Fulbright Program Program Oﬃcer Introduction to thePost-Doctoral Research ‣Grants for Belgian and Luxembourgish scholars to lecture or conduct research at a U.S. institution ‣Grant

//Sonny WillemsProgram OfficerSonny WillemsProgram Officer

Introduction to the Fulbright Program

Academic Year of 2021-22

//Sonny WillemsProgram Officer

What we do

‣ EducationUSA○ Promote U.S. higher education○ Provide accurate and unbiased information

about study opportunities in the U.S.

‣ Fulbright Program○ Administer scholarships for Belgian and

Luxembourgish citizens to study, conduct research or lecture in the U.S. (graduate and post-academic level)

○ Administer the Fulbright Schuman Program for European citizens (more info on fulbrightschuman.eu)

www.fulbright.bewww.fulbrightschuman.eu


Why the United States

‣ High quality institutions‣ Diversity of options‣ Flexibility of study paths and programs‣ Outside of the classroom…

○ Broaden horizons by travelling around the fifty states

○ Improve English by making friends with Americans

○ Internationalize CV through study/internships


Calculating your expenses

‣ Tuition and fees ○ Cost varies depending on institution

(e.g., higher fees at private universities without state funding)

○ No correlation with quality of university

‣ Don’t forget to account for living expenses (e.g., transportation, books), which can vary greatly!


Financing your studies

‣ Students may opt to finance their studies using some combination of the following:

○ Scholarships (based on merit)○ Financial aid (based on demonstrated

need)○ Loans○ Student employment○ Personal and family funds


The Fulbright Program

An overview


‣ Proposed by Senator J. William Fulbright and signed into law by President Harry Truman

‣ Intended to ‘increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries’ by sending American students and academics to other countries and by bringing foreign students and academics to the United States

‣ Established in 1946 with first exchanges between the U.S. and Belgium in 1948

Fulbright Program history

J. William Fulbright (1905-1995)- Former United States Senator


Fulbright Program today

‣ Flagship international educational exchange program of the U.S. Department of State

‣ Led by the United States government in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, Fulbright offers programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds

‣ Distinguished by its global impact → more than 370.000 Fulbright grantees … including over 4000 Fulbright Belgium alumni!

‣ Fulbright’s diverse and dynamic network of scholars, alumni and global partners fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, shares knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the world

“As a Fulbrighter, you become part of an enormous international group of remarkable people and allof a sudden, the entire world is within your reach.”


Fulbright grants

Graduate Studies and (Pre)Doctoral Research

Students

Post-Doctoral ResearchScholars

Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)

Young teachers

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI)

Secondary teachersUndergraduate students

University of Missouri Journalism Award

Professional journalists

Partner AwardsStudents and scholars


Graduate Studies and (Pre)Doctoral Research

‣ Grants for Belgian and Luxembourgish students to aid in graduate study or research at an accredited U.S. university

‣ Grant for min. 4 months and max. 9 months‣ Stipend of up to $2000 per month‣ This includes:

○ Pursuing a master’s degree○ Pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD)○ Conducting research before or as part of an

ongoing doctoral degree (PhD)‣ Grantees travel to the United States as part of the

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Examples:- Max wants to pursue a complimentary master’s program in New York

- Emma intends to conduct research for a semester in Virginia as part of her PhD program in Belgium


Post-Doctoral Research

‣ Grants for Belgian and Luxembourgish scholars to lecture or conduct research at a U.S. institution

‣ Grant for min. 3 months and max. 9 months‣ Stipend of up to $3000 per month‣ This includes:

○ Post-Doctoral research○ Lecturing as visiting professor

‣ Grantees travel to the United States as part of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program

Examples:- Nathalie has been invited as guest lecturer in economics for a semester in

California

- Marc will spend one academic year in Washington to conduct research in politics after having completed his PhD several years ago


Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)

‣ Intended for recent graduates or young teachers with background in languages, secondary education, literature, or related fields

‣ Teach native language (French, German or Dutch) for one academic year at a U.S. institution

‣ Successful candidates are placed in U.S. institutions, where they can receive housing, meals, a monthly stipend and the possibility of following a few courses in addition to their teaching duties

Former Foreign Language Teaching Assistant“Aside from this unique teaching experience, as a Fulbright FLTA, I was given the opportunity to take courses at my host university. A teaching methodology class helped me learn the ropes of teaching in this new environment, and collaborating with my peers. The other new TAs in the department taught me things about teaching that will surely impact on my classroom practice for years to come.”


Grant benefits

STUDENTS SCHOLARS

Scholarship of up to $2000/month max. 9 months

Scholarship of up to $3000/month max. 9 months

J-1 visa sponsorship

Pre-Departure Orientation in Brussels

$1000 travel stipend

Sickness and accident insurance

Prestigious title and membership in global alumni network

In-country programming (e.g. Gateway Orientations, Enrichment Seminars)

In-country programming (e.g. Enrichment Seminars)


Eligibility requirements

‣ Belgian or Luxembourgish citizenship‣ Minimum of a bachelor’s degree ‣ Demonstrated proficiency in English ‣ Academic excellence (generally a distinction

every year or grand distinction in the last year of study)

‣ Admission or affiliation with an accredited U.S. university or research institution

‣ Remember that applying for a Fulbright grant and a U.S. institution is a seperate but simultaneous process

Some grants have other or additional requirements. Make sure to check our website for specific requirements per grant

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September 15Online application opens

December 1Deadline to submit application (by noon)

Late JanuaryTop-ranked applicants receive invitation for in-person interview

Late-FebruarySuccessful applicants notified of selection

MarchSuccessful applicants notified of official approval by FulbrightForeign Scholarship Board

AprilStart document collection process for J-1 visa

AugustDeparture to U.S. for grantees starting in the fall

Application timeline


Application components

STUDENTS SCHOLARS

Online application

‘Americanized’ resume/CV

Diploma and transcripts from most recent degree

Three letters of recommendation

Study/Research Objectives Essay (1 page)Personal Statement Essay (1 page)

Project Statement (3-5 pages)Bibliography of References (1-3 pages)

Letter of admission or affiliation(degree-seeking students can provide admission letter as late as

May while student researchers are encouraged to provide affiliation letter by December 1)

Letter of affiliation(by December 1)


Fulbright essays

STUDY OR RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

- Clear and detailed description of your study/research objectives, and your reasons for wanting to pursue them

- Be specific about your major field and your specialized interests within this field

- Describe the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan fits in with your previous training and your future objectives

PERSONAL STATEMENT

- Narrative statement describing how you have achieved your current goals ... NOT a mere listing of facts!

- Include information about education, practical experience, special interests, and career plans

- Describe any significant factors that have influenced your educational or professional development and explain your existing practical experience

Why you are applying for a Fulbright grant?

The Fulbright Program is about mutualunderstanding – remember those‘ambassadorial qualities’! Please explain veryclearly in the application how you would carry outthis mission.

Each essay should ‘ideally’ be no more than one page!


Contact us!Royal Library of Belgium, 6th floorBoulevard de l’Empereur 41000 Brussels, Belgium(by appointment only!)

+32 (0)2 519 57 [email protected]

www.fulbright.bewww.fulbrightschuman.euwww.educationusa.be

Documents

Fulbright Program Program Oﬃcer Introduction to thePost-Doctoral Research ‣Grants for Belgian and Luxembourgish scholars to lecture or conduct research at a U.S. institution ‣Grant