Fulbright Commission Belgium and Luxembourg - Summer Institute for Students

What you get

You will take part in a fully funded five-week summer programme in the United States at no cost to you. Return flights, a room in on-campus student accommodation, meals, health insurance and your J-1 exchange visa are all fully covered, and you’ll also receive support with your preparations before you leave. You will spend four weeks living and studying at a US university, followed by a week travelling to another part of the country. The programme includes seminars, lectures, group work, excursions, community projects and leadership training. Each group consists of around 20 students from different countries, with an annual theme setting the focus. In 2024, the theme was ‘civic engagement’ at Michigan State University. The programme is funded by the US Department of State in collaboration with the US Embassy in Belgium and is administered in Belgium by the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Belgian national. You are not a US citizen, nor do you have permanent residence in the US.
• Study level: You are in the first or second year of your Bachelor’s degree and have at least one semester left to complete.
• Age: You are between 18 and 25 years old.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Leadership: You can demonstrate that you take the initiative – whether through your studies, your community involvement or activities outside the classroom.
• US experience: You have had little or no experience of travelling or studying in the United States to date.
• English: You are good at reading, writing and speaking English.
• Visa: You can apply for a US J-1 exchange visa.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online to the Fulbright Commission in Brussels. You must include a short statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors. The application deadline is 1 March. The most suitable candidates will be invited to an interview, and the final decision will be made by staff at the Fulbright Commission in Brussels and the US Embassy.

Our guide Scholarships in Belgium lists further funding opportunities available to you in Belgium alongside this programme.