The TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship 2027 is now available for outstanding international students seeking to pursue a master’s degree at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
TU Delft is offering 16 full scholarships for students entering its regular two-year MSc programs. The university awards two Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships per faculty, making the award a highly competitive opportunity aimed at some of the strongest applicants to TU Delft.
Successful scholars receive full tuition fees for their TU Delft MSc program, along with a contribution towards living expenses. The scholarship can support the two-year duration of the master’s program, but continuation into the second year depends on satisfactory academic progress.
International applicants, including students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries, can compete for the scholarship provided they meet TU Delft’s MSc admission and scholarship requirements.
The deadline for the 2027 scholarship competition is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.
About the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship
The scholarship is financed through the legacy of Justus and Louise van Effen.
Justus van Effen studied at TU Delft during the 1940s and believed strongly that technological developments could contribute to solving societal challenges.
Through the foundation, TU Delft aims to attract exceptionally talented and highly motivated students from around the world to its MSc programmes.
The university places particular emphasis on students capable of contributing to its diverse academic community while developing into engineers equipped to address future challenges, including sustainability.
However, applicants should be aware of how competitive the program is.
TU Delft receives substantially more scholarship applications than it can fund. The university therefore advises candidates to carefully assess their eligibility and financial position before applying.
How Many TU Delft Excellence Scholarships Are Available?
For the upcoming competition, TU Delft is offering:
16 full Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships.
These are distributed as:
2 scholarships per TU Delft faculty.
This means candidates are effectively competing within a minimal group of awards.
TU Delft also offers up to two partial scholarships through the Microelectronics research department for its electrical engineering program. These should not be confused with the 16 full Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships covered in this article.
What Does the TU Delft Scholarship Cover?
The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship provides substantial financial support toward a two-year TU Delft master’s degree.
Full Tuition Fees
The scholarship covers the full tuition fees for the first year of an eligible TU Delft MSc program.
The amount is based on either the statutory tuition fee or institutional tuition rate applicable according to the student’s registered nationality.
Contribution Toward Living Expenses
In addition to tuition, recipients receive a contribution toward living expenses.
TU Delft’s current scholarship information provided for this competition does not specify an exact living-expense amount in the material presented here. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unofficial figures from previous scholarship cycles.
Second-Year Funding
The scholarship is designed for TU Delft’s two-year MSc programs, but second-year support is conditional.
At the end of the first academic year, scholarship recipients must have successfully completed at least:
48 ECTS out of 60 ECTS
to remain eligible for the scholarship allowances in their second year.
TU Delft does not provide scholarship extensions beyond the normal two-year period.
Recipients must also remain enrolled at TU Delft throughout the scholarship period.
Can You Hold Another Scholarship at the Same Time?
No.
TU Delft states that recipients of the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship are not permitted to receive another partial or full scholarship simultaneously.
Applicants who receive funding from another organization should therefore carefully examine the scholarship conditions before accepting multiple awards.
TU Delft also advises scholarship recipients that part-time employment is not recommended because working may negatively affect their studies.
Who Can Apply for the TU Delft Excellence Scholarship 2027?
The scholarship is aimed at exceptionally strong international applicants entering eligible TU Delft MSc programmes.
To qualify, you must be an excellent international applicant who is conditionally admitted to one of TU Delft’s regular two-year MSc programs.
International Joint Education Programs are not eligible.
Applicants must also demonstrate excellent academic performance in previous studies that are relevant to their intended master’s program.
Top 10% Academic Standard
TU Delft provides an important indication of the academic level expected from successful candidates.
The university states that applicants should generally be among the:
Top 10% of graduates from their previous study program.
However, TU Delft explicitly clarifies that applicants are not required to provide proof of their class ranking.
The top-10% reference is intended to demonstrate the extremely competitive academic standard expected, rather than to create a separate ranking-document requirement.
Applicants must also submit a complete MSc application before the scholarship deadline.
Are African Students Eligible?
Yes.
The scholarship is designed for international applicants, and the eligibility information supplied by TU Delft does not restrict applicants to particular international nationalities.
Therefore, qualified applicants from African countries can compete for the scholarship.
Can Cameroonians Apply?
Yes.
Cameroonian students who satisfy TU Delft’s admission requirements for an eligible two-year MSc program and meet the scholarship criteria can apply.
Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes.
Nigerian applicants can compete for the scholarship as international applicants, provided they satisfy the academic, admission, and documentation requirements.
Can Ghanaians Apply?
Yes.
Qualified Ghanaian students can also apply.
Students from other African countries may similarly compete, subject to satisfying TU Delft’s international MSc admission and scholarship requirements.
Eligible Master’s Programs
The Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship is available to applicants who are admitted to TU Delft’s regular two-year MSc programmes.
However, there is an important exclusion:
International Joint Education Programs are not eligible for this scholarship.
Applicants should therefore confirm that their intended master’s program is a regular two-year MSc at TU Delft before preparing a scholarship application.
Application Requirements
This scholarship closely connects to the TU Delft MSc admission process.
Candidates must first prepare and submit a complete application for their chosen master’s program.
For scholarship consideration, applicants must also provide the additional required scholarship documents.
These include:
- Completed Scholarship Application Form
- One reference letter
- English-language certificate
- Complete the TU Delft MSc application and its required supporting documents
TU Delft states that applicants with two references should combine them into one PDF file for uploading.
An English-Language Certificate Is Required
This requirement deserves particular attention.
Applicants who want to be considered for a TU Delft scholarship must include their required English-language test certificate with their MSc application before the scholarship deadline.
Candidates should therefore not assume that they can submit the scholarship application first and provide their English test result later.
The complete scholarship-related documentation must be ready by the applicable deadline.
How to Apply for TU Delft Justus & Louise Scholarship 2027
The application process can be approached in the following order.
Step 1: Choose an Eligible TU Delft MSc
Identify a regular two-year TU Delft MSc program that matches your previous academic background and career objectives.
Remember that International Joint Education Programmes are not eligible.
Step 2: Check the MSc Admission Requirements
Review the academic and English-language requirements for your selected master’s program.
Scholarship eligibility does not replace the normal TU Delft admission requirements.
Step 3: Prepare Your MSc Application
Complete the standard TU Delft MSc application and prepare all required admission documents.
Because the scholarship deadline is strict, candidates should not wait until the final days before beginning their admission application.
Step 4: Complete the Scholarship Application Form
TU Delft has published a scholarship application form for 2027–2029.
Complete this form carefully and upload it as part of your scholarship application documentation.
Step 5: Upload Your Reference Letter
Applicants must provide one reference letter.
Where an applicant has two references, TU Delft instructs candidates to combine them into a single PDF before uploading.
Step 6: Upload Your English Certificate
Your required English-language certificate must be included with your MSc application before the scholarship deadline.
Step 7: Submit Everything Before the Deadline
Your MSc and scholarship documentation must be complete before:
1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET
TU Delft specifically warns applicants that missing the first scholarship deadline means their scholarship application will not be reviewed.
Scholarship Deadline
The application deadline for the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship is
1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET
Applicants should treat this date as a strict deadline.
Because the scholarship depends on having a complete MSc application, international students should begin preparing their academic documents, English-language certificate and references well in advance.
When Will Successful Applicants Be Announced?
TU Delft will inform students selected for a scholarship directly by email by the end of March 2027.
Receiving the scholarship remains conditional upon the student satisfying all TU Delft admission requirements.
TU Delft will subsequently provide the full scholarship conditions applicable to individual recipients in the official award letter.
Important Scholarship Conditions
Successful applicants should pay attention to several conditions attached to the award.
Recipients must remain enrolled at TU Delft during the scholarship period.
Continuation of scholarship allowances into the second year requires students to complete at least 48 of the available 60 ECTS credits in their first academic year.
Scholarship recipients cannot simultaneously receive another partial or full scholarship.
Furthermore, TU Delft does not financially support extensions beyond the standard two-year scholarship period.
How Competitive Is the Scholarship?
Extremely competitive.
Only 16 full scholarships are available across TU Delft’s regular MSc programmes, with two allocated to each faculty.
TU Delft itself warns prospective applicants that it receives considerably more scholarship applications than it can fund.
The university indicates that successful candidates should generally perform at approximately the top 10% level of graduates from their previous programme, further demonstrating the expected academic standard.
Importantly, though, applicants do not need to submit formal evidence proving that they ranked within the top 10%.
Candidates should instead focus on presenting a strong overall MSc and scholarship application that demonstrates academic excellence and suitability for their chosen programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Scholarship fully funded?
It is a full scholarship in terms of tuition, covering full tuition fees and providing an additional contribution toward living expenses.
However, the information provided by TU Delft does not specify that the living contribution covers every possible personal expense, so applicants should not assume that every cost of living in the Netherlands will necessarily be covered.
How many scholarships are available?
TU Delft is offering 16 full Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships, distributed as two scholarships per faculty.
Can international students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is for excellent international applicants who are admitted to eligible TU Delft MSc programmes.
Are Cameroonians, Nigerians and Ghanaians eligible?
Yes. Qualified applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana can apply, as can eligible students from other African countries.
Do I need to prove that I am in the top 10%?
No.
TU Delft uses the top-10% level as an indication of the expected academic competitiveness. The university explicitly states that proof of ranking is not required.
What programmes are eligible?
Regular two-year TU Delft MSc programmes are eligible. International Joint Education Programmes are not eligible.
What is the deadline?
The scholarship deadline is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Is an English certificate required before the scholarship deadline?
Yes. Applicants seeking scholarship consideration must include the required English-language certificate with their MSc application before the scholarship deadline.
When will scholarship recipients be notified?
TU Delft will inform students awarded scholarships by email by the end of March 2027.
Does the scholarship automatically continue in the second year?
Students must demonstrate sufficient academic progress.
Recipients must complete at least 48 ECTS out of 60 ECTS during the first academic year to qualify for scholarship allowances in the second year.
Final Thoughts
The TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship 2027 is an excellent opportunity for high-achieving international students seeking a funded master’s degree at one of the Netherlands’ leading technological universities.
With only 16 full scholarships available — two per faculty — competition will be fierce. Candidates should therefore pay particular attention to their academic profile, programme fit, references and overall MSc application.
Students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries are eligible to compete, provided they satisfy TU Delft’s MSc admission and scholarship requirements.
Most importantly, do not wait until the deadline to begin the process. Applicants must submit a complete MSc application and all required scholarship documentation by 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Hope for greatness
Steady on everything