ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students — Master's Scholarship

The International Institute of Social Studies established this fund for excellent students admitted to its MA in Development Studies who lack sufficient financial means of their own and have no other scholarship. The award reduces the tuition fee by 40%. Recipients study full-time for 12 months at ISS in The Hague.

Applicants of any nationality may apply once they hold an ISS admission letter. The scholarship is allocated on an ongoing basis across the programme’s majors, but the official page sets 15 June as the latest deadline; that date has passed for the documented 2026/27 intake.

Benefits & funding

The scholarship covers 40% of the tuition fee.
Applicants must show that they can pay the remaining tuition, living expenses and health insurance.
The fund is for students who lack sufficient financial means of their own and do not have another scholarship.

Eligibility

Applicants may be of any nationality and must intend to enroll in the ISS MA in Development Studies.
An ISS admission letter is required; ISS states that a conditional admission letter can be used to apply for a scholarship.
Applicants must lack sufficient financial means of their own and be able to benefit from support toward their study costs.
Applicants with relevant work experience need an upper-second- or first-class social sciences degree and strong motivation to study at ISS.
Recent graduates need a first-class social sciences degree and strong motivation to study at ISS.
MA admission normally requires a recognized three-year bachelor’s degree in social sciences; applicants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, and Indian applicants outside NAAC A-rated universities, must hold an MA degree.

Can you apply?

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Education required
Bachelor · Master

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Application process

1
Register for the MA in Development Studies through Studielink and complete the EUR Admission Portal application.
2
Obtain an ISS admission letter; the programme permits scholarship applications with a conditional letter.
3
Email the scholarship request to admission@iss.nl as soon as possible and no later than 15 June.
4
Attach a one-page motivation statement explaining why you should receive the fund, plus detailed financial information and supporting bank statements.
5
Wait for the student office to communicate the rolling allocation decision.

Program timeline

First week of October 2025
Registration opened for the 2026/27 MA intake.
Early Bird Discount deadline; ISS states that it can be combined with the scholarship.
May 1, 2026
Latest scholarship deadline for the documented cycle.
Jun 15, 2026
MA application deadline for EU and non-EU applicants.
Jul 1, 2026
The 12-month MA programme starts.
September 2026
Next cycle
The official site has not published an exact scholarship opening date.