Belgium
3 Fulbright/University of Antwerp Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length6 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
In partnership with the University of Antwerp, the Fulbright Commission in Brussels offers three awards per year for students interested in graduate research. Applications are welcome in all academic disciplines.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The standard grant is for a duration of six months. We strongly recommend that grants start in mid-September along with other grantees to Belgium, so participants can take part in orientation with other members of the cohort.
Orientation
Prior to departure, 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.
Candidate Profile
To be eligible, candidates must be pursuing a doctoral degree. Preference will be given to those within a joint-degree program.
Diversity Statement
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels is actively looking for candidates for the US Student program with diverse backgrounds or projects that they would like to implement in Belgium. We are committed to recruiting a diverse cohort of grantees to Belgium to highlight the vast plethora of talent and qualifications that the United States has to offer. In addition to the traditional academic background, we also encourage applications from professionals, researchers or candidates with significant experience in the field they would like to do research in. Professionals could be policy-makers, policy analysts, researchers at think tanks, non-profit organizations (NGOs), associations, learned societies, foundations, decision-makers at state or federal government offices and individuals in industry or the media with relevant professional experience for their proposed project. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Candidates with extensive experience should strongly consider applying for the US Scholar Program.
Eligibility
6 Months
Accepted Degree Levels
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
In the Fulbright online application, for Award Name please select University of Antwerp from the drop-down menu to be considered for this award.
Applicants must include a timeline of the proposed project in the Statement of Grant Purpose. Please include the proposed start and end month in Belgium.
Foreign Language Proficiency
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). In order to develop a feasible proposal, candidates may wish to consult with their prospective host institutions about the availability of courses and programs in English, as well as the possibility of conducting research in English. Upon selection, some study of the local language prior to arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the host community.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
Applicants must arrange their own affiliation with the University of Antwerp, but a letter of affiliation is not required by the time of the application deadline. If applicants can obtain letters of affiliation in advance of the application deadline, please include them in the application. If this is not possible at the time of application, successful applicants can provide proof when awarded the grant.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Applicants are expected to find an affiliation with UAntwerp but this does not typically come with any affiliation fees.
Grantees in this award are expected to receive €1,600/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 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.
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. Some higher education institutions have housing for enrolled students, but this housing is often limited and quite competitive. More resources will be provided to successful candidates at their pre-departure orientation typically held in April/May before their arrival.
Dependents
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels does not provide financial support to grantees bringing dependents, but we do provide additional 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.
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.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Fulbright Grantee Blog Posts: http://www.fulbright.be/category/belgium/americans-in-belgium/
University of Antwerp: https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/