee the prospective candidate 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 master's degree program in the 2012-2013 course list. This means that candidates must have met all the requirements set by the Dutch institution;
have not received a Master's degree scholarships that NFP;
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 handed over a master's degree program NFP scholarship application 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 program and 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 follow the master's degree program they wish to fellowship NFP.

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

academic entry deadline;
fellowship application deadline.

More information about the deadlines can be found below.

Gain academic recognition for a master's degree program
The first candidates apply for admission directly to the Dutch institution that offers master's degree program of their choice. Dutch institutions will assess the application and decide whether or not to admit candidates for this program. Candidates will receive a letter from the agency informing them if they have received. Nuffic has no part in the admission application process. 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 get into university in the Netherlands 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.

Academic application deadlines for admission to master's degree program varies according to program and can be changed throughout the years. 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 program longer than the NFP deadline for fellowship applications. However, to be eligible for an NFP fellowship, candidates must follow the master's degree program that they want to NFP fellowship at NFP fellowship application deadline. In the picture of a master's degree program, academic deadlines listed for each entry.

Applying for an NFP fellowship
Candidates can only apply for a scholarship for a master's degree program at a scholarship application deadline. Being admitted more than one program with a scholarship application deadline is the same means that candidates can only apply for a scholarship to one of the short course.

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 assess the NFP fellowship applications.

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

What a master's degree program NFP fellowship applications that consist of?

NFP fellowship completed online applications submitted via SOL3;
employer's statement nominating candidates for NFP fellowships;
copy of valid official identification document;
Statement of Authority (if applicable4);
motivation on why you want to pursue this master's degree program;
motivation on the relevance to your organization (how do you profit organization of master's degree program you want to participate?);
motivation on the relevance to your country (what country you benefit from a master's degree program you want to participate?);
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
Two deadlines have been introduced to apply for a scholarship for a master's degree program. Application for scholarship for master's degree program must be submitted before the application deadline the following scholarships.

SOL is open for online applications: 1 November 2011 | Fellowship applications Special Time: February 7, 2012
SOL is open for online applications: February 1, 2012 | Time Travel Fellowship applications: May 1, 2012

The deadline for scholarship applications papers are always one month before the online registration deadline. The deadline for fellowship applications papers are: January 1 2012 and 1 April 2012.

Fellowship applications received after deadline scholarships are not considered.

What happens after the application is filed?
Dutch institutions offering this program will demonstrate 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.