Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places grantees in schools across the world to help with local English language instruction and provide a native speaker presence in the classroom. The age and academic level of the students vary by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level. Fulbright scholars are offered round-trip transportation to their host country, funding to cover room and board, and potential allowance based on the host country. You can view the list of countries who offer ETA Awards on the Fulbright website. In addition to teaching English, Fulbright ETAs engage in cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding between the US and their host country.
The Academic Fellowships Team is here to support you through all steps of the application process. If you are interested in connecting with us to learn more, please contact us at fellowships@brandeis.edu.
Eligibility
- U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals
- Must complete an undergraduate degree before the start of the Fulbright grant
- Graduating seniors, graduate students, and alumni
- Must meet language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country
Application Timeline
- Priority Intent-to-Apply Deadline: May 31, 2025
- Regular Intent-to-Apply Deadline: July 15, 2025
- Campus Deadline: August 30, 2025
- National Deadline: October 8, 2025
Award
- Round-trip transportation to the host country
- Funding to cover room, board, and incidental costs, based on the cost of living in the host country
- Pre-departure and/or in-country orientations
- Based on the award and country, some grants may include an additional allowance
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- Contact Academic Fellowships to set up a meeting to discuss the application process and strategy.
- Choose a host country you would like to work with through a Fulbright ETA award.
- Abstract/Summary of the Proposal: Write a brief description of why you wish to be a Fulbright grantee, why you want to undertake an ETA position through Fulbright, and why you have chosen to apply to the specific country.
- Host Country Engagement: Write a brief description of the ways in which you will engage with the host country outside of your grant activities to fulfill the mission of being a cultural ambassador.
- Plans Upon Return to the U.S.: Write a brief description of your career and/or education plans following completion of the Fulbright grant.
- Statement of Grant Purpose: Write a one-page description of what you will be able to bring to the classroom in the host country, as well as explain any ideas you have on how to reach students coming from different educational backgrounds.
- Personal Statement: Write a 1-page narrative that provides a picture of yourself as an individual related to your aspirations relative to the specific Fulbright Program to which you are applying.
- Foreign Language Forms: Language requirements vary by host country. Please see your specific program for additional information and materials needed for your application.
- Recommendations: Request three recommendations from individuals who can best speak to your communication skills, interest in teaching, and ability to work in unstructured environments.
- Transcripts: Upload unofficial transcripts to the application portal. Consult the Transcript Upload Instructions page for more detailed information.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, Fulbright has some preferred qualifications:
- Strong preference for those who have not previously held a Fulbright grant.
- Strong preference for those who earned their undergraduates at a U.S. college or university.
- Candidates who have not resided or studied in the country to which they are applying for more than six months, not counting undergraduate study abroad.
- Candidates who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Fulbright is seeking applicants who demonstrate the following qualities:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
- Help advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community.
- Strong academic and professional record.
- Strong language preparation related to the host country (if applicable).
- Your Academic Fellowships Team: Meredith and Elizabeth are here to help you through each step of the process, from exploring the different application components, to choosing your recommendation letter writers, to providing feedback on your essays. Email fellowships@brandeis.edu to schedule a meeting with us!
- Recorded Webinars: Fulbright hosts and records information webinars that can be accessed at any time, even if you miss a session!
- Affinity Communities: Follow these Fulbright affinity communities to learn more about Fulbright experiences and find a new community of scholars and students @fulbrightnoir, @fulbrightprism, @fulbrightlatinx, @fulbrightaccess, @fulbrightlotus, @fulbrightsalam.
- Peer Review Cohort: Academic Fellowships hosts an annual cohort experience for Brandeisians applying for Fulbright.
