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Utrecht Excellence Scholarships 2006-2007

Eligible candidates: outstanding prospective students from non-EEA countries applying for a Prestige Master’s programme or University College Utrecht
Amount of scholarship: maximum 8 500 euro/year
Number of scholarships/year: approximately 30
Provided by: Utrecht University

Aim of the programme
The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship offers a number of outstanding prospective non-EEA students the opportunity to pursue a degree in a selected number of fields at Utrecht University:
• Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht
• one of the Prestige Master’s Programmes (see below).
The scholarship programme is highly selective. Only candidates showing the highest achievement and promise may receive a scholarship.

The Prestige Master Programmes are:
1. Mathematical Sciences
2. Biomolecular Sciences
3. Chemistry and Physics
4. Cognitive Neuroscience
5. Drug Innovation
6. Epidemiology
7. Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience
8. Genomics and Developmental Biology (presently called: Developmental Biology and Biomedical Genetics)
9. Human Geography and Planning
10. Linguistics: the Study of the Language Faculty
11. Medieval Studies
12. Migration, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism
13. Sociology and Social Research
14. Sustainable Development
15. Theoretical Physics

Duration and number of scholarships
Selected students receive a scholarship for the duration of the degree programme, which is a maximum of two years for a Prestige Master and three years for University College Utrecht. Approximately 30 scholarships are awarded each year. The scholarship will only be renewed for the second and third year if the student is making satisfactory progress towards the degree.

Amount of scholarship
Selected students are awarded a scholarship up to a maximum of 17 000 euro for two years (Prestige Master’s) or a maximum of 16 500 for three years (University College Utrecht). Students should be aware that the grant is not a full scholarship – the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is a significant contribution towards the costs of the tuition fee. It is necessary to find additional funding to be able to finance study and stay completely. As one of the requirements for being granted a residence permit in the Netherlands, students from abroad must prove to the IND (immigration and naturalisation office) that they have sufficient financial means. The University advises a budget, not including the tuition fee, of 10 000 to 14 000 euro per year to cover costs for rent, insurance, living expenses, course books and local transportation alone.

Eligibility criteria
The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be considered for this scholarship. The applicant should:
1. Hold a non-EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans ("Studiefinanciering")
2. Have been admitted to one of the international Prestige Master’s programmes of Utrecht University or to University College Utrecht.
3. Hold a non-Dutch relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent thereof.
4. Be able to comply with the conditions to obtain a Dutch visa.
Failure to meet one or more of these criteria automatically means the student is not eligible for a scholarship.

Selection criteria
Eligible candidates are selected for a scholarship on the basis of the following criteria:
1. Their academic excellence and promise in the proposed field of study;
2. The academic quality and results of the preceding education, as evidenced, for example, by grades, test scores, publications, letters of recommendation;
3. The quality and relevance of the motivation letter (academic content, intercultural and communication skills, personal motivation);
4. The quality and feasibility of the financial plan in the application;
5. The quality of the application itself (completeness, accuracy, consistency).

Application
It is not possible to apply for the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship. The Admissions Committee of the Prestige Master’s Programme or University College will select eligible candidates on the basis of the selection criteria mentioned above. The selected candidates will be offered an Utrecht Excellent Scholarship together with their notification for admission.

Students starting their Prestige Master's Programmes in February 2007 are not eligible for the Utrecht Excellence Scholarships.

Funding
The funds for the scholarships come from the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship Fund and the Delta programme. The Delta programme is sponsored by the Dutch government, and provides grant opportunities for students from the following 11 countries:
Brazil Malaysia Thailand
China Mexico Vietnam
India Russia South-Africa
Indonesia Taiwan
In 2007 the Delta programme will be replaced by a programme for non-EER students.

For any further information please visit web site.