Belgium
6 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels offers 6 English Teaching Assistant Awards to Belgium per year. Assistants are expected to have about 12 contact hours per week with students, either lecturing in front of the classroom or tutoring small groups/individuals. Activities vary depending on the needs of the students and host institution teachers, and these 12 contact hours do not include prep time for work in front of the classroom. Assistants may be able to enroll in limited courses, including language courses, upon agreement with the host institution on arrival.
Grantees in this award are expected to receive €1,700/month to cover living expenses along with a one-time travel stipend currently set at €2,000 to cover the cost of round-trip flights to/from Belgium, the costs of applying for the single permit/visa and the residence permit process once in the country, and other miscellaneous requirements linked to the grant. These amounts are subject to change and are only confirmed once successful candidates have signed their Terms of Award with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The standard grant is for a duration of nine months. Grants will follow the academic calendar, beginning in mid-September and concluding in mid-June.
Orientation
Prior to departure from the U.S., the Fulbright Commission will organize a virtual pre-departure orientation for Fulbright grantees to Belgium and Luxembourg. Grantees will be required to attend an in-country orientation with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels upon arrival in September. For Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, the orientation includes an ETA Training Day focused on teaching skills, the Belgian educational system and cultural differences that are important to keep in mind before entering the classroom.
Candidate Profile
Candidates to the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program should be well-rounded, articulate individuals with the skills and motivation needed to assist in teaching American studies and English language to Belgian students at the pre-university and/or university level. Students with an academic background or professional experience in a related field (e.g., literature, linguistics) should make sure to state this in their applications. Applications from candidates holding Bachelor's or Master's degrees in any field will be accepted, but preference may be given to students with prior teaching experience.
English Teaching Assistants are expected to serve as cultural ambassadors to Belgium, and preference is given to candidates who demonstrate the initiative to integrate cultural events into their lesson plans and who will continue to promote U.S.-Belgian relations upon their return to the United States.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Belgium is a small country with three national languages and an intricate political system with 1 federal government and 5 regional governments, creating a dynamic country where language is always on the mind and cities and regions have distinct personalities. Fulbright grantees are often located across the country in the main cities that are interconnected well by public transport, allowing for easy commutes to explore nature or other Belgian sites and meet grantees on their own time to explore new areas. Beyond that, the Fulbright Commission in Brussels organizes many events throughout the year, including after work drinks with alumni, guided tours of museums or city centers around the country, and many more. Despite its small size, Belgium has much to offer in terms of nature, historical sites, food, cultural activities and countless festivals throughout the year to soak up and learn what it's like to be Belgian.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Foreign language proficiency is not required, but preference may be given to applicants with some level of proficiency in one of Belgium's three official languages (French, Dutch, and German). There is no guarantee that grantees with prior academic study of French will be placed in a Francophone institution or that grantees with prior academic study of Dutch will be placed in a Dutch-speaking institution. Upon selection, some study of the local language prior to arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the host community.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Vocational/Technical School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Host institutions in Belgium include secondary schools and community institutions (located primarily in bilingual Brussels) and universities and university colleges (located throughout Belgium). The Fulbright Commission will place selected grantees in a host institution based on the candidate's academic profile and stated interests as well as the preferences of the partner institution.
Placement types may vary from year to year, based on partnerships with local host institutions. Candidates are encouraged to visit the website of the Fulbright Commission to learn more about the program and to read blog posts from previous Fulbright grantees.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Teaching assistant placements may vary from year to year, based on partnerships with local host institutions. Past participants have been based in the capital city of Brussels as well as in other regional cities in Flanders and Wallonia. Destinations for Fulbright ETAs in recent years include the cities of Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Geel, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk, Louvain-la-Neuve, Mechelen, and Namur.
There is no guarantee that grantees with prior academic study of French will be placed in a Francophone institution or that grantees with prior academic study of Dutch will be placed in a Dutch-speaking institution.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Grantees in this award are expected to receive €1,700/month to cover living expenses while in the country. These amounts are subject to change and are only confirmed once successful candidates have signed their Terms of Award with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Settling in allowance
Grantees in this award are expected to receive a one-time travel stipend currently set at €2,000 to cover the cost of round-trip flights to/from Belgium, the costs of applying for the single permit/visa and the residence permit process once in the country, and other miscellaneous requirements linked to the grant. These amounts are subject to change and are only confirmed once successful candidates have signed their Terms of Award with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
The Fulbright mid-year meeting usually takes place in Brussels in late January and includes a grantee symposium to present your work (optional), a meeting with the Fulbright Commission and some sort of cultural engagement activity (e.g. a museum visit, a chocolate workshop, etc.)
Supplementary Project
In addition to their work inside the classroom, grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. These may include an extracurricular club for students or an independent study/research project or other activity that will complement, but not conflict with, assigned teaching and advising responsibilities. Applicants should include a brief description of their supplementary projects in their statements of grant purpose.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Excluding rent, the cost of living in Belgium is on par with or slightly lower than most areas of the United States. Rent is on average much lower in Belgium. You can find a list of average prices here, including the option to compare cost of living to where you are currently located. Compared to most of the United States, these are some major differences:
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Healthcare is usually quite affordable: an appointment with a general practitioner would normally cost around €25 ($27).
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Public transportation is available across the country with frequent and affordable travel available between cities by train and within cities via metro, trams or bus. A single ticket on public transportation lines ranges from about €1.6-€3.0 ($1.7-$3.1), and a trip on a train from Brussels to most Belgian cities costs less than €15 ($16), or much less for those with a train pass (10 tickets that can be used between any Belgian stations) or people younger than 26.
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Rent in Belgium is much lower than in most parts of the United States. A one-bedroom apartment can be rented in most parts of Belgium for around €850.
Dependents
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels may be able to offer financial support to grantees bringing dependents, but this is subject to budget availability and the type of visa the grantee will need to apply for to come to Belgium. Our Commission also provides information for how to bring dependents on the grant. Any dependents wishing to come to Belgium for more than 90 days in any 180-day period will be required to apply for a visa as well; this is typically done at the same time as the visa application for the grantee, but in some cases may only be done after the grantee has arrived in Belgium and received their residence card, which can take a few months.
Please keep in mind that childcare is difficult to come by in Belgium, so bringing young children can pose additional challenges. Enrollment in primary or secondary schools is possible in most cases for grantees staying in Belgium for longer than 90 days. More resources can be provided on a case by case basis.
Housing Arrangements
Fulbright grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing in Belgium. Most Fulbright grantees choose to live in affordable shared accommodation with graduate students or young professionals. The Fulbright Commission will provide grantees with advice and a list of resources prior to arrival; additional support in finding housing may be provided by the grantee's host institution. More resources will be provided to successful candidates at their pre-departure orientation typically held in April/May before their arrival.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Fulbright Grantee Blog Posts: https://www.fulbright.be/stories/