The Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027 provides talented international students with an opportunity to pursue a fully funded master’s degree at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
The fellowship offers much more than a tuition waiver. It covers tuition fees, international travel, living expenses, books and health insurance for eligible students undertaking a one- or two-year Master’s programme.
However, the application process is different from many international scholarships. Students cannot apply directly to the Eric Bleumink Fund. Instead, applicants must first apply for admission to an eligible Master’s programme at the University of Groningen. The university then identifies outstanding candidates for fellowship nomination.
Therefore, students targeting September 2027 entry should complete their master’s application before 1 December 2026 to have sufficient time for scholarship consideration.
Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027 Overview
| Scholarship Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Host University | University of Groningen |
| Host Country | Netherlands |
| Study Level | Master’s |
| Scholarship Type | Fully funded |
| Eligible Applicants | Students from eligible countries |
| Tuition Fees | Covered |
| Living Allowance | Provided |
| International Travel | Covered |
| Books and Study Materials | Covered |
| Health Insurance | Covered |
| Programme Duration | 1 or 2 years |
| Study Start | September 2027 |
| Direct Scholarship Application | No |
| Recommended Admission Deadline | Before 1 December 2026 |
About the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship
The Eric Bleumink Fund supports academically outstanding students who want to pursue graduate education at the University of Groningen but lack sufficient financial resources to fund their studies.
Established in 2000, the fund has supported international students from numerous countries. Over its first 25 years, more than 100 students from 30 countries completed master’s degrees at Groningen with support from the fellowship.
Moreover, the scholarship combines academic merit with financial need. As a result, simply qualifying for admission to the University of Groningen does not guarantee selection.
The number of available fellowships is limited. Consequently, applicants should regard the scholarship as a highly competitive funding opportunity.
What Does the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship Cover?
The Eric Bleumink Fellowship provides comprehensive financial support for an eligible one- or two-year Master’s programme.
Successful candidates receive support for:
- Full tuition fees
- International travel costs
- Living and subsistence expenses
- Books and study materials
- Health insurance
Under the current fellowship regulations, recipients receive a €1,250 monthly allowance for food and accommodation.
In addition, scholars receive a €275 settling allowance to assist with initial expenses after arriving in the Netherlands. A €310 annual study allowance is also available for books and other study-related costs.
Relevant international travel expenses are covered according to the fellowship regulations.
Therefore, the Eric Bleumink Fellowship can appropriately be described as a fully funded Master’s scholarship because it combines tuition coverage with living, travel, study and insurance support.
Who is eligible for the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship in 2027?
Applicants must meet both the scholarship and admission requirements for their selected Master’s programme at the University of Groningen.
Generally, competitive candidates should:
- Have received provisional or unconditional admission to an eligible Master’s programme before February
- Demonstrate excellent academic performance
- Have outstanding grades from their bachelor’s studies
- Provide strong academic recommendations where required
- Meet the English-language requirements of the selected programme
- Be available for the entire duration of the master’s programme
- Meet applicable health insurance requirements
- Hold nationality from a country covered by the fellowship
- Demonstrate insufficient financial resources to finance the programme independently
Furthermore, applicants should remember that satisfying these conditions only makes them eligible for consideration. The final nomination remains highly competitive.
Can African Students Apply for the Eric Bleumink Scholarship?
Yes. Students from many African countries can be considered for the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027.
The current eligible-country list includes numerous African nations. These include:
- Cameroon
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- Ethiopia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Niger
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Chad
- Togo
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mauritania
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Republic of Congo
- Ivory Coast
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Angola
- Cape Verde
- Eritrea
- Lesotho
- Djibouti
- Comoros
- São Tomé and Príncipe
Therefore, Cameroonians, Nigerians, Ghanaians and students from many other African countries are eligible for consideration, provided they satisfy the other requirements.
Nevertheless, applicants should confirm that their nationality remains on the official eligibility list when preparing their application.
Eligible Master’s Programmes at the University of Groningen
The fellowship supports eligible Master of Science (MSc), Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes at the University of Groningen.
Applicants should first identify a programme that aligns with their previous academic training and future career goals.
Admission requirements vary considerably between the different programmes. For example, individual programmes may have different requirements in relation to:
- Previous degree and academic discipline
- Undergraduate coursework
- Academic performance
- English-language proficiency
- Motivation statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Recommendation letters
- Additional programme-specific documents
Consequently, being eligible for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship does not automatically make an applicant eligible for every Master’s programme at Groningen.
How the Eric Bleumink Fund Nomination Process Works
One of the most important things applicants need to understand is that there is no separate direct application for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship.
Instead, scholarship consideration begins through the University of Groningen master’s admission process.
First, choose an eligible Master’s programme that matches your academic background.
Next, carefully review its academic, English-language and document requirements.
Afterwards, you should prepare all required supporting documents and submit a complete admission application.
Once the university assesses the application, it may identify outstanding students who satisfy the fellowship criteria for nomination.
Importantly, applicants should not send unsolicited scholarship applications directly to the Eric Bleumink Fund.
If the university selects you as a potential nominee, it will contact you about the fellowship process.
Therefore, the quality and timing of your master’s admission application are extremely important.
Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There is no separate scholarship application deadline because students do not apply directly for the fellowship.
Nevertheless, there is an important date prospective candidates should remember:
Complete your master’s application before 1 December 2026.
The University of Groningen explains that candidates need either provisional or unconditional admission to an eligible Master’s programme before February to be considered.
For this reason, prospective scholars should submit a complete admission application before 1 December 2026. This gives the university sufficient time to assess the application and identify potential nominees.
Candidates selected for nomination are expected to be informed before 1 February.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that a later general admission deadline for their chosen programme also applies to the Eric Bleumink consideration process.
Documents to Prepare
Document requirements depend on the selected master’s programme. However, international applicants should generally prepare documents such as:
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent
- Academic transcripts
- Valid passport or identification
- Curriculum vitae
- Motivation letter or statement, where required
- Academic recommendation letters
- Proof of English-language proficiency
- Programme-specific supporting documents
Additionally, documents should be accurate, complete and submitted according to the university’s instructions.
Because academic excellence is central to the selection process, candidates should ensure that their academic records and supporting documents clearly demonstrate their achievements.
Is IELTS Required for the Eric Bleumink Scholarship?
Applicants should be cautious about claims that the scholarship requires “no IELTS.”
The Eric Bleumink Fund itself does not create one universal IELTS rule for every applicant. Instead, candidates must meet the English-language requirements of their chosen Master’s programme at the University of Groningen.
Depending on the programme and the applicant’s previous education, different forms of English-language evidence may be accepted.
Therefore, applicants should check the language requirements of their specific programme rather than assume that IELTS is either automatically required or simply waived.
How Competitive Is the Eric Bleumink Fellowship?
The Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship is highly competitive because the University of Groningen can award only a limited number of fellowships.
Moreover, selection goes beyond simply meeting the minimum admission requirements.
A competitive candidate will typically demonstrate:
- Excellent undergraduate academic performance
- Strong academic recommendations
- Clear academic potential
- Excellent English proficiency
- Strong alignment with the selected Master’s programme
- A convincing academic and professional trajectory
- Genuine financial need under the fellowship criteria
Although more than 100 students from 30 countries benefited during the fund’s first 25 years, the number of students supported each year remains relatively small.
As a result, applicants should submit their strongest possible admission application rather than relying solely on minimum eligibility.
How to Apply for the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027
The application process begins with admission to the University of Groningen.
First, search for an eligible Master’s programme and confirm that your previous academic qualifications meet the entry requirements.
Then, review the programme’s English-language requirements and the supporting documents required.
Next, gather your academic transcripts, degree documents, CV, and any additional materials that the programme requires.
Once your documents are ready, submit a complete master’s admission application. For Eric Bleumink consideration, applicants should aim to complete this process before 1 December 2026.
After submission, the university evaluates your application for admission. The university may subsequently identify eligible applicants with particularly strong profiles for fellowship nomination.
If you receive a nomination, the university will contact you directly.
In other words, you do not need to search for a separate application form for the Eric Bleumink scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. The fellowship covers tuition fees, international travel, living expenses, books and health insurance for the supported Master’s programme.
How much is the living allowance?
Under the current fellowship regulations, scholars receive €1,250 per month for food and accommodation. Additional specified allowances are also available.
Can Cameroonians apply?
Yes. Cameroon is currently included among the eligible countries for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship. Qualified Cameroonian applicants can therefore be considered.
What about Nigerian applicants?
Nigeria is also included on the current eligible-country list. Nigerian applicants can compete for nomination if they satisfy the academic, financial and programme requirements.
Are Ghanaian students eligible?
Yes. Ghana is currently an eligible country. However, applicants must still meet the requirements of the Master’s programme they have selected.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
No. Applicants cannot apply directly to the Eric Bleumink Fund. Instead, the University of Groningen identifies and nominates suitable candidates through the master’s admission process.
When should applicants submit their master’s application?
Students seeking consideration for September 2027 should aim to submit a complete master’s application before 1 December 2026.
When are nominees contacted?
The university indicates that nominated candidates should be informed before 1 February. Therefore, applicants who have not been contacted regarding nomination by that point should understand that they were not selected.
Can final-year bachelor’s students apply?
Candidates must ultimately meet the admission requirements for their chosen Master’s programme. Final-year students should therefore check whether their programme accepts applicants who are completing their Bachelor’s degree and which provisional documents are required.
Why Apply Early?
Applying early is particularly important for this scholarship because there is no separate fellowship application that students can submit later.
Instead, your University of Groningen master’s admission application is the gateway to Eric Bleumink Fund consideration.
Therefore, do not delay until early 2027 simply because your selected programme has a later general admission deadline.
Start by identifying your programme. Then confirm the admission requirements, prepare your documents and submit a complete application before the scholarship consideration timeline.
For talented students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and many other eligible countries, the Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship 2027 provides an exceptional opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in the Netherlands with tuition, living expenses, international travel, books and health insurance covered.
Official Links
University of Groningen – Eric Bleumink Fellowship:
https://www.rug.nl/education/scholarships/eric-bleumink-fellowship
University of Groningen – Eric Bleumink Fund:
https://www.rug.nl/alumni/support-research-and-education/scholarships-and-awards/eric-bleumink-fund/applying-for-a-grant
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