Netherlands, Scholarships

MENA Scholarship Programme 2026 — Funded Short Courses in Netherlands

Faseeh Sultan

July 5, 2026
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MENA Scholarship Programme 2026 — Funded Short Courses in Netherlands

If you are a working professional from the Middle East or North Africa and have ever wanted to study in the Netherlands — this is your route. The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by Nuffic, offers fully funded short courses at prestigious Dutch institutions for young professionals aged 20 to 45. The programme runs twice a year, meaning you have two chances annually to win a scholarship that covers everything — course fees, travel, accommodation, and living costs — for a 2 to 13-week training in the Netherlands. Here is everything you need to know to apply, qualify, and succeed.

Detail	Information
Programme Name	MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP)
Managed By	Nuffic (on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Country of Study	Netherlands
Programme Type	Fully Funded Short Course (2–13 weeks)
Application Rounds	Twice a year — typically February and September
Next Round	September 2026 (verify exact dates on official website)
Open To	Professionals from 12 MENA countries (see list below)
Age Limit	20–45 years old
Official Link	studyinnl.org/finances/mena-scholarship-programme-msp

🎓 About the MENA Scholarship Programme

The MENA Scholarship Programme is not a traditional student scholarship — and that distinction matters. This programme is designed specifically for working professionals who are already active in their careers and want to build skills that they will bring back to their home organisations. The Dutch government funds it for one clear reason: to build genuine capacity and lasting professional ties between the Netherlands and the Middle East and North Africa region.

The MSP is part of the broader Shiraka programme — a Dutch government initiative that has been quietly running for years, funding thousands of professionals from across the MENA region to train at world-class Dutch institutions. When you come back, you are expected to share what you learned. That is not a formality — it is a formal obligation you sign before you receive the scholarship.

Currently, the programme is open to professionals living and working in twelve countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, and — subject to current circumstances — Sudan. Syrian nationals can also apply if they are currently living and working in any of the other listed countries.

What makes the MSP genuinely compelling is its network of participating Dutch institutions — from IHE Delft and the University of Amsterdam to the University of Twente, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the Maastricht School of Management. These are not second-tier institutions. These are globally recognised research and teaching universities, and your short course certificate carries real professional weight.

🎓 Benefits and Funding

The MSP is a fully funded scholarship. Here is what the funding covers (verify exact breakdown on the official website or with your chosen institution):

Course fees: Fully covered — no tuition charged to the scholar
International travel: Return flights between your home country and the Netherlands
Accommodation: Arranged or funded for the duration of your stay
Living allowance: A daily or monthly subsistence allowance to cover meals and local expenses in the Netherlands
Health insurance: Coverage during your stay in the Netherlands
Visa support: Assistance with the Dutch visa process

The total value of each MSP scholarship varies depending on the course duration (2 to 13 weeks) and the institution offering it. For a 13-week programme, the funding package is substantial — travel to and living in the Netherlands for over three months, fully covered.

One critical point: the MSP is a competitive award. Approximately 20 scholarships per country per year are available — split across two application rounds. That means roughly 10 per round per country. 50% of all scholarships in each country are reserved for female applicants.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Requirements apply across all participating countries, with some country-specific additions:

Nationality and residence: You must be living and working in one of the eligible MENA countries at the time of application — holding citizenship from that country is not alone sufficient
Age: 20 to 45 years old (45 is included)
Employment: You must be an employed professional — students are not eligible
Priority areas: You must be working in one of the priority thematic areas defined for your specific country (see the section below)
English proficiency: Most courses are offered in English — you must demonstrate sufficient English ability. No standardised test score is formally required by Nuffic, but individual institutions may require one (verify with your chosen institution)
Employer statement: A signed employer statement is mandatory — your employer must formally confirm they support your application and that you will return and share your knowledge
Government statement (Jordan only): Civil servants in Jordan must also obtain a signed government statement stamped by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). Non-governmental employees in Jordan are exempt from this
Previous recipients: Preference is given to candidates who have not previously received an MSP, Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), or Shiraka scholarship
Exclusion: You cannot simultaneously hold any other Dutch government scholarship while on the MSP

🎓 Who Should Apply / Who Shouldn’t

✅ Apply if you:

Are a working professional aged 20–45 living in an eligible MENA country
Work in one of the priority thematic areas for your country
Have an employer who fully supports your professional development
Speak English well enough to participate in an intensive short course
Are ready to commit to sharing your new skills with your organisation upon return
Have never received an MSP, OKP, or Shiraka scholarship before

❌ Don’t apply if you:

Are a student without current employment — applications from students are explicitly excluded
Do not work within the priority themes defined for your country
Cannot obtain an employer statement signed by your organisation
Are over 45 years old at the time of application
Are already receiving another Dutch government scholarship

🎓 Priority Themes by Country

Each country has its own set of thematic priorities. Your application must demonstrate a clear connection between your work and at least one priority theme. Here are selected examples:

Egypt: Rule of law, journalism, economic development (especially logistics), renewable energy, entrepreneurship, coastal zone protection, and migration cooperation.

Jordan: Human rights, youth empowerment, local economic development, good governance, water, climate, and urban planning.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, and Oman: Each country has its own list of priority themes. Check the specific country page at studyinnl.org/finances/mena-scholarship-programme-msp for the full and current list for your country.

This is one of the features that separates the MSP from most other scholarships: your professional context matters more than your academic grades. The selection committee is looking for professionals who are clearly embedded in relevant work — and who will visibly multiply the impact of their training when they return.

🎓 Participating Institutions and Available Courses

Dutch institutions offering MSP-approved short courses include some of the finest in the country. Courses vary by country and by application round, but the institutions below are among the consistent participants:

IHE Delft Institute for Water Education — water management, remote sensing, resources planning, water conflict diplomacy
University of Twente (ITC Faculty) — remote sensing, digital image processing, photogrammetry and 3D mapping
Maastricht School of Management (MSM) — responsible business, CSR, digital leadership
MDF Training & Consultancy — project management, monitoring and evaluation, gender mainstreaming
The Hague Academy for Local Governance — governance, local economic development, anti-corruption, smart cities, climate response
University of Amsterdam (UvA) — circular cities, multilateralism, peacebuilding and conflict
Erasmus University Rotterdam (IHS) — urban management tools for climate change
RNTC Media Training Centre — media campaigns, social change advocacy
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) — feminist leadership, gender equity
iCRA — agribusiness facilitation and coaching

The full and current course list for each country is published on the Nuffic website at the opening of each application round. Courses offered in English or French depending on the country and institution.

🎓 Required Documents

While exact requirements vary by institution, a standard MSP application package typically includes:

Completed application form (submitted via Nuffic’s online registration system — access link received from the institution)
Valid passport or national identity document
Curriculum vitae / résumé
Signed employer statement — using the official MSP format (downloadable from the Nuffic website)
Motivation letter explaining your connection to the priority themes and how the course will strengthen you and your organisation
Proof of English proficiency — as required by the specific institution (certificate, interview, or institutional assessment)
Academic certificates (most courses require at least a bachelor’s degree level or equivalent)
Government statement (for civil servants in Jordan — stamped by MOPIC)

Always download the latest version of the employer statement template from the MSP official page — older versions may not be accepted.

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

The MSP uses a two-step application process — and skipping Step 1 means you cannot reach Step 2.

Identify the round: Check the Nuffic website for the opening date of the next application round (typically February and September each year)
Choose your course: Browse the course list for your country on the relevant country page at studyinnl.org
Contact the institution early: Reach out to the Dutch institution offering your chosen course well before the round opens — additional academic admission requirements may apply, and some institutions (e.g. The Hague Academy) have earlier internal deadlines than the Nuffic system deadline
Apply for academic admission (Step 1): Submit your academic application directly to the institution. For IHE Delft, this is a formal two-step process — you must first receive academic admission before you can access the Nuffic scholarship portal
Receive your Nuffic portal link: Once academically admitted (or conditionally approved), the institution shares a link to Nuffic’s online registration system — this link is not publicly available
Submit your scholarship application (Step 2): Complete the Nuffic online application with all required documents, including your signed employer statement
Await results: Results are typically announced 3 to 4 months after the application round closes

💡 Practical tip: Contact your institution of choice at least 6–8 weeks before the round opens. Many professionals are rejected not because of weak applications but because they contacted the institution too late to meet the internal academic admission deadline.

🎓 Important Dates

Event	Timing
Round 1 (Spring)	Opens approximately February each year
Round 2 (Autumn)	Opens approximately September each year
Next expected round	September 2026 — verify exact opening date at studyinnl.org
Results announced	3–4 months after each round closes
Institution deadlines	Some close earlier than the Nuffic system deadline

Bookmark this page and check back for updates.

🎓 Why Apply — Why the Netherlands

The Netherlands is among the top 5 destinations in Europe for international education. Dutch universities consistently rank in the world’s top 200, and the country’s approach to professional training is distinctly practical — focused on skills you can implement the day you return to work, not theory you will never use.

Here is what makes the Netherlands particularly well-suited for MENA professionals:

English is everywhere. The Netherlands has one of the highest English proficiency rates in the world. You will not struggle to communicate — on campus, in shops, or on public transport. This removes a major barrier that other non-English-speaking European study destinations create.

The Dutch education system values practice. Institutions like IHE Delft and The Hague Academy are not general universities — they are specialised centres that have spent decades developing training programmes specifically for professionals working in water management, governance, and development. If your work touches water, climate, governance, or media, these are the best institutions in Europe for your professional development.

Alumni networks. The MSP has been running for years and has built a robust alumni community across the MENA region. Many MSP alumni maintain professional relationships with Dutch institutions and with each other — adding a real long-term network value to what is already a funded training experience.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply if I am a Syrian national? Yes — Syrians are eligible if they are currently living and working in one of the other eligible countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, etc.). Syrian applicants apply through the country page of where they currently reside and work.

Q: Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply for the MSP? Nuffic does not impose a standardised English test requirement for the programme overall. However, individual institutions may require proof of English proficiency — always check directly with your chosen institution well before the application round opens.

Q: Can I apply if I have received an MSP scholarship before? Technically yes — but preference is strongly given to first-time MSP applicants, and to those who have not previously received OKP or Shiraka scholarships either. If you have received one before, your application will be considered but ranked lower than first-timers.

Q: How long are the courses? MSP short courses range from 2 to 13 weeks, depending on the institution and programme. Course length is determined by the institution, not by Nuffic.

Q: Are courses offered in Arabic or French? Most courses are in English. Some institutions offer French-medium courses, particularly for Francophone country applicants (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania). Check the course details for your country page.

Q: What happens if my employer changes between application and travel? Contact Nuffic immediately at msp@nuffic.nl if your employment situation changes — the employer commitment is a formal condition of the scholarship.

🎓 Official Sources

MSP Programme Hub: MENA Scholarship Programme — Study in NL
Country-specific pages: Egypt | Jordan | Morocco | Algeria | Tunisia | Iraq | Lebanon | Libya | Oman | Mauritania
Contact Nuffic: msp@nuffic.nl
Nuffic main site: nuffic.nl
MSP Employer Statement Template: Available for download on the official MSP page

🎓 Summary Table

Detail	Information
Programme Name	MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP)
Funder	Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Manager	Nuffic
Part of	Shiraka Programme
Country of Study	Netherlands
Programme Type	Fully Funded Short Course
Course Duration	2–13 weeks
Application Rounds	Twice a year — February and September (verify on official website)
Scholarships Per Country	Approximately 20 per year (10 per round)
Gender Quota	50% reserved for women
Age Requirement	20–45 years old
Who Can Apply	Working professionals (not students) from 12 MENA countries
Eligible Countries	Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Sudan*, Tunisia
English Test Required	Not mandated by Nuffic — verify with your chosen institution
Key Document	Signed employer statement (mandatory)
Application Portal	Access via the institution you apply to — link shared by institution
Results Timeline	3–4 months after round closes
Official Website	studyinnl.org/finances/mena-scholarship-programme-msp