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The Bright Minds Fund

The Bright Minds Fund

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.

On this page:

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:  

    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. 

    More information on these documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to apply for a BMF scholarship?

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