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By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026
The Eric Bleumink Scholarship (officially the Eric Bleumink Fellowship Talent Grant) is a fully funded Master’s scholarship at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Funded by the Eric Bleumink Fund, it is aimed specifically at talented students from developing and least-developed countries who could not otherwise finance an international Master’s.
It applies to virtually all of Groningen’s English-taught MSc, MA and LL.M. programmes — but there is one crucial quirk: you cannot apply for the scholarship directly. You’re nominated automatically based on your Master’s admission.
What the Eric Bleumink Scholarship covers
- Full tuition fees for the 1- or 2-year Master’s programme
- International travel costs to and from the Netherlands
- A subsistence (living) allowance
- Books and study materials
- Health insurance
Programmes start in September, and the grant runs for the full length of the Master’s.
Who is eligible?
- Nationality: hold a passport from one of the eligible developing/least-developed countries on Groningen’s list (which includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and many more).
- Admission: receive a provisional or unconditional offer for a Groningen Master’s before February — which means completing your Master’s application before 1 December.
- Academic record: excellent undergraduate grades, ideally backed by recommendation letters.
- English: meet the IELTS/TOEFL requirement of your chosen programme.
- Financial need: have no other means of financing the study.
- Health & availability: be in good health and able to attend the full programme.
Documents you’ll need
You assemble these for your Master’s admission (which is what triggers nomination):
- Bachelor’s transcripts and degree certificate
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- CV and motivation letter
- Letters of recommendation
- Passport / proof of nationality
How to apply: step by step
- Choose an eligible Master’s programme at the University of Groningen.
- Submit your Master’s application before 1 December — this is the real deadline, since it allows the Admission Office time to process you before nominations.
- Secure provisional/unconditional admission before February. Only admitted students from eligible countries are screened.
- Wait to be nominated. The Admissions Office and Faculty Admission Boards select nominees — you do not submit a separate scholarship form. If nominated, you’re informed before 1 February.
- If not contacted by 1 February, you were not selected (the university asks applicants not to email chasing it).
How competitive is it?
Very competitive. The University of Groningen states it receives hundreds of applications for the Eric Bleumink Talent Grant each year while only a limited number of grants can be awarded. Because there is no separate scholarship application, your entire chance rests on the strength of your Master’s admission file — outstanding grades, a sharp motivation letter and strong references are what move you into the nominated pool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply directly for the Eric Bleumink Scholarship?
No. You apply only to a Groningen Master’s programme. The university nominates suitable admitted candidates automatically — there is no separate scholarship form.
What is the real deadline?
Complete your Master’s application before 1 December so you can be admitted before February. Nominees are informed before 1 February.
Which programmes qualify?
Essentially all full-time MSc, MA and LL.M. Master’s programmes at the University of Groningen, provided you secure admission and meet the eligibility rules.
Free tools for this
- Scholarship Odds Estimator — real award-to-applicant ratios where funders publish them
- Scholarship Eligibility Checker — which of our tracked scholarships you can actually apply for
- Scholarship Deadlines Calendar — never shows a deadline that already passed
- How to Verify a Scholarship Is Real — the red flags that separate real funders from scams
Apply / verify on the official site: University of Groningen — Eric Bleumink Fellowship. Eligible-country lists and dates change yearly — always confirm on the official page.
Looking at more European options? Browse the full Scholarships hub.
Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.
