If we believe that universities have produced the most refined modern men, then we also understand that a university can shape a Nation’s international projection. This is exactly the role of the Universiteit Twente (Dutch) or University of Twente (English).
In the 21st century, countries have come to terms that soft power, not hard power projection is the future, for the Netherlands, a country renowned for its advancement, peace, and prosperity, pursuing international influence through peaceful and acceptable means remains a goal.
This approach to international influence is one shared by not just the Netherlands government but also institutions within the country. The 2024 fully funded KIPAJI Scholarships in the Netherlands is a commitment towards global stability and soft power projection for the relatively medium-sized European country.
Championed by the Universiteit Twente, international students from developing economies pursuing graduate studies in the University may have additional supply. This applies to beneficiaries of the University’s scholarships.
KIPAJI Scholarships Explained
The KIPAJI Scholarship is an additional package for beneficiaries of the Universiteit Twente scholarship (UTS). The scholarship targets individuals from developing economies.
To benefit, you must be a graduate student of the Universiteit Twente and a beneficiary of the institution’s other support or scholarships for international students. In this case, the scholarship serves as an extra support.
Inspiration for the KIPAJI Scholarships by the Universiteit Twente
When students benefit from the university’s scholarships, they still have other needs. Remember, the scholarships target individuals from developing countries. This is in line with the institution acknowledging that such students will have more difficulties continuing their studies if extra supply is not assured.
Since students from developed economies in Europe and other places benefit from home or strong economic advantage, equity not equality becomes the basis of the extra funding for students from developing nations. This will lessen their burden and strengthen their focus.
Scholarship Institution and Fund Source
A foremost public technical university in Enschede, Netherlands, and ranking at 170 of the most reputable institutions in the world, the University of Twente is an institution that has been advancing not just the Netherlands’ educational space but impacting the world in its unique way. Back at home, the university tops several performance rankings by credible university-ranking institutions in the Netherlands.
While the institution has several other advantages for its local and foreign students, the KIPAJI Scholarship is unique as it aims to improve the university experience for international students from low-income or developing economies. Such low-income countries are identified through the institution’s special country list (DAC countries). Individuals from these countries who must have benefited from the UTS (University of Twente Scholarship) are also eligible for the KIPAJI Scholarship.
The scholarship was founded by some alumni of the institution. Currently, funding for the scholarship comes from the institution’s alumni, staff, and other entities related to the school.
Nature of scholarship
The KIPAJI Scholarship is not a regular scholarship but an extra funding for beneficiaries of the UTS (University of Twente Scholarships). Generally, scholarships are designed to offer tuition and other relief for students. In the case of the UTS, it is a support package for students from developing countries. There’s a need to ensure that even more growth-hampering expenditures are taken care of.
To ensure that individuals from developing economies have access to quality life necessary for academic success, the KIPAJI Scholarship was designed to provide extra funding to graduate students from the DAC list countries.
Being not a regular scholarship, the reward fund is paid to the beneficiary’s account instead of the student account. This implies that the beneficiary can use the fund to attend to personal needs rather than tuition, at the same time it means that the fund won’t apply to your tuition or other student needs.
Perhaps the beneficiary has an outstanding school-related bill, they may decide to attend to it from the fund; this is however an independent decision by the beneficiary. Among other things, the scholarship makes it possible for successful students to afford education and living in the Netherlands.
Since KIPAJI Scholarship is only available to individuals who must have benefited from the University of Twente Scholarship, let’s take a brief look at the UTS.
University of Twente Scholarship
It can be said that the University of Twente scholarship is the parent scholarship of the KIPAJI Scholarship. This is because both scholarships focus on international students from developing economies of the DAC list. Also, success in the University of Twente Scholarship is an aspect of eligibility for the KIPAJI scholarship.
Given these realities, one may understand that apart from the unique requirements for the KIPAJI Scholarship, knowing the requirements for the UTS is the first step to succeeding with your KIPAJI Scholarship pursuit as without the UTS, you won’t be considered for KIPAJI.
Understanding the UTS: The UTS is a program of the University of Twente that supports exceptionally talented students from low-income economies with scholarships covering tuition relief and other students’ needs.
Apart from being a citizen of a DAC list country, consideration for the UTS focuses on other criteria. The KIPAJI scholarship relies on success in the UTS. This implies that eligibility for the KIPAJI Scholarship = eligibility for the UTS + special KIPAJI eligibility criteria.
Exploring the DAC List
If you are not already a student of the Universiteit Twente, you may want to know beforehand if you would be eligible for the scholarship. The scholarships are for students from the DAC list countries. You can learn more about the DAC list and other eligible countries here.
Eligibility or Requirements
- Be a Graduate Student: Although the KIPAJI scholarship is targeted at foreigners, such foreigners must be a students of the University of Twente. The first step towards benefiting from the program is to earn an MSc study studentship.
- Be a beneficiary of the UTS: The KIPAJI scholarship is not a full-fledged scholarship but an extra fund for the beneficiary of the University of Twente Scholarship.
- Possess extraordinary talent or creativity: The primary objective of the scholarship is to impact and create a viable relationship between the Netherlands and the home country.
In most cases, extremely smart individuals reach high influence in the local community and their success may later be traced back to Universiteit Twente becoming a long-term great ambassador of the institution.
- Be of high academic excellence: Since academic excellence is a criterion for benefiting the UTS, it becomes a crucial aspect of the KIPAJI as well.
- Be a citizen of a country on the DAC list: Like the UTS, the KIPAJI Scholarship is for individuals from low-income economies.
- Must not have attained an undergraduate degree in the University of Twente
- Indicate the benefit of scholarship towards scientific and technical advancement of the home country.
- Be nominated and tender a potential positive impact letter: The KIPAJI Scholarship is based on faculty nomination. When nominated, a potential beneficiary is expected to tender a letter indicating the potential positive impact the scholarship may have on the home country’s scientific advancement and how such potential beneficiary hopes to achieve such an advancement goal leveraging on the scholarship.
Additional UTS Application Requirements
The KIPAJI scholarship is highly dependent on the UTS. We will examine the other application requirements or eligibility criteria of the UTS as it is the ticket to KIPAJI Scholarship; its requirements form the foundation of the KIPAJI scholarship consideration since it takes a nomination and not an application to qualify.
- Legitimate entry into the Netherlands by meeting applicable visa provisions: When appropriate, students must have satisfied visa provisions for entry and study in the country.
- Excellent performance in English Language: To benefit from the UTS scholarship, candidates must have high scores in language proficiency test models like IELTS and TOEFL.
- Be among the best performers: Consideration for the KIPAJI scholarship is based on high performance. Potential beneficiaries are expected to be students with outstanding performance. In most cases, the program targets individuals among the top 10 best performers in the class.
- Ensure that your study program qualifies for UTS: The University of Twente scholarships target selected study programs. Applicant must verify that the study program qualifies.
- In the case of a two-year program: Maintain academic excellence by maintaining a 70% (7 of 10) score by the first year’s third quarter.
- Satisfy credit provisions: To benefit, students are expected to maintain European credit up to 50% by the first academic year’s third quarter.
- You must obtain your student number: The student number is a unique means of identification in the school. It is crucial to your studentship and a primary requirement for applying for the UTS scholarship.
Benefits
- Financial Reward: Since the beneficiary of the scholarship must have benefited from the UTS, this makes the reward of the KIPAJI scholarship even more interesting. With a financial reward of up to €12,000, it is even more amazing that the beneficiary can choose how to spend this fund “wisely”.
- Future benefits for the home country: The primary objective is to secure an investment into the beneficiary’s home country. The Universiteit Twente understands that the best investment for future diplomatic relationships is investing in vibrant individuals from target countries. This promises future benefits for the Netherlands and benefits the student’s home country.
- Potential Recognition by both the Netherlands and the home country: Since individuals who qualify for the program are of extraordinary talent and intelligence, chances are that such individuals will eventually gain the attention of the home country’s governments or even be recognized by governments or other institutions in the Netherlands.
- Extra academic support: The funding itself is extra fund support. Apart from the fund, individuals benefiting from the scholarship also enjoy extra educational support.
- Improved quality of CV or Resume: Both the UTS and the KIPAJI scholarship are reputable programs. Individuals from developing economies studying at Universiteit Twente on scholarship will eventually get an astronomical boost to their CV or resume.
- Individual development: The life and study environment in Universiteit Twente has several reshaping impacts. When individuals are studying on a scholarship in the institution, it gives extra peace and mental focus necessary for individual development. In the case of successful candidates, when the UTS is combined with the extra scholarship fund (KIPAJI scholarship), beneficiaries may have in abundance the vital things for living and studying in the Netherlands.
- International exposure: The scholarship targets individuals from developing countries. Studying in the Netherlands would be a great opportunity to experience an advanced civilization.
How to Apply for the KIPAJI Scholarship
You may already know that the KIPAJI is not a distinct scholarship but an extra funding program for those who benefited from the UTS scholarship. In this case, we would discuss the application process for the UTS scholarship believing that once you succeed with UTS, you may get nominated by your faculty and possibly gain a KIPAJI scholarship.
UTS Application process
- The first step towards benefiting from the KIPAJI scholarship is to pursue an MSc program at the University of Twente. To start the process, you can find vital resources for your MSc studentship application here.
- Apply and Succeed with the UTS: If you are already a student of the University of Twente and have obtained your student number, you can click here to apply for the University of Twente scholarship.
- When you succeed with your UTS, What is next? You May have to wait for your faculty nomination for the KIPAJI scholarship.
Note: Application for the UTS is scheduled in two rounds: The first round runs from October 15, 2024 to February 1, 2025, while the second round runs from February 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025.
Conclusion
Studying in the Netherlands is a life goal for several students in developing countries. Doing that with not just a scholarship but extra funds could be a lifetime achievement. Since the KIPAJI scholarship is in addition to the UTS, both scholarships are intended to give benefits for both academic and life accomplishment.
Individuals who benefit from the scholarship achieve multiple dreams at once. Studying in and exploring the Netherlands, getting tuition coverage through the UTS and the KIPAJI fund for a responsible spending and living in the country. These are a collection of awesomeness worth every effort.