The Fulbright Commission in Brussels is offering two unique opportunities for Belgian and Luxembourgish students and scholars in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at Florida Polytechnic University.
September 15 till December 1 (at noon)
Review eligibility requirements below and include all required documents in your online application.
Florida Polytechnic University provides a scholarship for a Belgian or Luxembourgish student to pursue a master’s degree (one or two year) at Florida Polytechnic University in the College of Innovation & Technology or College of Engineering. Successful applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field and will submit an independent application to Florida Polytechnic University.
An overview of the graduate programs offered can be found here: https://floridapoly.edu/degree/graduate/index.php
The Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Florida Polytechnic University is a research position for Belgian and Luxembourgish post-doctoral researchers and professors. The Fulbright Chair will carry out the program of research, teaching, and service outlined in the successful application, normally for a minimum of one semester.
The selected grantee will be focused on research pertaining to any of the following general subject areas: Computer science, Computer engineering, Mechanical engineering, Industrial engineering, Operations research, Health informatics and big data, Autonomous vehicles.
The application period to apply for this grant is between September 15 and December 1 for applicants who intend to start their program in the next academic year.
E.g., if you intend to start a program in the academic year of 2024-2025, you will need to apply for a grant between September 15 and December 1, 2023.
If selected, applicants will need to go through the admission process at Florida Polytechnic University (for students) or receive a letter of invitation (scholars). Interested applicants are advised to contact us before starting their application.
Every applicant needs to complete an online application by noon on December 1 including the required documents. No papers should be mailed to our office. Incomplete applications will not be considered for an award.
All applications are evaluated by our Selections Committee. The most competitive applicants demonstrate ambassadorial qualities and a genuine interest in cultural exchange. It is important for candidates to articulate a clear, creative, and feasible plan for their time in the United States and to explain why this is the right time to pursue their plan and how their grant will ultimately help them achieve their personal and professional goals in the future. The Commission is looking for candidates who will have a multiplier effect within their U.S., Belgian or Luxembourgish communities and who wish to ultimately return to Belgium or Luxembourg to share their knowledge and experiences after their grant has ended.
Candidates with strong completed applications submitted by the deadline will be invited to the Commission in the last week of January for a mandatory interview in English. Interviews are in person, and cannot be rescheduled. The interview will include a discussion of your motivations for going to the U.S., your plans when you arrive, and how you will improve U.S. relations between Belgium or Luxembourg as an alumni when you return. Successful candidates will demonstrate ambassadorial qualities, English proficiency, and the ability to explain their academic proposal in simple terms. The Selections Committee is composed of Belgian, Luxembourgish and American professors, professionals, government officials, and Fulbright alumni from various fields.
As a Belgian or Luxembourgish citizen, you may apply for a Fulbright grant if you are living in any country except the United States. If you are resident in the United States, a dual U.S.-Belgium or U.S.-Luxembourg citizen, or hold a Green Card at the time of application, you are ineligible to apply.
Candidates already in the United States at the time of application and those who have resided in the U.S. for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the date of application are ineligible to apply. Moreover, please note that preference will be given to those who have not had substantial recent experience in the U.S. with “substantial recent experience” being study, research or employment for a period of aggregating more than an academic year (9 months) during the past five years.
The Fulbright Program will not fund applicants seeking to enroll in a medical degree program nor does it offer grants to those who wish to conduct clinical medical research or training involving patient care and/or contact. (both human and animal)
Yes. All Fulbright grantees must travel to the U.S. on a J-1 visa, which requires them to return to Belgium or their country of permanent legal residency for at least two years at some point after their grant before they are allowed to return to the U.S. to live or work permanently on an H, L, K or LPR visa. More information about the two-year rule can be found here.
Yes. Applying to a host institution in the United States is a separate, simultaneous process. Please note that if you have chosen a university as your host institution, its accreditation should be recognized by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education.
The Study or Research Objectives Essay should provide a clear and detailed description of your study or research objectives, and your reasons for wanting to pursue them. Be specific about your major field and your specialized interests within this field, but remember that your application will likely be read by a variety of people, including some who are not experts in your 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. The Personal Statement Essay is a narrative statement describing how you have achieved your current goals; it should include information about education, practical experience, special interests, and career plans. You can also use the Personal Statement to describe any significant factors that have influenced your educational or professional development and explain your existing practical experience.
Student researchers should upload invitation letters from their host institutions before the deadline of December 1 if possible. University acceptance letters may be submitted after this deadline (as late as May).
The online application system is used by Fulbright Programs around the world and application procedures differ greatly from country to country. You must follow the guidelines presented by the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
We do NOT require applicants to contact us before beginning the application. You can start your online application without contacting us beforehand.
We do NOT require supplemental forms such as the letter of the home institution or official exam results (e.g., TOEFL). However, it is optional to include these test results in the appropriate application fields.
No. The application is completed entirely online.
Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email in mid-January. Interviews will take place during the last week of January or in the first week of February.
Successful applicants will be contacted via email in late February or early March. Successful applicants must then be officially approved by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and should receive a confirmation of their grant in mid-March.
If you are not accepted to a U.S. university, the offer of a Fulbright Award will be withdrawn. Graduate students are encouraged to apply to several universities to increase their chances of being admitted to a U.S. university.
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info[at]fulbright.be / +32 (0)2 519 57 72