Fulbright-Schuman European Union Affairs Program

Conduct policy-oriented research that addresses topics of common importance for the US-EU relationship and/or EU affairs and that is tenable in one, two, or three EU Member States. 

Candidates are welcome to submit applications affiliated with any appropriate institutions, including European higher education institutions, governments, non-profit organizations and think tanks. Applicants may not affiliate formally with EU institutions. All grantees are still able to contact the EU institutions for interviews or request information - under its general rules of access to information, as any other researcher - but candidates should primarily focus on affiliating with higher education institutions, think tanks or other research centers.

Proposals should demonstrate a clear link to Europe and the European Union and be more suitable to the Fulbright-Schuman Award than to binational programs. As such, preference is given to applicants who can make a strong case for the supranational nature of their research. Candidates are responsible for arranging their own placement, including letters of invitation from any host institutions.

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars will be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Applicants my propose projects with affiliation in one, two, or three EU Member States. 

Locations

Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host

Locations Detail

European Union Member State(s), which are the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Activities in other countries are not eligible.

The ability to affiliate with multiple host institutions and divide up the grant among multiple EU Member States often draws candidates to the Fulbright-Schuman Program, but the decision to spend time in multiple countries comes with additional logistical challenges. Proposals will be considered both from candidates who plan to be based primarily in one Member State as well as candidates who will divide their time between host institutions in two or three EU Member States. Candidates planning to be based in only one Member State should ensure that their proposed research still demonstrates a pan-European perspective. On the other hand, candidates planning to divide up their time in two or three Member States should address the feasibility of these plans and should consider visa requirements for the countries involved. As long as candidates can prove that their research is better suited to the Fulbright-Schuman Program than to a binational exchange program, the Fulbright Commission in Brussels no longer gives preference to candidates who propose to be based in multiple member states, and will work with selected candidates to find a feasible visa plan for projects taking place in multiple countries. 

Award Length and Period

Grants will be considered for a minimum of three months and a maximum of nine months, with preference for projects of a one-semester (i.e., four- to six-month) duration. Grants must occur between September 2027 and June 2028. Grants running through August 2028 will only be considered if the project requires this flexibility and the host institution confirms support for the summer months.

Areas of Interest

Although applications are accepted in all fields of study, relevance to US-EU relations, EU policy, or EU institutions is crucial. Project proposals should focus on observing comparative perspectives on issues of common concern (either US-EU or with reference to EU policy). Proposals may address topics such as agricultural and environmental policies, development, energy, EU enlargement, the EU and NATO, finance, human rights, human trafficking, internal and external security, justice and home affairs, peace-keeping, public health and trade. This list of topics are examples, but not exhaustive.

Areas of study must relate to European Union competencies and not merely "Europe" or the countries of Europe. Proposals that focus on only one or two European countries and/or do not demonstrate a “European added value” will not be considered. In 2027-28, preference may be given to candidates who propose projects based at least partially in countries that have been historically underrepresented in the program. These countries include: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.