Orange Knowledge Programme

(Suivez ce lien pour information en francais sur OKP)

Update 27 January 2023:
One possibility for obtaining a scholarship to study at KIT is through the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP). This 5-year programme aims to advance the capacity, knowledge and quality of both individuals and institutions of higher and vocational education. The programme is extended until end 2024.

Please find below detailed information on the Orange Knowledge Programme, eligible countries, deadlines, eligibility a.o.

When the OKP application period opens KIT Royal Tropical Institute will send the link to all accepted applicants. In case you are planning to apply for the OKP scholarship we advise you to apply as as soon as possible for academic admission (with a complete file!) so you can apply for the OKP scholarship as soon as the application period opens. Time is short, and lots of documents need to be filled in and uploaded, so please make sure you follow all guidance and instructions your will receive and make sure your application is complete before submitting it.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is an OKP Scholarship?

    One possibility for obtaining a scholarship to study at KIT is through the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP). This 5-year programme aims to advance the capacity, knowledge and quality of both individuals and institutions of higher and vocational education.

    To maximize their impact on capacity building, OKP-funded training must be linked to the institutional development of organizations. A wide range of governmental, private and non-governmental organizations are eligible. Examples include educational institutions, planning agencies, ministries, community-based organizations and private enterprises. The scholarships are available to applicants from 37 countries (read further for list as the list of eligible countries has changed recently)

  • For which of KIT Master’s programmes and short courses can I apply for an OKP scholarship?

    Masters programmes

    Round 1: OKP Application for Masters Programmes deadline February-March
    OKP scholarships are available for the following master programmes:

    Application period is usually in Winter: February-March. Check the course webppages for exact application deadlines. Make sure your academic admission is arranged before the application period opens.

    OKP scholarships are not yet available for the Master of International Health (MIH)


    Short courses

    OKP fellowships are available for the following short courses at KIT:
    The following application periods probably apply. Check the link to each course for most up to date application deadlines.

    Round 1: OKP Application deadline February-March
    for courses in Summer

    Round 2: OKP Application deadline May- June
    For courses in Winter of next year

    Round 3: OKP Application deadline September-October
    For courses in Spring of next year

  • Am I eligible for an OKP scholarship?

    Applicants for the OKP scholarship for a KIT master’s programme or short course must meet the following criteria:

    • Have been admitted to the course of your choice. This means that you meet all the requirements set out by KIT Royal Tropical Institute  / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA)
    • Be nationals of and working and living in a country on the OKP Country list (please note that this list has changed recently. We strongly encourage candidates from those countries to apply.
    • Accept the OKP rules and regulations
    • Upload in DELTA all mandatory documents (see question below ‘how do I apply for an OKP scholarship’ for list of documents)
    • Not to be employed by a multinational corporation, UN organisation, IMF, a bilateral or multilateral donor organisation or a large national and/or commercial organisation
    • Be employed in an area to which the study will make a relevant contribution

    If you apply for an OKP short courses scholarship, you must:

    • Not have accepted more than one OKP short course scholarship in the past
    • Not have accepted an OKP short course scholarship in the year prior to the scholarship application
    • If you apply for an OKP master’s degree programme scholarship, you must not have accepted an OKP master’s degree programme scholarship in the past
    • Please note that only 1 OKP application in DELTA should be made per application round
    • Have a valid passport which is valid at the moment of application for the OKP scholarship until at least 3 months after the course has started (or preferably longer)

    For all rules and regulations follow this link.

  • OKP Deadlines for Masters

    The Orange Knowledge Programme is extended until end 2024.

    OKP Application period: 8 February -31 March 2023
    Please note that you need academic admission from KIT to apply for this scholarship. If interested we advise you to apply for academic admission as soon as possible, but at the latest by 28 February 2023.

    Apply now to your Master programme of choice:
    MPH Track in Health Systems Policy and Management
    MPH Track in Sexual Health and Reproductive Health

  • OKP Deadlines Short courses

    For short courses at KIT in academic year 2022-2023 the OKP application periods are listed below.
    Make sure you apply well in advance for academic admission:

    The Orange Knowledge Programme is extended until end 2024.
    For the courses listed below the application period is normally February, March. If interested we advise you to go ahead with the academic admission as soon as possible to be ready when the application period opens.

    Round 1 2023 – For courses taking place in Summer 2023
    OKP Application period 8 February – 31 March 2023. Regulations and eligible might still change. Keep an eye on Nuffic website. We will also update here as soon as we know.

    Round 2 2023 – For courses taking place in Winter 2024
    OKP Application period May – June. Exact dates to be announced later. Regulations might change.

    Round 3 2023 – For courses taking place in Spring 2024
    OKP Application period August – October

    Follow the link to each course to see which OKP deadline is applicable.

  • Changes OKP-eligible countries and country focus

    Update 27 January 2023

    OKP eligible countries

    Please note that the list of participating countries on Nuffic website is subject to change and is yet to be updated. In previous rounds, you were eligible for an OKP scholarship if you are a national of and working in:
    Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Colombia, Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen and Zambia.

    If you are from one of these countries we encourage  you to apply for academic admission to KIT Royal Tropical Institute as soon as possible. And hopefully these countries will not change…

    Latest known list OKP Country List with country focus

    OKP country focus

    Nuffic has established a OKP country focus in cooperation with the Netherlands Embassies in OKP eligible countries. Quite a number of OKP countries do not have health or SRHR as a priority. Read the suggestions below carefully:

    • Read carefully the country priorities that were published by Nuffic. When filling in your employer statement make sure that it links as much as possible to the priorities set by the embassy in your country. This will give you a higher chance of winning the scholarship.
    • You could ask your employer to not only tick the box on ‘SRHR’ of ‘Health’ but also of other relevant boxes that link to the country priorities.
    • Also in your own motivation letter try to link to the country priorities.
    • If your country has no focus on Health at all as described in the country focus document, please go ahead and do submit your OKP application. In your motivation you can try to link to the country priorities… Be creative! After all so many themes have direct or indirect relations to health and health care. During the last OKP registration periods, quite some OKP scholarships to study at KIT were allocated to applicants from countries with no official health focus. So we encourage you to try.
    • Unfortunately Afghanistan is not longer on the list of OKP eligible countries.

  • How do I gain academic admission to a master’s programme?

    The academic application has to be received by KIT at the latest 1 month before the OKP application deadline.

    OKP application periods are planned for:
    February – March 2023
    May – June
    August – October

    You are advised to start the course application procedure as early as possible.

    KIT assesses the application and decides whether or not the applicant’s educational background and other experience meet programme requirements:

    • KIT will inform applicants of its decision within 1 month of receiving the application.
    • Successful candidates receive a letter indicating that they have been conditionally admitted providing they have suitable funding.
    • Candidates are eligible for a OKP scholarship only if they have been admitted to the the course and comply with all the scholarship criteria.
    • A link to DELTA where you can apply for OKP will be send to you on the day the application period for OKP opens.
  • How do I apply for an OKP scholarship?

    The application process is described below.

    Start the application process early!

    OKP uses a two-step application procedure:

    • Applicants must first request academic admission directly from KIT (via the KIT online application system, follow the link in each specific course page). If you are accepted you will receive a Conditional Letter of Admission from KIT.
    • Applicants who have applied for a course for which OKP scholarships are available and have been accepted, will receive an e-mail from KIT with the correct link to DELTA, the application system for OKP.
    • IMPORTANT: Applicants who have been accepted for an OKP eligible course will receive the correct link to apply in DELTA on the day the registration period opens. Applicants will receive this link on the day the OKP application period opens. If you have not received the link, please check your spam folder. And send a mail to courses@kit.nl to obtain the correct link.)
    • Applicants have to apply separately for the OKP scholarship via: DELTA (the OKP online application system). Make sure you follow all instructions in DELTA and upload all required documents. Your scholarship application can only be processed if it is complete. This is the applicants responsibility!
    • The registration period for OKP opens approx. 6 weeks before the application deadline. Check the application deadline for each course in the course description. So make sure you apply first for academic acceptance well in advance of this deadline! The earlier to better.
    • Keep an eye on our website for updates on deadlines and other matters.

    Important documents for DELTA registration

    More information and documents can be found on Nuffic website

    More general information about the Orange Knowledge Programme on Nuffic website

  • OKP and DELTA
    • Applicants have to apply separately for the OKP scholarship via: DELTA (the OKP online application system).
    • Applicants who have applied for a course for which OKP scholarships are available and have been accepted will receive an e-mail from KIT with the correct link to DELTA on the day the OKP application period opens. In case you have not received the link, please check your spam filter. If this does not help then mail the course admin office.
    • The registration period of OKP opens approx. 6 weeks before the application deadline. Make sure you apply well in advance for academic admission first so you can apply immediately for the scholarship once the application period opens. Check the application deadline for each course in the course description.
  • When will I be informed of the outcome of OKP selection

    If you have applied for OKP via DELTA, you will be informed of the outcome of the OKP selection by KIT.
    Since the rules and regulations are still subject to change, we do not yet know exactly when results will be announced.

    • For the March OKP deadline the outcome will be communicated in June, around week 23 or 24.
    • For the June OKP deadline the outcome will be communicated by e-mail in September, around week 37.
    • For the October OKP deadline the outcome selection will be communicated end of December, around week 51.

  • How is an OKP scholarship awarded?

    OKP scholarships, which are granted for the duration of a short course or master’s programme, cover tuition fees plus the costs of international travel, subsistence, books and health insurance.

    • Nuffic decides how many scholarships will be available and awards a grant to KIT to cover the fellowship holders’ costs.
    • KIT pays each fellowship holder a monthly allowance for the duration of the master’s programme.

    For more information on the OKP programme and country specific information see earlier questions on this page.