2024-2025 competition is closed. 2025-2026 competition will open on April 2, 2024

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Germany


140 English Teaching Assistant Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Grant Period
Fall Start
Grant Length
10 Months
Award Type
English Teaching Assistant
Award Profile

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program (ETA) in Germany aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Germany by the assignment of grantees in the teaching of the English language and American studies at all types of German schools.

Fulbright Germany strives to embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of its work. Applications are open to all individuals regardless of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. Fulbright Germany seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented communities in its programs, activities and partnerships, and staffing and operations.

In keeping with the commitment of the Fulbright Program to DEIA, the ETA program also seeks to broaden students’ understanding of DEIA and to encourage the development of new perspectives and critical thinking. The responsibilities of all English Teaching Assistants therefore may include designing and teaching units on these topics in consultation with the respective host school English teachers. The Fulbright Germany Diversity Liaison provides support and guidance, for example, through educational toolkits, DEIA workshops during the In-Country Orientation, and regular office hours throughout the grant period. English Teaching Assistants cooperate closely with a German teacher of English at their host school.

The ETA program in Germany offers a unique opportunity for English Teaching Assistants to advance their teaching skills and engage in their German communities. They are placed in large and small communities, in cities and rural areas.

In this program, Fulbright Germany cooperates with the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst in Bonn (PAD) and the 16 Bundesländer in Germany.

Please refer to the Fulbright Germany website for detailed information on the grant benefits.

 

Grant Length
10 Months
Grant Period
Fall Start

September 2024 to the end of June 2025.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation

Grantees will participate in an online pre-departure orientation meeting and also participate in an in-country in-person orientation meeting held by Fulbright Germany. 

Candidate Profile

We welcome well-rounded, adaptable, proactive and communicative individuals with the skills and motivation needed to assist in teaching the English language and American studies to German students at all pre-university levels. The program is especially suited for students of German (e.g., German studies/literature/history) - and/or students who have English or German teaching experience. Applicants from other academic fields will be considered if they have adequate German proficiency.

In accordance with the standards of the Fulbright Program, we seek applicants who, through their personality and commitment, actively contribute to the diverse academic, cultural, and democracy-promoting exchange between Germany and the USA. Resilience, initiative, independence, as well as team spirit are essential to negotiate cultural differences and to respond to personal and professional challenges that arise on a day-to-day basis, including navigating the German housing market and bureaucracy.

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
4 Months
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Intermediate

Additional Information: At least 2 years of college-level study of German, or the equivalent, is required prior to commencing the grant.

Even though the language of instruction will usually be English, intermediate to advanced German skills are essential for communication outside the classroom, be it with other teachers, parents, or school administrators, as well as other host community members that are not related to the host school.

Placement Type
  • Elementary School
  • Middle School
  • Secondary School
  • Vocational/Technical School
  • Other Educational/Community Institution

Grantees will be placed as Teaching Assistants in English classes in a variety of German schools. These may also include school types such as Berufskolleg/Berufschulen, Haupt- and Realschulen, Fachhochschulen, Montessori Grund- and Oberschulen, and Gemeindeschulen.

Teaching Assistants help English teachers in the classroom 12 hours per week. The assignment may include team-teaching a lesson with an English teacher, discussing a topic from the textbook with a small group of students, engaging in one-on-one conversation practice with students, helping all or part of a class review for a test, or designing and teaching a unit on an aspect of U.S. culture or a current event. Activities will vary depending upon the needs of the students and teachers. The assignment may also include week-long class trips or short excursions.

Placement Locations
  • Capital City
  • Regional City
  • Rural

Placements are available in all three settings: the capital city, regional cities, and rural locations. In the Host City/Region question at the beginning of the Fulbright application and the Statement of Grant Purpose, applicants may indicate up to 3 German states/Bundesländer where they would prefer to be placed. However, candidates should be aware that they may still be placed in a different state or location than those of their preference.

Supplementary Project
Optional

Grantees are encouraged to engage in community activities according to the Fulbright mission. Engagement opportunities may depend on the geographic location and local partner organizations.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Housing Arrangements

Applicants are responsible for their own housing arrangements and costs.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Fulbright Germany Alumni Stories: https://www.fulbright.de/news/our-fulbrighters
What is Fulbright Germany?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImOplb6hWk