Scholarship Description

The Equal Opportunities Scholarship is intended for academically motivated high school students (ages 16–19) from low socio-economic backgrounds who would otherwise be unable to access our Pre-University Summer Programmes. These programmes provide early exposure to university-level learning, subject exploration, and campus life, which are valuable experiences that can help students make more informed, confident decisions about their academic futures.

• By supporting participation in our summer programmes, the Equal Opportunities Scholarship helps level the playing field, offering underrepresented students the chance to explore academic interests, build confidence, and gain early insight into university life.
• The scholarship is open to students of any nationality and prioritizes both academic potential and financial need.
• It is a full scholarship that covers the study fee, housing, and, if necessary, transportation to and from Amsterdam. The scholarship aims to increase educational mobility for those who would not otherwise be able to join a summer programme.

Eligibility requirements for applicants

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

• Be between 16 and 19 years old, currently enrolled in high school or equivalent education.
• Demonstrate strong academic motivation and interest in participating in a Pre-University Honours Summer Programme.
• Show financial need, based on household income and family situation (see below).
• Submit your programme and scholarship applications simultaneously.

Please note: This scholarship is intended for students who would not be able to attend the programme without financial support. If you apply for this scholarship and are not selected, you will not have the option to participate by paying the tuition fee. Please only apply if your participation is entirely dependent on receiving this scholarship.

How we assess financial need:

To assess financial need, you are required to submit at least one of the following when submitting your application (you may submit more for context):

• A government benefits letter (e.g. social assistance, housing subsidy, unemployment support), dated within the last 6 months.
• A recent tax return from the most recent complete tax year (e.g. 2024 return submitted in 2025), from both legal guardians if applicable.
• A recent income statement or payslip from the past 3 months, from both legal guardians if applicable.

How to apply 

Before applying, please make sure you meet the eligibility requirements listed above.

To be considered for the Equal Opportunities Scholarship, you must submit all of the following materials at the same time as your application to the summer programme. Incomplete scholarship applications will not be reviewed.

1. Scholarship Addendum (maximum 300 words)

This should be included at the end of your programme motivation letter, in the same document.

In the addendum, respond to the following prompt:
How would participating in this programme support your academic and personal development in ways you haven’t yet had access to? How has your financial situation affected those opportunities in the past?

You may also choose to briefly mention any other factors that have shaped your educational journey.

2. Combined Guardian & Verifier Declaration Form

This form must be completed and signed by your parent or legal guardian, and by a teacher, school official, or community leader. Please see the template provided below.

3. At Least One Financial Document

You must upload at least one document that demonstrates your financial need. Accepted forms of documentation are listed in the eligibility section above.

4. Submit All Materials as One PDF File

All required scholarship materials must be merged into a single PDF file and uploaded in the application portal along with your summer programme application. This file should include:

• Your motivation letter for the programme
• Your scholarship addendum (included at the end of the motivation letter)
• Your completed questionnaire and signed declaration (see template below)
• Your Combined Guardian & Verifier Declaration Form (see template below)
• At least one financial document

5. Indicate Scholarship Interest in the Application Form

When completing your summer programme application in the online portal, make sure to indicate that you are applying for the Equal Opportunities Scholarship.

Selection process and timeline  

• The deadline to apply is 15 February 2026.
• Scholarships will be awarded by the Summer Programmes Office scholarship selection committee based on:

1. The strength of your overall application, including your motivation and academic potential
2. Demonstrated financial need 
3. Comparison with other applicants in the same selection round

• After the deadline, we may contact you to request additional information or to clarify details of your application.
• Only fully completed applications will be reviewed and considered.

Questions and contact 

• If you have questions about the Equal Opportunities Scholarship, please get in touch with the Summer Programmes Office via email at summer-info-gsss@uva.nl and be sure to include 'Equal Opportunities)' in the subject line.  

Additional required documents 

• Please download the Questionnaire and Declaration as well as the Guardian and Verifier Declaration at the link below (Microsoft Word file). Complete all elements, sign it, and ensure you attach it to your application as stated above.