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The Libertas Support Fund programme aims to help students who find it impossible or extremely difficult to study in their home country because of the political situation there.

The programme opened to students from Belarus. The Libertas Support Fund provides financial help to students who want to follow a bachelor’s or master’s programme in the Netherlands. Study can include research and/or practical training.

The Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science has made one million euros available. There is no fixed number of available scholarships, but the actual number is determined by the total cost of the variable components of the scholarships.

Requirements for eligibility

If you want to take part in the Libertas Support Fund programme, you must meet the following requirements.

• You must come from a country where it is impossible or extremely difficult for you to study because of your political convictions
• You may only study or conduct research at an institution that has signed the Code of Conduct for international study in the Netherlands.
• The Dutch programme must be on the CROHO list (CROHO is the official central register of higher education programmes in the Netherlands).
• Your study in the Netherlands must be used primarily to earn a degree at the Dutch institution.
• At the start of the academic year (1 September) in which you study in the Netherlands, you must be no older than 35 years of age.

Application procedure

• First of all, you have to apply for academic admission to a study programme.
• When you apply for admission to a study programme in the Netherlands, you should indicate that you wish to apply for a Libertas Support Fund scholarship.
• If the Dutch institution agrees with your candidacy for a Libertas scholarship, the host institution will send you a letter confirming your admission (which can be conditional or unconditional) to the study programme.

The letter must include the following information:

• the name of the study programme or department (programme name and code as registered in CROHO)
• name and position of the academic supervisor
• a statement that you are welcome to attend the study programme or department the amount of the tuition fees

You can submit an application to Nuffic as soon as you have received the admission letter from your host institution. Your application dossier must include the following documents:

• A printed Libertas Support Fund application form, completed in full and signed.
• A letter from the host institution in the Netherlands granting admission (conditional or unconditional).
• Recent copies of relevant academic records, diplomas, certificates or transcripts from the higher education programme in your home country.
• Details of your intended programme of study in the Netherlands.
• A copy of your passport
• A statement (use one side of an A4 sheet) in which you describe in your own words:
  • your studies at a higher education institution in your own country •
  • how it was made practically impossible or extremely difficult for you to follow the programme or continue your studies because of your political convictions.

If you were a Libertas Support Fund scholarship in the 2008-2009 academic year and you wish to continue your studies in the Netherlands in 2009-2010, you need to submit a follow-up application for the new academic year.

Libertas Support Fund Programme