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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Netherlands


1 Fulbright/Erasmus University Rotterdam, Suzana Rodrigues Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Grant Period
Fall Start
Grant Length
11 Months
Award Type
Special Study/Research
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
  • Yes
Award Profile

Erasmus University Rotterdam is a university of academics and practitioners. The enterprising academics and students endeavor to solve global social challenges in the fields of wealth, health, governance and culture. They draw inspiration from the metropolis, which serves as both a testing ground and a laboratory. The university was founded in 1913, when a group of Rotterdam businessmen established the Netherlands School of Commerce to meet the growing demand for skilled personnel for the companies operating in the port of Rotterdam. Later it changed its name and achieved world fame in economics and econometrics, under the guidance of renowned scholars like Nobel Prize winner Jan Tinbergen. The university has always had an international character. Anyone who studies at Erasmus University, which attracts more than 22,000 students, is in fact already doing an international program. Rotterdam is a world port city with and an international life that goes with it. The grant made available by the university is named after Dr. Suzana Rodrigues, who taught at the university for many years.

Grant Length
11 Months
Grant Period
Fall Start

Starting approximately mid August. 

Orientation
In-Country Orientation

The one-day Fulbright In-Country orientation will take place at the end of August/beginning of September (date to be determined). There also is a second introduction meeting at the end of September, at the US Ambassador's Residence.

US Fulbright Graduate Students with US Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal at the Ambassador's Residence

Candidate Profile

Candidates should be very well qualified and strongly motivated for one of the graduate courses at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Only master programs with a Croho code starting with "6" are eligible. The Croho codes can be found in the "facts and figures" section of the program descriptions. 

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

The Netherlands is a small country, approximately the size of Maryland or West-Virginia. It is a fairly densely populated country, with good public transport links. This makes it easy to travel to other parts of the country during your stay. It has a temperate climate with a fair amount of rain. The Dutch economy is geared mainly towards import/export, services and trade, and less on heavy industry. Most Dutch people will be able to speak basic English, and you will be able to get around without speaking Dutch. However, it is really appreciated if you learn some Dutch either before or during your stay in the Netherlands. With two airports in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, it is also easy to reach other European countries for weekend trips. 

The Dutch are known for being direct, which can also be interpreted as being rude or blunt. In general, most Fulbright grantees indicate that it takes a bit of getting used to, but they appreciate it after being in the country for a while. The grading system in the Netherlands may also take some time getting used to. It ranges from 10-1, with a 10 being a perfect score and anything below 6 a fail. The grades 10 and 9 are rarely given, only in case of exceptionally good work, a 7 and 8 are considered to be good grades. Also, the courses and grading are mostly based on exams at the end of term. In terms of discussions on diversity, equity and access, there is a growing awareness of the systemic inequalities in society. You may find that there are differences in interpretation and the discussion between the U.S. and the Netherlands on these topics. 

The Dutch Fulbright Commission will organize four meetings during your stay, two introduction meetings at the beginning of the grant period, a mid-year evaluation and a meeting at the end of the grant period. There also is a cultural excursion program in place, where an alumna organizes 5 excursions to places of interest in the Netherlands.

Excursion with the US Fulbright grantees in Amsterdam, visiting the Van Gogh Museum and the Royal PalaceExcursion with US Fulbright grantees to Maastricht, trying to find the best Maastricht pastry

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
1 Month
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible

Preferred are applicants with no or limited experience in the Netherlands, especially in the year before the grant period. A brief holiday or a summer program in the year before the grant year would be acceptable. 

Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Special Application Instructions

In your Fulbright online application, for Award Name please select Erasmus University from the drop down menu.

Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

Additional Information: Dutch language proficiency is not required, but is useful at the time of arrival. Some study of Dutch prior to arrival is encouraged in order to promote deeper engagement with the host community.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
No
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Yes
Affiliation
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Letter of acceptance required prior to grant start

Applicants are required to apply separately to Erasmus University independent of their Fulbright application and, if already admitted, to include a letter of admission with the Fulbright application. The separate application at Erasmus University must be completed by 15 January. Candidates who apply late at Erasmus University will not be considered. 

The grants are available for the regular master programs. Only master programs with a Croho code starting with 6 are eligible. Please visit this website for more information on programs and on the application procedure. 

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits

Partial tuition fee waivers and a combination with the Holland Scholarship can be possible (this is different per faculty). More information about grants and scholarships at Erasmus can be found here

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
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.

1550 monthly stipend amount in
€ [Euro]

The grant is paid in monthly instalments. 

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.

1,000 in
  • Registration/Permitting fees

A residence permit is mandatory for the Netherlands. The costs of the residence permit will be reimbursed. Also, for any mandatory Fulbright meetings, local travel costs by public transport will be reimbursed. An international travel allowance of € 1,000 will be provided for a round trip to the Netherlands. 

Additional Grant Benefits
  • Mid-year seminar

There will be four meetings over the course of the year, one of which will be the mid-year evaluation. Grantees will also be reimbursed for a a Museum Year Card, giving free access to over 400 museums in the Netherlands. 

Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

This website is a good way to get a general idea about the costs of living in the Netherlands. 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available

Dependent support is not available. If an applicant is planning on bringing dependents, please contact the host institution to inquire whether they are willing to also apply for a residence permit for the dependents. Without a residence permit applied for by the host, dependents will not be able to join the applicant. 

Housing Arrangements

Grantees are responsible for finding housing themselves. Erasmus University Rotterdam may be able to help with this, but housing is not guaranteed. 

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Linda Pietersen: l.pietersen@fulbright.nl
Additional Online Resources
Erasmus University website: https://www.eur.nl/en
Dutch Government Website: https://www.government.nl/topics
Information about the Netherlands: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/themes
More information about the Netherlands: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/more-about-the-netherlands