Eric Bleumink Fellowship at University of Groningen: Full Guide for Indian Master's Applicants

Also check,

• Scholarships in Netherlands: Types, Amount & Application 
• University of Groningen: Admissions 2026 and Scholarships 
• University of Groningen Courses and Fees 2026

What Is the Eric Bleumink Fellowship?

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is a fully funded master’s scholarship at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. It supports students from developing countries who cannot afford a Dutch master’s on their own. The fund started on 23 May 2000. That was the day after Professor Eric Bleumink retired as President of the University of Groningen’s Board. Staff and alumni set it up to honour his work on making higher education fair.

Today the fund gives out around four fellowships each year. The number is small on purpose. The idea is to fully back a few high-potential students, not to spread thin support across many. The University of Groningen is the second-oldest research university in the Netherlands. It sits at rank 147 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and third in the country.

Note: The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is not a general Dutch government award. It is funded and run by the university itself, so only Groningen master’s applicants can be nominated.

Who Qualifies for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship

Indian students are eligible if they meet all seven fund conditions. India sits on the fund’s list of developing countries alongside Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam and around 60 more.

The eligibility rules are strict. You need to tick every box on the list, not most of them.

• Nationality: You must hold a passport from an eligible country. India is on the list.
• Admission first: You must get a provisional or unconditional master’s offer before February.
• Academic record: You need excellent bachelor’s grades and strong recommendation letters.
• English proof: You must meet your programme’s IELTS or TOEFL cutoff.
• Financial need: You must have no other way to fund the master’s.
• Commitment: You must be free to attend the full programme in Groningen.
• Health: You must be well enough to buy Dutch health insurance on arrival.

Most Indian applicants meet the language rule through IELTS-accepted Dutch universities. Groningen usually asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band. Some faculties expect higher.

What the Eric Bleumink Fellowship Covers

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship covers the full cost of a Groningen master’s from tuition to a monthly food and rent allowance. The five items on the list add up to more than any other Groningen scholarship.

Conversions based on a EUR-INR rate of INR 109.88 as of August 11, 2026. Rates fluctuate; check the current rate before financial planning.

The monthly EUR 1,250 stipend is above the standard Dutch student budget. It comfortably covers rent, food, transport and personal spends in Groningen. Amsterdam or Rotterdam would be tighter on the same amount, but Groningen is one of the cheapest student cities in the country.

What the fellowship gives you:

• Zero out-of-pocket tuition for one or two years.
• Enough monthly cash to live without a part-time job.
• Return flights and starter cash on arrival.
• Standard books and mandatory health cover.

What the fellowship does not cover:

• Visa fees and TB test in India before travel.
• Extra Schengen travel or personal trips inside Europe.
• Dependent family costs.
• A second degree if you switch programmes midway.

The University of Groningen also publishes typical cost of living details for Indian students in the Netherlands. Groningen averages EUR 800 to EUR 1,100 per month for a single student.

Note: The stipend is enough that most Bleumink holders do not need to work part-time. That frees the year for research, internships and industry projects that boost your first job hunt.

How the Eric Bleumink Nomination Works

You cannot apply for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship directly. The University of Groningen Admission Office and the faculty boards choose nominees from the master’s applications on file.

The path is simple but tight on timing:

1. Pick a Groningen master’s programme that fits your background.
2. Submit the full application through Studielink and OAS before 1 December 2026.
3. Get a provisional or unconditional offer from your faculty before February 2027.
4. Wait to hear from the Admission Office about a Bleumink nomination.
5. Confirm your acceptance and start visa steps if selected.

The Admission Office looks at academic record, motivation, recommendation letters and financial need. It also looks at fit with the faculty and how likely you are to finish the master’s on time. A strong personal statement is the one thing you control fully. You can strengthen your case inside a normal MS in Netherlands application. Add clear proof of financial need, one or two academic references, and a short line on why Groningen fits your career plan.

Master’s Programs Eligible for the Bleumink Fellowship

All English-taught master’s programmes at the University of Groningen are eligible for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship. The fund does not shortlist by faculty. It rewards individual applications instead. Groningen offers around 160 master’s programmes across 11 faculties. Popular picks for Indian students include the ones below.

The fees above are for the 2026 to 2027 academic year and change slightly each year. The Bleumink fund covers the full tuition regardless of the programme. That is the key edge over the Holland Scholarship, which only pays a fixed EUR 5,000.

Also check,

• Study in Netherlands: Find Programs, Universities and Costs
• Study in Netherlands After 12th for Indian Students
• Scholarships in Netherlands: Types, Amount & Application 
• SOP for MBA in Netherlands: Format, Samples & Writing Tips

Eric Bleumink Fellowship Deadlines and Timeline

The full Eric Bleumink Fellowship timeline for the 2027 intake stretches from March 2026 to September 2027. Missing any step below usually removes you from the pool.

The best applicants treat 1 December 2026 as a hard stop, not a target. Studielink and OAS both take time to process. A last-minute upload almost always misses a document or a signature.

Common mistakes that kill Bleumink chances:

• Applying to two Groningen master’s programmes and confusing the faculty offices.
• Missing an apostille on an Indian degree transcript.
• Submitting recommendation letters that arrive after the master’s deadline.
• Vague or copied motivation letters that ignore financial need.

Check the full list of Netherlands scholarships and funding options for Indian students. Applying to two or three funds in parallel is smart, not greedy.

Note: The Bleumink review runs alongside admission, not after. If your master’s application is weak, no fund team will reopen your case in April.

Eric Bleumink Fellowship vs Other Scholarships

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is more generous than the Holland Scholarship but harder to win than the NL Scholarship. The table below shows how the four main options compare for Indian students headed to the Netherlands.

The Holland Scholarship is a good backup because most Indian students clear it on merit alone. Erasmus Mundus is closer to Bleumink in value but harder because you must study in two or three countries.

Also Check:

The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is one of the few awards that fully pays a Dutch master’s for Indian students. Winning it takes early planning, a strong master’s application and honest proof of financial need. Groningen’s low cost of living stretches the stipend further than in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Pair the Bleumink attempt with two backup funds so your master’s plan is not tied to a single result. Start work by mid-2026 to give yourself the best shot at the September 2027 intake.