Scholarship details
The government of the Netherlands offers its Orange Knowledge Program (OKP) scholarship program for master’s degrees and short courses at universities in the Netherlands.
About scholarships for masters and short courses in the Netherlands
Since 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dutch government offers its Orange Knowledge Program (OKP).
This seeks to promote development through education on priority issues.
Additionally, the program seeks that people return to their countries after their studies in order to strengthen organizations.
Scholarship types, eligible programs, and priority areas
This program offers individual scholarships for:
- Short courses (duration from 2 weeks to 12 months)
- Master’s programs (duration 12 to 24 months)
Likewise, all programs eligible for these scholarships can be found on the Dutch government’s educational platform using the Scholarships filter.
It is important to highlight that each country has priority areas that prioritize the granting of scholarships.
Eligibility criteria for scholarships in the Netherlands
The call for scholarships from the government of the Netherlands is open to people with the nationality of Colombia and Guatemala.
On the other hand, those interested in OKP scholarships must be mid-career professionals who meet:
- Be accepted into an eligible program aligned with the priority areas of each country
- Work for a national or local organization in your country of origin (company, government, university, among others) excluding multilateral organizations or organizations with an international presence
- Have a job position that allows you to put what you have learned into practice and where the employer supports the application for the scholarship
- Possess two years of relevant experience and three connections within the topic of local development
Benefits of OKP scholarships in the Netherlands
This scholarship program seeks to supplement the salary that the fellow should receive during the study period.
In other words, it offers a monthly stipend that varies depending on the city and the program.
Therefore, the scholarship is a contribution regarding the cost of living and additional costs (tuition, visa, insurance, travel, among others) incurred by the scholarship holder.
However, the scholarship recipient must cover the difference between personal expenses and the assigned scholarship.
The application process for OKP scholarships
The application process for these scholarships is done through each university.
Therefore, there is no direct application to the scholarship and this must be done with the chosen Dutch university institution.
Subsequently, each university will nominate the best profiles that will be evaluated by the Dutch embassy in each country.
Scholarships will be awarded depending on the number of nominees and the available budget.
Important dates for OKP scholarships
Additionally, the scholarship program usually has two application rounds :
- Master’s Degree: February to March (starting between August and November)
- Short courses: September to November (starting between February and August)
Lastly, OKP scholarships in the Netherlands open annually.
