"Belgians should do a better job at selling themselves"

Flexibility in studies, the sheer range of opportunities on offer and 'Brand USA', these are the main three reasons why Belgians are eager to study in the US says Erica Lutes, the director of the Fulbright Commission for Belgium and Luxembourg.

Studying in the US is becoming increasingly popular among Belgians. Five years ago the Fulbright Commission in Belgium handed out scholarships to 845 Belgians.

This year the figure has risen to 948. Applications have to be in a year beforehand and the 1 December deadline for new applications is approaching fast, so if you want to study in the US next year, it is high time to get your application filed.

Erica Lutes also has a message especially for Belgians: "Don't be too modest. If you want to land a place in higher education in the US you need to stand out. Modesty is a wonderful attribute, but in this competitive process it's not always an asset. Belgians should do more to stand out from the crowd and sell themselves better."

Often other nationalities are far keener to sell themselves. Belgian modesty is even misplaced given the success they have had in winning places at the best universities. The top US host universities for Belgians are New York University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). They are also among the top seats of learning in the US and it's Belgians that are landing the places.

This is no mean achievement given greater competition for places at US seats of learning. More foreigners are applying for a place, but more Americans too are going to university.

The Fulbright Commission in Belgium has a two-fold role: to process applications for a Fulbright scholarship but also to provide information about studying in the US. Fulbright scholarships are available for MAs, often MAs for people who already have one, PhDs and postgraduates. It does not provide scholarships for high school, internships, Erasmus or exchanges, but the Commission’s Matt Weisbard is on hand to answer all your queries about studying in the US. You can reach Matt on 02 519 57 72.

The Fulbright Commission expects applicants to do their homework and to find their own place at an American seat of learning. Belgians can get into the top schools including Yale and Harvard, but students should consider which school or university is really best suited for their needs and ambitions. Today Sciences are the most popular topics of study for Belgians heading for the US. This is followed by Law and Humanities.

Special scholarships are also available for students who want to teach French or Dutch in the US and for English teachers who want an opportunity to learn more about the United States.

A typical grant will hand you some $15,000. This may seem a lot, but be aware that tuition fees in the US are among the highest in the world. The Fulbright Commission has struck deals with several institutions securing reductions in tuition fees. The biggest grant awarded last year was for $70,000. No tuition fees are required for PhDs, post doctorates and exchanges. Travel grants of around $1,000 are also available.

The Fulbright Commission in Brussels is unique in the fact that it processes applications for scholarships from people from Belgium and Luxembourg, but also scholarships for the Fulbright Schuman Program. The Fulbright Schuman Program offers scholarships for students from any of the 28 European Union countries who are eager to study an EU-related topic in the US.

AP2012

Fulbright scholarships for study in Belgium are also available to US students and are increasingly popular. The average student will receive a grant of 1,200 euros a month for a nine month programme.

When in the past Americans travelled to Belgium to study Culture, the Humanities and the Arts. In recent years there has been a big shift with growing interest in Belgian seats of learning where you can study sciences including medical engineering and biosciences.

Top stories