The Bright Minds Fund
Need- and merit-based BMF scholarships
The Bright Minds Fund, established in 2022, aims to assist prospective PPLE College students who possess the potential and drive but face financial barriers to enrollment. Through the BMF, Dutch PPLE students can benefit from need- and merit-based scholarships. This entails that instead of the standard PPLE tuition fees (€5,060 for the academic year 2024/2025), scholarship recipients will only be liable for the statutory tuition fees (€2,530 for the academic year 2024/2025).
BMF scholarships are awarded based on two main criteria: significant financial need, demonstrated by the requirement for assistance with tuition fees, and merit, as indicated by meeting the PPLE entry requirements.
You are eligible to apply for a BMF scholarship if you:
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are Dutch, or have completed or will complete the Dutch VWO diploma the year of your application
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are able to prove your financial need for a scholarship
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have applied to PPLE College (find more information about applying to PPLE)
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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?
Under the Bright Minds Fund scholarship, recipients benefit from a fee waiver. In contrast to the standard PPLE tuition fees (€5,060 for the academic year 2024/2025), scholarship awardees are eligible for reduced fees set at the statutory tuition fees (€2,530 for the academic year 2024/2025).
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.
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 from 15.00 to 17.00 (CET).
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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 2024. More on applying to PPLE.
Application Dates for Bright Minds Fund scholarships spring 2023
PPLE starting BMF applications deadline Conditional decision Final decision 2 September 2024
26 April 2024 mid May 2024 mid July 2024 -
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:
1. Your personal statement about your financial circumstances in digital format and ready to upload.
2. 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.
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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, currently scholarships remain reserved for Dutch applicants.
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Does a BMF scholarship cover my living expenses?
No. The scholarship involves a fee waiver, which means that instead of the usual PPLE tuition rate, recipients pay the statutory tuition fees.
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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.
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What am I allowed to use a BMF scholarship for?
The purpose of the BMF scholarship is to assist recipients in covering their yearly tuition fee at PPLE College. Scholarship holders' fees are reduced to align with the statutory tuition fees (€2,530 for the academic year 2024/2025) rather than the usual PPLE tuition fees (€5,060 for the academic year 2024/2025).
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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 from 15:00 to 17.00 (CET).