Fulbright U.S. Student applications for 2025-2026 continue to be reviewed as stated on Competition & Selection webpage. Any updates about application status will be communicated to the applicant over email.

2026-2027 Competition Deadline: Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 5 pm Eastern Time

US Fulbright Logo

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.

Malta

2 English Teaching Assistant Award

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

Grantees will assist permanent teaching staff at the University of Maltas and at Maltese and Gozitan middle schools - most grantees work with middle school students ages 9 to 12.  The Fulbright ETA Program aims to strengthen English language and English/American studies instruction at Maltese educational institutions by providing an American fluent speaker presence in the classroom, between 12 to 16 teaching hours per week.  The ETA program placement and schedule may vary from one academic year to the next.  

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
September Start

ETAs arrive in mid-September 2026 to participate in the teachers’ meetings, which are held prior to the commencement of the academic year. Grants conclude in mid-June 2027.

Grant Length: 9 months.

Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation

ETAs should plan to attend the pre-departure orientation organized by the U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program.   ETAs should also plan to participate in a pre-departure orientation with U.S. Embassy staff.  

Candidate Profile

Preference will be given to applicants already possessing a bachelor's degree at the time of application, with the initiative, maturity, and self-reliance needed to assist in teaching English language and American studies to Maltese students in university and middle school environments. Master’s-level candidates and applicants with teaching experience are encouraged to apply.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.

Malta is a Republic and a member of the European Union.  English and Maltese are both official languages.  Maltese language is not required for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program (ETA). Malta enjoys a standard of living and healthcare facilities similar to those of other Western European countries.  Traffic can be an issue, which impacts public transportation, especially during the morning rush hour (7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.) and the evening rush hour (5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.).  ETAs must plan their trips to ensure that they arrive on time at the schools.  Driving in Malta is not recommended because traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road and this can be confusing.  ETAs are encouraged to access the Malta Tourism Authority site for information on bus transportation, tourist attractions, shopping centers, etc.:

Please access the link below for information on medical services in Malta:   https://mt.mwp.usembassy.gov/medical-assistance/

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
12 Months

Applicants may have connections to Malta and may have visited the islands on short-term exchanges or for tourism purposes.  

Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Special Application Instructions

ETAs must have a visa to travel to Malta. They must contact the U.S. Embassy in Malta several months before their program in Malta commences to start the visa application process. 

Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form

If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.

Not Required

Additional Information: Maltese language proficiency is not required. Some study of Maltese prior to arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the host community.  English is one of Malta's official languages.  

Placement Type
  • Middle School
  • Secondary School
  • University/Post-Secondary Institution

Grantees will assist permanent teaching staff at the University of Malta and at local grade schools. Post will assign ETAs to either work full time in schools on the mainland island of Malta or the sister island of Gozo, which is accessible by ferry. The cost of the return trip on the Gozo Channel ferry is approximately $9. Not many international educators visit Gozo, and Gozitan teachers and students must travel to Malta to participate in international conferences or workshops. Post is committed to working with the schools in Gozo to bridge the gap and ensure that the Gozitan students have the opportunity to benefit from the ETA program and from contact with U.S. teaching assistants, and the ETAs will likewise benefit from interacting with the less-accessed schools, teachers, and students in Gozo. Details of assignments will be subject to communication between the U.S. Embassy, Malta’s Ministry of Education, and the University of Malta. The Fulbright ETA Program aims to strengthen English language and English/American studies instruction at Maltese educational institutions by providing an American fluent-speaker presence in the classroom, between 12 and 16 teaching hours per week. The ETA program placement and schedule may vary from one academic year to the next.

In addition to their English Teaching Assistant activities, grantees may enroll in academic courses each semester, if the assignment permits such activity, or engage in independent research related to their fields of study. These activities, combined with the Teaching Assistant responsibilities, will comprise a full-time program. Each host institution will tailor the assistantship to its language teaching needs, and the grantee’s background and academic interests. 

Placement Locations
  • Regional City

Each ETA will be placed in one or two schools that are located in the towns/villages in Malta and Gozo. The U.S. Embassy, the Ministry of Education and the University of Malta determine the location of ETA assignments.  

Award Benefits
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
  • International travel benefits
  • Accident & sickness health benefits
  • 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
  • English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

1678 monthly stipend amount in
$ [US Dollar]

Monthly stipend of approximately $1,678

One-Time Allowances

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

5070 in
$ [US Dollar]
  • Excess baggage fees
  • Language training allowance
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance
  • Local transportation allowance

This includes a one-time language learning allowance of $500, for ETAs to take courses or private lessons in Maltese, and $1,000 for teaching materials.

Additional Grant Benefits
  • Diplomatic pouch

ETAs may send books and educational materials to Malta via the diplomatic pouch on a one-time basis (en route to Malta from the U.S. ONLY).  Packages must contain ONLY books or educational materials required for the grantee’s teaching or research program (computers or electronic equipment may NOT be sent by pouch).  ETAS are permitted a maximum of four packages, each with a maximum weight of 40 pounds and size of 62 inches (length plus width).  These materials cannot be sent back to the United States by pouch.  Packages must be addressed as follows: 

 

Public Affairs Section 

Attn: Fulbright 

U.S. Embassy Valletta 

5800 Valletta Place 

Dept. of State 

Dulles, VA 20189-5800 

 

ETAs are also entitled to on-going usage of pouch for letters (not boxes).  ETAs are authorized use of the diplomatic pouch for first-class letter mail only (up to 2 pounds) to and from the United States. Letters should be addressed as follows: 

 

Name, Fulbright 

U.S. Embassy Valletta 

5800 Valletta Place 

Dept. of State 

Dulles, VA 20189-5800 

Supplementary Project
Optional

ETAs are encouraged to perform volunteer work in addition to regular teaching duties. Some volunteer options include working with young Maltese children outside school hours and volunteering with local NGOs engaged in teaching English to residents of other countries living in Malta.  ETAs may volunteer in other sectors, such as marine conservation, sports, and culture.  These volunteer activities will be secondary to the primary activity of assistant teaching.

Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

In December 2023, Malta’s monthly inflation rate was higher than 11 other European Union (EU) countries.  However, Malta has the lowest overall inflation rate in the European Union since 2020 and tends to be less expensive than other countries in Western Europe. This is the result of the government's decision to freeze energy prices and introduce subsidies on food and other products.  Inflation in other sectors is broadly in line with the rest of the EU. Rental and other costs are rising in Malta, but medical expenses are significantly lower than the United States, with a visit to a general practitioner costing approximately $30.  

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/wdn-20220623-1 

https://nso.gov.mt/themes_sources___met/retail-price-index/ 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Housing Arrangements

ETAs must make their own arrangements for housing.  

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.EUR@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://mt.mwp.usembassy.gov/
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
U.S. Embassy: VallettaPrograms@state.gov
Additional Online Resources
Tourism Office: http://www.visitmalta.com/main
University of Malta: http://www.um.edu.mt
Malta Embassy, Washington, D.C. : https://foreignaffairs.gov.mt/en/Embassies/Me_United_States/Pages/ME_United_States.aspx