The Fulbright Graduate Studies Award from the Fulbright Commission Belgium and Luxembourg gives Belgian and Luxembourgish citizens a scholarship of up to $29,000, a $1,000 travel stipend, J-1 visa sponsorship and a health benefit plan for graduate studies in any academic field at an accredited U.S. institution. It supports Master's (1 or 2 year) and PhD programmes with non-renewable funding for nine months. Applications for programmes starting in 2027-2028 are open until 1 December 2026 at noon (CET). At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full Commission page and FAQ and set out every benefit, document, step and rule below.
Award at a Glance
๐๏ธ Awarded by: Fulbright Commission Belgium and Luxembourg (Brussels), as part of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program
๐ For: Master's (1 or 2 year programme) or PhD
๐ Fields: any academic field
๐บ๐ธ Where: an accredited U.S. institution
โฑ๏ธ Funding: non-renewable, for nine months
๐๏ธ Application period: 15 September to 1 December (at noon CET)
๐ป Application: online, in English, via the Fulbright/IIE platform
What the Award Includes
๐ต Scholarship of up to $29,000
โ๏ธ Travel stipend of $1,000
๐ J-1 visa sponsorship
๐งญ Pre-departure support
๐ฉบ Health benefit plan
๐ฝ In-country programming, for example orientations, seminars and a local advisor
๐ Prestigious title and access to the alumni network
What the Award Does Not Cover
๐ซ The Commission does not cover tuition or fees at your host institution; no additional funds are available for them.
๐ Scholarships are standardised and not calculated by location in the U.S., so take into account that study and living costs vary across the country.
โ You may combine other scholarships (for example BAEF or a university tuition waiver) with a Fulbright grant, provided there is no conflict from their side, and you can disclose other scholarship applications in your Fulbright application.
Who Can Apply
๐ชช Belgian or Luxembourgish citizenship
๐ฃ๏ธ Proficiency in English
๐ A minimum of a bachelor's degree
โญ Academic excellence, or an outstanding personal or professional background
Who Cannot Apply
๐ Eligibility is based on nationality, not residence: people living, studying or working in Belgium or Luxembourg without citizenship are not eligible.
๐บ๐ธ Applicants resident in the United States, dual U.S.-Belgium or U.S.-Luxembourg citizens and Green Card holders at the time of application are ineligible.
๐ Candidates already in the United States at the time of application, and those who have lived in the U.S. for five or more years in the six years before applying, are ineligible.
โ๏ธ Preference goes to applicants without substantial recent experience in the U.S., meaning study, research or employment totalling more than an academic year (9 months) during the past five years.
๐ Belgian and Luxembourgish citizens living abroad in any country except the United States may apply.
What Fulbright Does Not Fund
๐ Short-term exchange semesters as part of a master's programme in Belgium or Luxembourg
๐ฉบ Medical residencies or graduate medical education or training at accredited U.S. schools of medicine or scientific institutions
๐งช Unsupervised research or study involving direct contact with human or animal patients, subjects or specimens
๐ Part-time programmes: grants are for full-time study, research or lecturing
๐ผ Internships: Academic Training during or immediately after graduate studies may be possible, but approval is not guaranteed, as the main purpose of the grant is the approved academic programme
Required Documents
๐ Americanized resume/CV
๐ฏ Study/Research Objectives Essay
โ๏ธ Personal Statement Essay
๐ Diploma of your most recent degree and transcripts with completed coursework
๐ฅ Three letters of recommendation, uploaded directly into the online application by your recommenders
๐ซ Letter of admission from a U.S. host institution, on the institution's letterhead and stating the exact dates of your programme
All documents must be in your application by 1 December, except the admission letter, which degree-seeking students may submit as late as April. Standardized test scores (such as TOEFL or GRE) are not required, though you may optionally add them in the relevant fields.
How to Write the Two Essays
๐ฏ Study/Research Objectives Essay: give a clear, detailed description of your study objectives and your reasons for pursuing them. Be specific about your major field and specialised interests, remembering that non-experts will also read it. Describe the programme you expect to undertake and how it fits your previous training and future objectives.
โ๏ธ Personal Statement Essay: a narrative of how you achieved your current goals, covering education, practical experience, special interests and career plans. You can also describe significant factors that influenced your educational or professional development and explain your existing practical experience.
๐ Each essay is generally recommended to be one or two pages.
What an Americanized Resume Looks Like
๐ Start with your name and contact information (address, phone number, email address) at the top.
๐๏ธ Include sections on education, work experience and skills.
๐ซ Do not include a photo, date or place of birth, nationality or marital status.
๐ Aim for one or two pages, although this can be more challenging in an academic context.
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๐ All opportunities in United States โ
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Recommendation Letters
๐จ Register your chosen recommenders in the "Recommendations" section of the online application; they receive an automatic email asking them to upload their letter.
๐ You can track the status of the letters and send reminders.
3๏ธโฃ Only three letters are required, and only the first three are considered, even if you register more recommenders.
โฐ The letters must be in your application by the 1 December deadline.
Admission to a U.S. University
๐ซ Applying to a U.S. university is a separate, simultaneous process, and you are responsible for securing your own admission.
โ The university's accreditation must be recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education; you can verify it online.
๐ก Admission letters are not required at the time of application, but including them strengthens your application, and selected grantees must provide them to receive the grant.
โ ๏ธ If you are not accepted by a U.S. university, the Fulbright Award offer is withdrawn, so graduate students are encouraged to apply to several universities.
How to Apply
๐ Apply between 15 September and 1 December 2026 if you plan to start your programme in the 2027-2028 academic year.
๐ Programmes should start no earlier than mid-August; the U.S. academic calendar typically runs from August/September to May/June.
๐ป Submit a complete online application in English via the Fulbright/IIE platform by 1 December at noon (CET); incomplete applications are not considered.
๐ง When creating your account, preferably use a personal email address rather than a temporary work or school address.
๐ Review the Application Guidelines before starting a new application.
๐งญ If the online system asks for something different from the Commission's instructions, follow the guidelines of the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, as the platform is used by Fulbright programmes worldwide.
๐ The whole application is in English; exceptionally, transcripts and the diploma of your most recent degree may be in Dutch, French or German (an English version is recommended), and documents in other languages need a certified English translation.
What the Selection Committee Looks For
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange programme of the U.S. Department of State, built around promoting mutual understanding through cultural diplomacy. According to Youth Works Hub's reading of the Commission's guidance, the most competitive applicants:
๐ค Demonstrate ambassadorial qualities and a genuine interest in cultural exchange
๐บ๏ธ Articulate a clear, creative and feasible plan for their time in the United States
โณ Explain why this is the right time to pursue their plan and how the grant helps their future personal and professional goals
๐ฃ Will have a multiplier effect within their U.S., Belgian or Luxembourgish communities
๐ก Wish to return to Belgium or Luxembourg to share their knowledge and experiences after the grant
Interview and Selection Timeline
๐ Applications are evaluated by a selection committee of Belgian, Luxembourgish and American academics, professionals, government officials and Fulbright alumni.
๐ฉ Mid-January: applicants selected for an interview are contacted by email.
๐๏ธ Last week of January or first week of February: mandatory interviews in English, covering your motivations for going to the U.S., your plans there, and how you will improve relations between the U.S. and Belgium or Luxembourg as an alumnus. Successful candidates demonstrate ambassadorial qualities, English proficiency and the ability to explain their academic proposal in simple terms.
๐ข Late February or early March: successful applicants are contacted by email.
โ Mid-March: confirmation of the grant, after official approval by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB); proposals may be reviewed for alignment with government priorities.
The Two-Year Home Residency Requirement
๐ All Fulbrighters are J-1 Exchange Visitors subject to the two-year home residency requirement under U.S. law (Immigration and Nationality Act, section 212(e)).
โณ You must complete two years of home residency before applying for a non-immigrant visa as a temporary worker (for example H or L) or for permanent residency in the United States.
โ๏ธ This does not prevent re-entry into the U.S. within the two years for conferences, tourism or further study.
What Past Grantees Say
๐ A grantee at Yale Law School describes Fulbright as building human global networks and learning what kind of leadership is needed for those goals.
๐ฌ A grantee at Yale University highlights an invaluable international research network and friendships with people from many countries.
๐๏ธ A grantee at the University of Chicago values the interdisciplinary character of American academia and the skills gained in workshops and class discussions.
Looking for other funded study options? Browse the Scholarships section on Youth Works Hub โ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Fulbright Belgium/Luxembourg Graduate Studies Award?
The award offers a scholarship of up to $29,000, plus a $1,000 travel stipend, J-1 visa sponsorship, a health benefit plan and pre-departure support, for nine months of non-renewable funding.
Who is eligible for the award?
Belgian or Luxembourgish citizens with at least a bachelor's degree, English proficiency and academic excellence or an outstanding personal or professional background. U.S. residents, dual U.S. citizens and Green Card holders cannot apply.
Does the Fulbright grant cover U.S. tuition fees?
No. The Commission provides the scholarship, travel stipend and other benefits, but no extra funds for tuition or fees at the host institution. You may combine it with other scholarships such as a university tuition waiver.
Do I need a U.S. admission letter when I apply?
No. Degree-seeking students may submit the admission letter after the deadline, as late as April, but it strengthens your application and selected grantees must provide it to receive the grant.
Do I need TOEFL or GRE scores?
No. Standardized test scores are not required for the grant application, although you can add them optionally.
Can I use the award for a medical residency or an internship?
No. The programme is generally not appropriate for graduate medical education or training, and the Commission does not offer grants for internships.
When will I know if I have an interview?
Applicants selected for an interview are contacted by email in mid-January, and interviews take place in the last week of January or the first week of February.
What is the deadline for 2027-2028 programmes?
The online application, with all required documents, must be submitted by 1 December 2026 at noon (CET).
Deadline
โณ 01 December 2026
Links
๐ Online application (Fulbright/IIE, 2027-28): https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2027
๐ Award page (Fulbright Commission Belgium and Luxembourg): https://www.fulbright.be/grants-for-belgian-and-luxembourgish-citizens/graduate-studies-pre-doctoral-research/
โ U.S. accreditation check: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home
