ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students 2026 | Erasmus University Rotterdam
Many students dream of studying abroad. The Netherlands offers great schools and a fun life. One good choice is the Master of Arts in Development Studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS). ISS is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. It sits in The Hague, not Rotterdam.
For 2026-2027, ISS has a scholarship fund called ISS Scholarship Fund for excellent students. This fund helps smart kids who need money help. It pays 40% of the tuition fee. That saves a lot since the full tuition is around €21,000. With the scholarship, you pay about €12,600. Many students at ISS get some kind of help to pay for school.
I have helped many students apply for scholarships over the years. Some won big ones. Others got small ones that added up. One student from India got this ISS fund plus a small home grant. She finished the program and now works for a big group that helps poor countries. Another student missed the deadline by one day. He had to wait a full year. That taught me: start early and check everything twice.
This post covers everything you need to know about the ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students in 2026. I share real tips from my work with students. I tell you what works and what mistakes to avoid.
What Is the ISS Scholarship Fund for Excellent Students?
ISS set up this fund to help top students who have no other scholarship. It is open to kids from any country, including the Netherlands and EU.
The main points:
- It is for the Master of Arts in Development Studies only.
- The program lasts 16 months.
- You must have an acceptance letter from ISS first.
- The fund gives 40% off the tuition fee.
- Decisions happen all the time from January to July. Apply early for better chances.
ISS also has a Hardship Fund. That one helps if you do not fit the excellent student rules but still need money. It can give up to 30% off.
Most top pages about Netherlands scholarships list big full ones like Maastricht or Radboud. They skip smaller ones like this. But this fund is great because you can add it to other help. For example, you can mix it with the 10% Early Bird discount if you pay fast. That brings the fee down to €10,500.
Who Can Apply? The Rules You Must Follow
You need to meet these to get the fund:
- Speak and write good English.
- Come from any country.
- Want to join the MA in Development Studies at ISS.
- Have an unconditional acceptance letter from ISS.
- Show you are excellent: either work experience plus a good degree in social sciences (like upper second class), or a fresh graduate with a first-class degree.
- Have strong reasons to study at ISS.
- Not have another scholarship that covers a lot.
You cannot use this if you plan to do a PhD at ISS. It is only for the MA program.
In my experience, the “excellent” part matters a lot. One student I helped had a GPA of 3.8 and two years working on clean water projects in Africa. She got the fund easy. Another had top grades but no work time. He did not get it the first try. He added an internship and won the next year.
How Much Does the Program Cost? Real Numbers for 2026
The tuition for the MA at ISS is the same for everyone. It is about €21,000 for the full program. ISS does not get money from the Dutch government like normal schools. So no low fees for EU students.
With the 40% scholarship:
- You pay 60% or around €12,600.
Living costs in The Hague are about €1,100 to €1,200 per month. That covers rent, food, bike, and fun. Rent for a room is €700 to €800.
Visa and health insurance add more. You need to prove you can pay the rest.
Tools I often check:
- The official ISS site for fees – always the most correct.
- Numbeo for living costs – good for city compare.
- Study in NL site – government info on visas.
- Expatistan – another cost tool, honest but sometimes high.
- DUO for Dutch student rules, even if ISS is different.
- Scholarship portals like Scholarships.com or Fastweb – they list ISS but not always fresh.
I tell students: do not trust only one site. Check the official ISS page first.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the Scholarship
First, apply to the MA program at ISS. Get accepted. That is key.
Then for the scholarship:
- Email the student office at studentoffice@iss.nl (or admission@iss.nl – check the site).
- Send a one-page letter. Explain why you need the help and why you deserve it. Tell your story. Show how the program will help you and your country.
- Send money proof. Bank statements that show you can pay the rest, plus living costs and insurance.
- Do this as soon as you get accepted. Latest by June 15, 2026.
They decide all year. Good applications early get picked first.
Tip from a failure I saw: one student sent weak bank papers. He got no. He fixed them and tried again – won.
Another success: a girl from Kenya wrote about her village work. She added numbers like how many people she helped. That made her stand out.
Real Student Stories: What Happened to Kids I Helped
Case 1: Maria from Brazil. She had three years working on city poor areas. Good grades. She got the 40% fund plus Early Bird. Total fee €10,500. She now leads projects back home.
Case 2: Ahmed from Pakistan. Fresh graduate, top class. No work time. First try no. He volunteered six months on refugee help. Second try yes. Lesson: build your story.
Case 3: Lisa from Germany. EU student. She thought EU get low fees. Wrong for ISS. She applied for the fund anyway. Got it. Saved big.
Case 4: Tom from USA. Missed deadline. Had to pay full. He said start in January!
Case 5: Priya from Nepal. Mixed this fund with a small home grant. Finished and got a UN job.
These show: strong motivation and proof you can pay the rest win.
Why Choose the MA in Development Studies at ISS?
The program teaches how to fix big world problems. Like poor countries, unfair rules, climate change.
You learn from teachers who worked in real places. Classes mix kids from North and South. You make friends for life.
The Hague is the peace city. Many groups like UN are there. Good for jobs after.
Some say the program is hard. Lots of reading. But that makes you strong.
Contrarian view: some big full scholarships like Erasmus Mundus pay everything. But they are super hard to win – like 1 in 100. This ISS fund is easier if you are excellent and can pay some.
Another view: do not go only for big money ones. Small ones like this add up and have less fight.
Other Ways to Pay for ISS Studies
ISS has a list by country. Pick your home and see options.
Good tools:
- Nuffic – Dutch group with scholarship search.
- Scholarshipportal – easy to use, many filters.
- DAAD – if from certain countries.
- Studyportals – lists programs and funds.
- Beasiswa Indonesia – for that country, honest lists.
- COLFUTURO for Colombia – gives extra.
- OAS for Americas – joint with ISS.
Recent news: Netherlands makes rules stricter for international students. More proof of money and progress. But good schools like ISS still welcome top kids.
Related Opportunities
Tips to Win This Scholarship and Do Well
- Start the MA application now. Deadlines come fast.
- Write your motivation letter like a story. Not dry facts.
- Get strong recommend letters from bosses or teachers.
- Save money proof early.
- Apply to many funds. Do not put all eggs in one.
- If no, ask why and try again.
I think this fund is one of the best kept secrets for development studies. It helps real change makers.
If you have questions, ask below. Good luck! You can do this.
