Overview
The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) are designed to promote capacity building within organisations in 61 countries by providing training and education to mid-career staff. The NFP is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the budget for development cooperation.
The overall aim of the NFP is to help alleviate qualitative and quantitative shortages of skilled manpower within a wide range of governmental, private and non-governmental organisations. This is done by offering fellowships to mid-career professionals to improve the capacity of their employing organisations.
The fellowship is a supplement to the candidate’s salary and a contribution towards the expenses related to the course or study programme.
NFP sub-programmes
The NFP offers you three sub-programmes to choose from:
Master's degree programmes
Fellowships are available for a selected number of master’s degree programmes. These programmes have a duration of between 12 and 24 months. A master’s degree programme leads to a Dutch master's degree.
You can apply for an NFP Master's degree fellowship for one of the master's degree programmes listed on the NFP course list 2012-2013.
Short courses
Fellowships are available for a selected number of Short courses offered by Dutch institutions that provide professional training at post-secondary level. These courses have a duration of between two weeks and twelve months. The courses lead to a Dutch certificate or diploma.
You can apply for an NFP Short course fellowship for one of the short courses listed on the NFP course list 2012-2013.
PhD studies
Fellowships are available for PhD research with a maximum duration of four years. You are allowed to seek alternative sources of funding. A minimum of 25% of your research must take place in an NFP country.
You can apply for a PhD fellowship after your research proposal has been accepted by a Dutch institution listed in the NFP brochure 2012-2013.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an NFP fellowship you must:
- be a mid-career professional with at least three years' relevant work experience;
- be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the NFP country list valid at the time of application;
- be nominated by your employer, who pledges to continue paying your salary and guarantees that you will be able to return to the same or an equivalent position at the end of your fellowship period;
- have been unconditionally admitted by a Dutch institution to one of the Master’s degree programmes or Short courses on the 2012-2013 course list, or have agreed upon a PhD research proposal with the Dutch institution. This means that you must have met all the academic requirements set by the Dutch institution;
- not already have received an NFP fellowship for a master’s degree programme or a PhD fellowship.
- not already have received two NFP fellowships for a short course and you must not have already received a fellowship in the year preceding your application.
- not be employed by:
- a multinational corporation (e.g. Shell, Unilever, Microsoft);
- a large national and/or commercial organisation;
- a bilateral donor organisation (e.g. USAID, DFID, Danida, Sida, Dutch ministry of Foreign affairs, FinAid, AusAid, ADC, SwissAid);
- a multilateral donor organisation, (e.g. a UN organisation, the World Bank, the IMF, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, IADB);
- an international NGO (e.g. Oxfam, Plan, Care).
- have completed and submitted an NFP PhD study, master’s degree programme or short course application, including all the required documentation, before the applicable fellowship application deadline;
- be employed in an area to which the study will make a relevant contribution;
- have a clear-cut, functional relationship with a relevant organisation and be in a position to introduce the newly acquired skills and knowledge into that organisation;
- be full-time available for the entire period of the programme or course and be physically and mentally able to take part in the entire programme;
- endorse the objective and the aim of the NFP and use your new knowledge and skills to support your employing organisation and your country. Nuffic urges you to return to your home country upon finishing the course or programme to meet the NFP aim in the most effective way.
Priorities
Your chances of obtaining an NFP scholarship go up if you:
- live and work in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- are a woman;
- belong to a priority groups and/or are from a marginalised region as defined by the Dutch embassy in your country. You can find these priorities on the embassy's website.
How to apply
To be eligible for an NFP fellowship, candidates need to be admitted to the master’s degree programme or short course for which they would like an NFP fellowship or be admitted as a PhD student.
Obtain academic admission
You first apply for academic admission directly to the Dutch institution. Your admission must be unconditional in terms of your education and language proficiency. Admission may be granted only, subject to you finding suitable funding for the programme.
You are strongly advised to seek academic admission as early as possible to allow the institution to process your application in time. Check the deadlines for academic admission with the Dutch institution directly for up-to-date information.
The academic admission process for a PhD study is an individual track. If you want to be admitted as a PhD student check the requirements and the deadlines with the Dutch institution.
If you have been admitted to more than one course or study programme in one fellowship per application deadline you will have to choose one programme before you apply for a fellowship.
Prepare your application for an NFP fellowship
Your NFP application consists of:
- a copy of a valid passport or other official identity document;
- an employer’s statement;
- a statement from the Government Authority (if applicable);
- Statements of motivation, responding to the following questions:
- Why do you wish to pursue this course or programme?
- How will your employer benefit from the course or programme?
- How will your country benefit from the course or programme?
- How will you put your new skills and knowledge to work when you return to your job?
In addition, if you apply for a PhD fellowship:
- A letter of a co-supervisor in your own country (if applicable);
The application you submit to Nuffic must be complete. After you have submitted your application you cannot make any adjustments or additions anymore.
Submit your application
If you have obtained academic admission and prepared all the necessary documentation you can submit your NFP fellowship application in Scholarships Online (SOL), Nuffic’s online application tool.
You can access SOL using the quick links on the right-hand side of this page.
When you apply for an NFP fellowship you must accept the NFP Rules and Regulations. Please read the booklet carefully before you apply.
Contact Information
http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/scholarships/scholarships-administered-by-nuffic/netherlands-fellowships-programmes-nfp
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