Deadline: 1 March 2014 (final), although a preliminary form should be filled out by 1 February 2014
Open to: EU professionals and professionals in training
Grant: € 3,000 per month, plus an allowance of € 2,000 for travel and relocation costs
Description
The Fulbright Schuman Programme provides approximately 13 grants to citizens of EU Member States for study, research or lecturing on EU affairs, European integration or US-EU relations. The programme is administered by the Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States, Belgium and Luxembourg with funding from the U.S. State Department and the Directorate- General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.
Grants are for Graduate Study, Pre-Doctoral Research, Post-Doctoral Research, and University Lecturing. Awards are available to candidates from any of the Member States wishing to study, research, or lecture on a topic relevant to U.S.-EU relations, EU policy, or EU institutions. The results of eligible projects must be relevant to at least two EU member states; projects that do not meet this requirement should be submitted through the Fulbright Program in the applicant’s country of citizenship. Prior to submitting their application, candidates must arrange their own placement at an accredited university, vocational training/professional institution, or independent research center in the United States. Candidates may propose to stay at more than one institution during their grant, although they should provide a clear plan and justification for doing so.
Value of Award
- A monthly stipend of the dollar equivalent of € 3,000
- An allowance of € 2,000 for travel and relocation costs
- J-1 visa sponsorship
- Sickness and accident insurance
The maximum grant to any one candidate is set at € 29,000. No candidate may receive Fulbright Schuman funding in concurrence with other EC funding (i.e. Marie Curie) for the same activity
Student grants are normally for a minimum period of one academic year. However, applications for pre-doctoral research for a minimum period of 6 months will also be considered. Research and lecturing awards are for a minimum period of 3 months, maximum one academic year, with preference being given to projects of four months duration.
Eligibility
- Proficiency in English and a minimum of three months experience in two or more Member States is required.
- Preference will be given to candidates with two years of relevant professional or academic experience beyond the Bachelor’s degree. EU professionals and professionals in training (decision-makers, policy-makers, individuals in industry, the media, politics, academia, and public administration) are encouraged to apply.
Please Note:
- Current officials of Community institutions are not eligible to apply
- Candidates in the United States at the time of application are not eligible to apply
- European candidates must travel to the U.S. on a J-1 visa, so dual U.S./EU citizens are not eligible to apply for the EU award. If interested, dual citizens may apply to the U.S. Fulbright Schuman program HERE or HERE.
- Departures normally take place between August 1 and March 31. Special authorization must be sought in order to leave at another time of the year.
- Applications for study and research should be made while candidates are in correspondence with specific institutions concerning affiliation and financial support. No awards can be confirmed until candidates have submitted written evidence that they will dispose of adequate funds to carry out their plans in the United States.
- Scholars who have previously held a J visa in the professor or research scholar category are not eligible for sponsorship again in those two categories for a period of 24 months following the program sponsorship end date.
- Recipients of Commission awards must travel on U.S. Government-sponsored “Exchange Visitor” visas. They may not travel on any other. Please note that anyone admitted as an Exchange Visitor to the United States must return to his/her country for two years before returning to the United States as a permanent resident, temporary worker or trainee, or intra-company transferee.
All interested candidates must complete a preliminary application in order to assess their eligibility for the program. See examples of successful applicants HERE.
Application
- Interested applicants should submit the preliminary application online as soon as possible (by February 1 if possible), together with a CV and a one-page description of their proposed project, to determine their eligibility.
- Once approved, applicants must complete the final online application and upload all application materials – including post-secondary diplomas, letter(s) of affiliation, and three letters of recommendation – by March 1. TOEFL scores are only needed if the particular program you are applying to requires them; otherwise, your English proficiency will be determined during the mandatory in-person interview.
- Schedule an in-person interview with the Fulbright program in your country of citizenship or residence, to take place no later than March 15.
- Successful applicants will be notified by the first week of April at the latest.
For more information, please see the official website HERE.
