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Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) Scholarships

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OKP – Orange Knowledge Programme Scholarships

  • On July 1, 2017, the Netherlands Fellowship Program entered a new phase under the name Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP).
  • This fellowship program is initiated and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and managed by NUFFIC (the Dutch institution for Internationalization in Education).

Scholarship Overview

  • OKP aims to advance the development of knowledge, capacity, and quality of both individuals and institutions in both vocational and higher education.
  • OKP also focuses on fields related to priority areas of benefit to OKP partner countries.
  • Scholarships are available for short courses (2 weeks to 12 months) and Master’s programs (12-24 months).
  • Scholarships for this 5-year program are awarded after a competitive selection process. Highly motivated professionals who are in a position to introduce the newly acquired skills and knowledge in their organizations stand a higher chance of being selected.

Host School(s)

  • Dutch higher education institutions

Fields of Study

  • Eligible courses are found in the study programs database for Dutch higher education institutions. You will need to specify the search criteria as follows: ‘NFP qualified – YES.’

What does the scholarship cover?

  • The OKP Fellowship is intended to supplement the salary that your employer continues to give you while you are on study leave in the Netherlands.
  • The fellowship entitles you to:
    • Tuition costs for the course for which the fellowship is offered
    • Flights
    • Housing (provided by the educational institution)
    • Health insurance
    • Visas and residence permits
    • Subsistence allowance

How many scholarships are given?

  • Not stated

Which countries are targeted?

  • Professionals who live and work in the countries listed below can apply for this scholarship.
    • Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso
    • Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo (DRC), Cuba               
    • Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia         
    • Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar           
    • Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan
    • Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal
    • Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka
    • Sudan, Surinam, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda           
    • Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this fellowship, you must:-

  • Be a national of, working in, and be a professional in one of the countries on the OKP country list at the time of application
  • Have received admission to the course/program for which you desire an OKP scholarships
  • Have a current employer’s statement that complies with the format that NUFFIC provides. All the relevant information must be provided, and all commitments that are included in the format must be endorsed in the statement.
  • Not be employed by an organization that can fund internal staff development programs, e.g., a multilateral donor organization, a multinational corporation, a bilateral donor organization, an international NGO, or a large national or commercial organization.
  • Have a government statement meeting all the requirements of the country in which the employer is established (if applicable).
  • Have an official passport valid for three months after the submission date of the registration form by the applicant.
  • Be able to demonstrate that the co-funding percentage requested is available to fund the study program

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

  • Note that before you apply, you must review the eligibility criteria carefully, and confirm that your employer is ready to nominate you for the fellowship.
  • If you intend to apply for an OKP scholarship for a short course, you must find a course that is supported by the scholarship program. To confirm which courses are eligible, check the study programs database on the NUFFIC website, and specify the search criteria (NFP qualified – Yes).
  • Next, contact the Dutch higher education institution that is offering the course for information on:
  • Course content
  • The application deadline (this is dependent on the institution of higher learning)
  • The application and selection procedure
  • The online application form
  • The supporting documents
  • Prepare your application and the supporting documents
  • Submit your online application via the higher education institution offering the course
  • For enquiries concerning the application and selection procedures, please contact the Dutch institution directly.

Selection Criteria

  • If your application meets the course admission requirements and satisfies the OKP eligibility criteria, you can be nominated by the Dutch higher education institution for a scholarship.
  • Once you receive a nomination, the steps are as follows:
    • The Dutch institution submits a grant request to NUFFIC requesting funding for the available applications
    • The Netherlands Embassy checks the applications for eligibility and then assesses them based on the eligibility criteria and the Embassy country focus areas.
    • Only eligible applications are taken for further consideration
    • Selection is determined by the available deadline budget, the number of applicants and the quality and sustainability of the applications.
    • Candidates who have been nominated will receive a notification stating the outcome of the selection from the Dutch institution.

Closing Date

  • Applications for the 3rd round open on 5 Sept 2019.
  • The actual closing date differs as per institution. For more information on deadlines, contact the institution directly.

How do I get more information?

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