Civil Society Leadership Awards

The Civil Society Leadership Awards are intended for students who excel both academically and professionally and who possess the potential to become civil society leaders in their own country. A condition is that candidates are dedicated and want to realise positive social change in their community.

Open Society Foundations

UM International Services Desk

scholarships[at]maastrichtuniversity[dot]nl

The Civil Society Leadership Awards (CSLA) provides fully funded scholarships for master’s degree study to individuals who clearly demonstrate academic and professional excellence and a deep commitment to leading positive social change in their communities. Maastricht University offers five awards for eligible students in one of the following programmes:

Please note; for academic year 2021-2022 the scholarship programme is redesigned and developed, therefore the application procedure might change along the way. You can find detailed information about this scholarship on the CSLA website

Who is eligible?

Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrate maturity, flexibility and civil society leadership potential;
  • Have earned a bachelor's degree as of May, 2020 with an excellent academic record;
  • Demonstrate professional experience related to your chosen field of study;
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction (English) at a level required for admission by Maastricht University;
  • Be able to participate in an intensive pre-academic summer school in July or August 2021 and start their degree program in September 2021;
  • Be able to receive and maintain a visa or study permit as required by The Netherlands; and
  • Demonstrate a clear commitment to their home country or region in supporting open society development.
Eligible countries:      
Afghanistan Egypt Libya Syria
Azerbaijan Equatorial Guinea Myanmar/Burma Tajikistan
Belarus Eritrea Republic of Congo Turkmenistan
Cambodia Ethiopia South Sudan Uzbekistan
Democratic Republic of Congo Laos Sudan  

Application deadline

The deadline will be announced.

Duration of the Civil Society Leadership Awards

  • 12 months for a one-year Master's programme

Amount of the Civil Society Leadership Awards

CSLA is a fully funded scholarship for a master’s level study. Successful applicants will receive the following support:

  • Pre-academic preparation via summer schools
  • Tuition and mandatory university fees
  • Monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses
  • Programme-related travel
  • Accident and sickness insurance during the programme
  • Funds for educational materials and professional development
  • Attendance at a regional Scholarship Programs conference
  • Accommodations during the application process and the duration of the grant for applicants with disabilities

The scholarship does not provide funding for dependent family members.

Application procedure

More information can be found on the CSLA website  

Selection procedure

Criteria for selection will include academic merit and potential for contributing to the development of civil society in the countries listed. Those candidates shortlisted for admission may be interviewed online or in person by a selection committee, and may be asked to provide additional essays regarding their career goals. The entire selection procedure and timeline can be found on the CSLA website.  

Step 1 Follow the application
steps on the website
of CSLA  
Step 2 Register for UCM
in Studielink.nl  

UM International Services Desk

Visiting address

Postal address

Maastricht University
Student Services Centre
UM International Services Desk
PO Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands