The Orange Knowledge Program (OKP) 2023-2024 aims to advance the development of the capacity, knowledge, and quality of both individuals and organizations in developing countries. The OKP scholarships are open in the field of higher and vocational education and in other fields related to the priority themes in the program countries.

The Orange Knowledge Program individual scholarships are open to mid-career professionals, who are nationals of selected countries. Short courses usually last from 2 weeks to 12 months while Master’s programs last from 12 to 24 months. Candidates will be able to research and study in various fields of study at partner institutions in the Netherlands.

Program Details

• Host Institutions: Universities on this list (with Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)) in Netherlands.
• Eligible Fields: All courses listed in the Studyfinder using the filter ‘Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)’.
• Number of Awards: Not specified.
• Duration: short courses (2 weeks to 12 months) and master’s programs (12 to 24 months).
• Eligible countries: Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Colombia, Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen.

Orange Knowledge Program Benefits

An OKP scholarship is intended to supplement the salary that you should continue to receive during the scholarship period. The scholarship is a contribution towards your costs of living and costs such as tuition fees, visa, travel, insurance, etc. You have to cover any difference between the OKP scholarship amount and the actual costs yourself.

Orange Knowledge Program Eligibility

To apply for the scholarship, an applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

• Work for one of the following types of national and/or local organizations: ministries, secondary or higher vocational or academic education institutions, universities, the private sector, commissions, or NGOs.
  • a bilateral or multilateral organisation;
  • a non-governmental organization that is internationally active and is focused on representing social interests, such as development cooperation, nature, and environmental protection, health or human rights.
• The course/program for which the applicant is applying is offered in English, French or Spanish.
• be a professional who, in light of his/her (1) role, (2) multiple years of relevant work experience, and (3) networks within a theme relevant to local development, is in a position or through his/her employer could be put in a position to apply what he/she has learned in practice.
• hold the nationality of and be resident and working in one of the eligible countries (Checklist above)
• has been admitted to the course or program for which he/she wishes an OKP scholarship.
• Demonstrates that the requested co-funding percentage is available to fund the study.
• The employer of the applicant supports the scholarship application through a positive reference and declares that it will continue to pay the salary of the Scholarship recipient during the program and after his/her return will give the scholarship recipient an opportunity to apply what he/she has learned in practice.
• The scholarship application is relevant to sustainable development in the country or region where the requesting party is located and is relevant to the theme concerned. (Country focus on studyinholland.nl/okp For the Country Plan of Implementation check Here)
• The course/program for which the applicant is applying for a scholarship is registered at www.studyfinder.nl (OKP-qualified ‘yes’).
• The course/program for which the applicant is applying for a scholarship is full-time unless it is an e-learning course;
• The course/program for which the applicant wishes the OKP Scholarship is a Master’s degree program or short course that meets the requirements set out above;
• The scholarship applicant has provided a government statement with the scholarship application if this is required by the local government (see the document ‘government statement requirement’ on the official webpage ).

Similar opportunities

1. Islamic Development Bank Scholarship for all Levels;
2. World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program;
3. Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarships in Germany.

How to Apply for the Orange Knowledge Program

To apply for this government scholarship, applicants must follow steps below:

1. First find a course or master’s program that is eligible for the scholarship. You can find the eligible courses in our study program database www.studyfinder.nl, specifying in the search criteria to ‘OKP qualified: Yes’.
2. Contact the Dutch higher education institution that is offering the course for information on the:
   1. course content;
   2. scholarship application deadline (deadlines can differ per Dutch institution);
   3. scholarship application and selection procedures;
   4. online application form and the required application documents.
3. Prepare your application and the supporting documents.
4. Submit your online application via the Dutch institution offering the course.

For any questions on the application or selection procedure please contact the Dutch institution directly.

Please note that there are focus areas for each country. Qualified applications within these themes will be prioritized , but applications in other fields are still welcome.

Deadlines

• Round 1: submit applications between 8 February – 30 March 16.00 CET for courses starting between 24 July 2023 and 31 January 2024.
• Round 2: submit applications between 28 June – 5 September 16.00 CET for courses starting after 1 February 2024.

The last application round’s deadline is September 5, 2023. For more details on the Orange Knowledge Program please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.