The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO offers maximum four outstanding non-Dutch students the opportunity to follow the Earth Science master’s programme at the Utrecht University. The masters should be in the field of study of:

• biogeology
• geology
• geochemistry
• geophysics
• hydrology
• physical geography
• system earth modelling

Only candidates of the highest achievement and promise relevant for TNO Geological Survey of The Netherlands may receive a scholarship. The research topic in the last year of the study will be carried out at TNO, under co-supervision of staff members of TNO.

Duration and number of scholarships
Selected students will receive a scholarship for a maximum period of 24 months.

Amount of scholarship
Selected Master’s students are awarded a scholarship up to a maximum of 7,000 Euro per year, for the duration of two years. In total this amounts to 14,000 Euro.

Aim of the programme
The scholarship is meant to make a significant contribution towards the costs of travel and living while studying in Utrecht. The focus of the programme is primarily on students from EEA countries. For students outside the EEA countries it is necessary to find additional funding to be able to finance your study and stay completely. As one of the requirements for being granted a residence permit in the Netherlands, students from non EEA countries must prove to the IND (immigration and naturalisation office) that they have sufficient financial means.

Selection procedure
The selection for the TNO Scholarship is carried our by an Admissions Committee of the TNO Geological Survey of The Netherlands. This Admissions Committee will determine the order of priority of all the eligible candidates on the basis of the criteria below. Awarded grants are exclusively linked to the Master’s programme for which the grant was applied for and exclusively linked to the proposed starting date. Awarded grants cannot be transferred to other Master’s programmes and also not to another starting date.

Eligibility criteria
The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be considered for one of these scholarships. The applicant should:

1. hold a non-Dutch passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans.
2. have been admitted to the Master’s Programme Earth Sciences at the Utrecht University.
3. hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent thereof from a non-Dutch university.
4. be able to comply with the conditions to obtain a Dutch visa (only for students from non EER countries).

Selection criteria
Eligible candidates are selected for a scholarship on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Their academic excellence and promise in the proposed field of study (the field of study should be relevant for TNO Geological Survey of The Netherlands);
2. The academic quality and concrete results of the preceding education, as evidenced, for example, by grades, test scores, publications, letters of recommendation;
3. The quality and relevance of the motivation letter (academic content, intercultural and communication skills, personal motivation);
4. The quality of the application itself (completeness, accuracy, consistency).

Additional conditions

1. In order to get the second year of the scholarship, the student must complete the first year of the masters within 12 month.
2. The second year of the master’s study should be carried out partly at TNO, in cooperation with the responsible university supervisor.
3. If the student at any point decides to change the subject of the master’s study, the scholarship is withdrawn.

Application procedure
Send

1. The TNO Scholarship application form
2. your bachelor thesis or equivalent thereof
3. A motivation letter of one page, which explains why this scholarship should be awarded to you

to:
Utrecht University
Graduate School Geosciences
Attn. of Mr. Diederik Gussekloo
Heidelberglaan 2
3584 CS Utrecht
The Netherlands

When you are accepted in a program your transcript, reference letters and CV will be added to this and the whole package will be decisive for your scholarship application.

It is strongly advised to send the scholarship application in the same week as the application for the Master’s Programme.

Deadline of scholarship application
If you plan to start in September applications must be received before March 1st of the same year.
If you plan to start in February applications must be received before September 1st in the preceding year.
Notification of the scholarship awards are expected six weeks after closing dates.

Further inquiries
Any further inquiries should be directed to the coordinator of the Graduate School Geosciences, Mr. Diederik Gussekloo by e-mail only, in order to ensure efficient response: d.gussekloo@geo.uu.nl.

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