The Bright Minds Fund - PPLE - University of Amsterdam

The Bright Minds Fund was founded to help PPLE students in need of funding to achieve their academic goals. Find out more about the BMF and check whether you are eligible to apply.

Need- and merit-based BMF scholarships

The Bright Minds Fund was launched in 2022 to support those who have the potential and motivation to join PPLE College but lack the financial means to apply. The BMF offers need- and merit-based scholarships to Dutch PPLE students covering the cost of annual tuition fees. This means that applicants, on the one hand, demonstrate a significant financial need requiring assistance with paying for tuition, and, on the other hand, meet the PPLE entry requirements to fulfill the merit criterion.

You are eligible to apply for a BMF scholarship if you:

are Dutch, or have completed or will complete the Dutch VWO diploma the year of your application
are able to prove your financial need for a grant
have applied to PPLE College (find more information about applying to PPLE)
were able to prove your academic merit in your PPLE College application

Students with a migration background*, including refugees, and first generation students** are especially encouraged to apply.

For detailed criteria, see the application checklist.

If the above requirements do not suit your situation, you might want to have a look at some alternative funding options.

* Migration background refers to students born abroad or who have at least one parent born abroad. ** First-generation refers to students who are the first to attend a college or university in their family.

What does the BMF scholarship cover?

A Bright Minds Fund scholarship amounts to the full annual tuition fee for PPLE College. The tuition fee is around €4500, with the exact amount set annually.

Find out more about the current tuition fees.

After your 1st year of scholarship support, the BMF committee reevaluates eligibility for the following year. Did you receive a binding recommendation to continue the PPLE programme (a BSA)? And does your financial situation remain unchanged? Then your scholarship continues into your second year. You may expect the same procedure at the end of your 2nd year.

Bright Minds Fund scholarships are not, in principle, awarded for more than 3 years and 6 semesters in total.

Want to take a look at the BMF application form? It is a handy way to check what documents you need to prepare

Questions about the Bright Minds Fund?

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the application procedure. We are happy to help you out. Get in touch at brightmindsfund-pple@uva.nl or give us a call at +31 (0)20 525 2329. You can reach us over the phone on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11.00 to 13.00 (CET).

Timeline for applying

When applying for a scholarship, it is useful to keep a close eye on the deadlines you are dealing with. That way you can make sure you hand everything in on time. Below, you find the upcoming application deadlines for a BMF scholarship. The decision who is awarded a BMF scholarship remains conditional until it is confirmed that the applicant has received an offer of admission to PPLE College. The decision becomes final once it is certain that the applicant is admitted to PPLE.

Please note, you must have already applied for admission to PPLE when applying for a Bright Minds Fund scholarship for September 2023. More on applying to PPLE.

Application Dates for Bright Minds Fund scholarships spring 2023

PPLE starting in BMF applications deadline Conditional decision Final decision

4 September 2023 21 April 2023 12 May 2023 6 July 2023
Application checklist
Are you all set? Before submitting your Bright Minds Fund application form, please check whether you have all the necessary information and digital documents ready:

You will need:

Your personal statement about your financial circumstances in digital format and ready to upload.

A document showing you are eligible for an additional grant (aanvullende beurs) from DUO in digital format and ready to upload. This information will be kept strictly confidential.

More information on these documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am a non-Dutch student, can I still apply for a BMF scholarship?

Yes, however only if you have completed your Dutch VWO diploma or will complete it the year you apply for the BMF grant. In this case you are eligible to apply, too. In the future, we aim to include international applicants, however, in the BMFs 1st year scholarships remain reserved for Dutch applicants.
Does a BMF scholarship cover my living expenses?

No. As a recipient of a BMF scholarship, you will receive around €4500 annually. The total grant is enough to cover your yearly PPLE College tuition fee.
I am not sure I want to study PPLE. Can I still apply for a BMF scholarship?

You can only apply for a BMF scholarship if you have applied for admission to PPLE prior. The scholarship is there to support PPLE students. Those selected to become scholarship recipients will only receive their grants if and when they start their PPLE studies. Grant-receiving students who decide to drop their PPLE studies lose scholarship support.
What am I allowed to use a BMF scholarship for?

The yearly amount will match the annual PPLE tuition fee and the scholarship is meant to be used to cover the recipient's yearly tuition fee.
What if I have a question related to my application?

Do not hesitate to contact us at brightmindsfund-pple@uva.nl or give us a call at +31 (0)20 525 2329. You can reach us over the phone on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11.00 to 13.00 (CET).

Ready to apply for a BMF scholarship?

Yes, apply now No, I want to apply to PPLE first