Maastricht University UM Social Justice Scholarship 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
If you are a prospective student passionate about human rights, the rule of law, and seeking to study in Europe, the Maastricht University Social Justice Scholarship 2026 is a compelling opportunity. The applications are now open for those aiming to enroll in the the Master’s programme in Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University. This scholarship offers generous support to help you fully engage in your studies without the burden of financial barriers. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Maastricht, The Netherlands
Study Level: Master’s (one-year)
Target Group: International (non-EU/EEA) students applying to the Globalisation and Law programme
Fields of Study / Focus: Globalisation, law, human rights, rule of law
Award Value & Coverage:
Living expenses: € 15,925 (for 13 months)
Health & liability insurance: € 700 (arranged & paid by UM)
Visa application costs: at cost, arranged & paid by UM
Tuition fees: at cost, arranged & paid by UM
Pre-Academic Training costs: at cost, arranged & paid by UM
Duration: 13 months (the full duration of the one-year Master’s programme)
Application Deadline: 1 February 2026, 23:59 CET (the portal opens 1 October 2025)
Start Date: Likely early in the academic year (September 2026)
Eligible To: Non-EU/EEA students without dual nationality with EU/EEA or Switzerland; up to 35 years old as of 1 September 2026; those who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree (preference)
📚 Scholarship Overview
This is a full scholarship designed to attract high-achieving international applicants to the Globalisation and Law one-year master’s programme at Maastricht University. The support is comprehensive: beyond living allowance, the scholarship covers tuition, insurance, visa costs, and pre-academic training. This ensures the student can focus on academic and social justice pursuits without bearing financial burdens.
The structure is straightforward: the scholarship runs concurrently with the 13-month programme. Recipients are expected to engage fully in the curriculum, which typically involves courses in international law, human rights, governance, comparative legal systems, and related fields.
🎁 What the Scholarship Covers
Full living expenses stipend for 13 months: € 15,925
Health & liability insurance (arranged & paid)
Tuition fees covered (i.e. paid on the candidate’s behalf)
Visa application costs covered (arranged and paid by UM)
Costs of Pre-Academic Training (if required) covered
No hidden additional costs for these covered items
Essentially, accepted scholars can study full time without worrying about these major financial burdens.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you must satisfy all or most of these criteria:
Non-EU/EEA nationality (you may not hold dual nationality with an EU/EEA country or Switzerland)
You must have applied for admission to the full-time Master’s programme Globalisation and Law at Maastricht University for academic year 2026-2027
Age limit: You must be no older than 35 years on 1 September 2026
You should not already hold a Master’s degree (preference given to candidates who have not yet obtained one)
You must have shown excellent academic performance, typically a GPA of 7.5/10 or the equivalent in your previous degree transcript
You must have already demonstrated tangible contributions (through extra- or intramural initiatives or projects) to rule of law and/or human rights
You must meet the specific admission requirements for the Globalisation and Law master’s programme
📝 Application Procedure
Apply for admission to the Globalisation and Law Master’s programme (via the university’s application portal)
Open the scholarship application portal (opens 1 October 2025)
Submit scholarship application before 1 February 2026, 23:59 CET
You may only submit one application, and you may apply for only one scholarship—so ensure all documents are complete before submission
Documents you are likely to need (based on standard scholarship practices + Maastricht’s requirements):
A motivation letter / statement of purpose
A CV / résumé
One or more letters of recommendation
Personal statement of financial needs.
Proof of academic excellence
Additional forms specified in the scholarship portal
ℹ️ Extra Useful Notes
The application portal opens 1 October 2025, so mark your calendar early.
The competition is expected to be strong, given the generous benefits.
Make sure your previous work or engagements in human rights / rule of law are well-documented and compelling — this is a major selection criterion.
Even though you may be supported fully, you must maintain high academic performance in the programme to satisfy scholarship conditions (this is typical, though not explicitly stated).
Since the scholarship covers pre-academic training, if you require bridging courses or preparatory modules, these will be covered — reducing barriers for those coming from somewhat different academic backgrounds.
Be ready to submit a clean, polished application, with all supporting documents, because the committee cannot add or replace documents after submission.
If you are eligible for other UM scholarships (e.g. NL High Potential), check whether multiple applications are allowed or if you must choose one. UM’s policy is “only one scholarship can be applied per applicant” in this case.
