Graduate (MS/MA)

Graduate (MS/MA)

NL Scholarship Personal Motivation Letter

For the NL Scholarship (formerly the Holland Scholarship): craft a persuasive and well-considered case for your distinction as a student by illuminating your academic achievements and the meaningful impact of your extracurricular pursuits, within 500 words.

Scored areas

6 sections

Point range

0—5 pts

Essay length

300—500 words

Netherlands

Evaluation criteria

  1. 1

    Academic Excellence and Achievement

  2. 2

    Extracurricular Engagement and Impact

  3. 3

    Personal Distinctiveness and Self-Awareness

  4. 4

    Ambition and Future Vision

  5. 5

    Connection to the Netherlands and Chosen Programme

  6. 6

    Evidence Density, Specificity, and Credibility

Focus Themes

  1. 1

    Verified Merit

  2. 2

    Goal-Programme Fit

  3. 3

    Distinctive Identity

References

Use this rubric for your review

Submit your essay against NL Scholarship Personal Motivation Letter and get structured feedback across every evaluation criterion above.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about using the NL Scholarship Personal Motivation Letter rubric.

Both sections are scored separately (0–5 each), so balance them. Anchor every claim in named awards, GPA rankings, or measurable outcomes — not adjectives like 'dedicated' or 'passionate.'