Orange Knowledge Programme

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

Important Note:

Update countries: The OKP regulations and list of countries for this upcoming deadline have changed. See the new list of countries (eligible OKP countries). If you are from one of the OKP eligible countries we encourage you to apply!

Update country focus: Nuffic has updated the OKP country focus list and more countries have included health/SRH now as a priority. Read more info and suggestions below: OKP country focus.

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), former Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP). 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.
For which of KIT Master’s programmes and short courses can I apply for an OKP scholarship?
OKP scholarships are available for the following master programmes:
- Master in Public Health/ International Course in Health Development – Track in Health Systems Policy and Management
- Master in Public Health – Track in Sexual and Reproductive Health
Application period is usually in Winter: February-March. Check the course webppages for exact application deadlines.

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

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.

OKP Application deadline February-March
- Analysing Disrupted Health Systems in countries in crisis
- Monitoring and Evaluation in a dynamic health environment
OKP Application deadline June-July
- Qualitative Methods in Health Systems Research
OKP Application deadline September-October
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. OKP Country List . We strongly encourage candidates from those countries to apply.
- Accept the OKP rules and regulations
- Upload in ATLAS 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/NFP short course scholarship in the past
- Not have accepted an OKP/NFP 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/NFP master’s degree programme scholarship in the past
- Please note that only 1 OKP application in ATLAS 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
For Masters programmes at KIT in academic year 2019-2020 the OKP registration deadline is expected in March 2019. (exact date to be announced)

It is strongly recommended to start your application for academic admission at KIT as early as possible to give. Deadline for your KIT application if you want to apply for OKP is February 2019. (exact date to be announced)

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 2018-2019 the OKP application periods are listed below.
The OKP application periods for academic year 2019-2020 are not yet announced but are expected around the same periods.
Make sure you apply well in advance for academic admission:
- 7 June – 23 July 2018 for course ‘Qualitative Methods in Health Systems Research (HSR)’. (CLOSED)
- 6 September – 22 October 2018 for most short courses in spring 2019. (make sure you apply at KIT well in advance. (CLOSED)
- Other dates to be announced (probably February/March 2019) for Master programmes 2019-2020 and short courses summer 2019
  - Monitoring and Evaluation in a dynamic health environment
  - Analysing Disrupted Health Systems in countries in crisis
Follow the link to each course to see which OKP deadline is applicable.
Changes OKP-eligible countries and country focus
The Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) regulations have changed.

OKP eligible countries

The countries eligible for an OKP scholarship have changed. There is a new list of 52 OKP countries which differs from the former NFP countrylist.
If you are from one of the 52 OKP countries we encourage you to apply for academic admission to KIT Royal Tropical Institute as soon as possible.

OKP Country List

OKP country focus

Nuffic has established a OKP country focus in cooperation with the Netherlands Embassies in OKP eligible countries. Quite a number of 52 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! During the last OKP registration period, quite some OKP scholarships to study at KIT were allocated to applicants from countries with no official health focus.
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 deadlines are planned for February/March 2019, July 2019, October 2019 (exact dates to be announced

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 ATLAS where you can apply for OKP will be send to you together with your acceptance letter for academic admission.
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 request academic admission directly from KIT (via the KIT online application system, follow the link in each specific course page).
- 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 ATLAS, the application system for OKP.
- Applicants have to apply separately for the OKP scholarship via: ATLAS (the OKP online application system).
- 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.
Important documents for ATLAS registration
- OKP Grant conditions april 2018 deadline
- OKP Short guide for application and selection process
- Obligations for OKP fellowship holders
- OKP format employers statement (Feb-2018) (only needed for some countries. Read OKP instructions candidates for detailed information)
- OKP Government Statement overview (update March 2018)
- Valid passport (read Nuffic instructions)
- OKP Statement of Government Authority
OKP and ATLAS
- Applicants have to apply separately for the OKP scholarship via: ATLAS (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 ATLAS. The registration period of OKP opens approx. 6 weeks before the application deadline. Make sure you apply well in advance for academic admission first. 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 ATLAS, 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.
How is an OKP scholarship awarded?
OKP scholarships, which are granted for the duration of the 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 Nuffic website