English Teaching Assistants assist teaching staff at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, vocational and/or university level for up to 16 hours per week, with an additional two hours for planning and coordination meetings. Responsibilities include assistant-teaching/teaching full classes under the supervision of a certified teacher, in English, subjects such as social studies, science and technology, art, physical education, and English language. Other activities include directing conversation groups, in some cases with school staff, and leading special programs such as Global Classrooms (Model UN) and Speak Truth to Power (STTP). ETAs are also expected to actively engage with their host community. 

According to Spanish law, English Teaching Assistants must always be accompanied in the classroom by a Spanish teacher and are not allowed to take on full teaching responsibility. Nevertheless, many ETAs in Spain are given a good deal of independence in the classroom and thus it is strongly recommended that applicants have some formal teaching practice and experience developing classroom resources. Only limited teaching training will be provided upon arrival and during the grant period: this is not a teacher training program. Candidates are expected to be able to prepare their own teaching materials outside of the 16 in class hours; interact positively with students, teachers, and administrative personnel at their schools; and to demonstrate initiative in the classroom. ETAs will be expected to be available for classes held in the morning, afternoon, and/or evening, depending on each host institution's individual needs.

Due to the size of the Program, grantees are expected to be self-sufficient, problem-solve, and work collaboratively with their Host Institutions.

40 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Regional Government of Galicia.

36 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Regional Government of the Canary Islands.

30 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Regional Government of Madrid.

27 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Regional Government of La Rioja.

14 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Regional Government of Asturias.

6 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Universidad Camilo José Cela (UCJC) in Madrid.

5 ETA awards co-sponsored by the Universidad de Málaga (UMA).

4 ETA awards co-sponsored by IE University, with campuses in Madrid and Segovia.

3 Other Spain ETA awards co-sponsored by private and/or public institutions in different locations throughout Spain.

Grants will begin on September 15, 2026 and end on June 14, 2027.

All Fulbright Spain student grantees are required to attend the Orientation Seminar scheduled for the first half of September 2026. This orientation is designed to cover a wide array of topics essential for starting the grant year successfully and thriving during the time in Spain, such as grant benefits and obligations, cultural adaptation in Spain, and more.

Applications are welcome from self-motivated graduating seniors and recent graduates with the initiative, adaptability, and flexibility needed to assistant-teach at the following levels depending on region and program. 

Galicia ETAs: Elementary, high schools, and vocational training schools (formación profesional).

Canary Islands ETAs: Early childhood, elementary, high schools. 

Comunidad de Madrid ETAs: High schools.

La Rioja ETAs: Early childhood, elementary, high schools, and vocational training schools (formación profesional).

Asturias ETAs: Elementary and high schools.

University ETAs (UCJC, UMA, and IE ETAs): University level. More mature candidates with a Master’s degree, excellent writing skills, some teaching experience, and/or writing center and tutoring experience are highly preferred.

Other Spain ETAs: Early childhood, elementary, high school, and/or university levels.

Placements will be based on the academic and extracurricular profiles of the selected candidate and the schools’ needs. Applicants should submit detailed descriptions of their study or career interests and also include relevant extracurricular activities, including information about the age groups with which the applicant has worked.

Life for Fulbrighters in the host country varies enormously region to region and even within the same Autonomous Region. Grantees' experience greatly depends on whether the regional government or co-sponsor places them in one school, multiple schools, a university, or a rural or suburban area versus a bustling metropolis. Additionally, the cultural dynamics within private, public, charter, vocational schools, or universities further contribute to the variety of experiences. Most Fulbrighters find there is less structure and more freedom in designing and delivering their lesson plans as well as certain differences in communication style to which they have to adjust in order to fully optimize their unique Fulbright experience in Spain.

Candidates may not reside in Spain at the time of application or during the academic year prior to the grant. Studying abroad in Spain as part of undergraduate studies is not considered residency in Spain. However, other full-time studies at an institution based in Spain or participation in an auxiliar de conversación program are considered residency in Spain.

• Bachelor's
• Master's

Applicants must clearly state their preferences for placement type in the first sentence of the Statement of Grant Purpose. Please specify:

• If you would only accept placement in a specific region or, alternatively, your order of preference
• Your preferences regarding age group (early childhood, elementary, middle/high school, vocational studies, or university) 
• Your preferences regarding geographic location (urban or rural areas)

Your preferences will be taken into consideration, although acceptance and placement will ultimately be determined by the Commission and Award Co-sponsors in accordance with each program's needs.

Additional Information: Intermediate Spanish language proficiency is required for better assimilation into the local community. Advanced Spanish would be particularly useful for the University ETA placements, although applicants with intermediate Spanish will be considered. 

Please make sure to include the Language Self-Evaluation and Foreign Language Evaluation in your Fulbright Online Application.

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• Secondary School
• Vocational/Technical School
• University/Post-Secondary Institution
• Other Educational/Community Institution

Galicia ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff at plurilingual elementary schools, high schools and vocational training schools (formación profesional), for up to 16 classroom hours per week, plus up to an additional 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. Responsibilities include assistant-teaching, in English, subjects such as science and technology, social studies, art, physical education, English language, and in some cases, English conversation classes with school staff.

ETAs may also be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor or the school. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility (they are not the main classroom teacher) and should be prepared to: serve as resource persons in conversation groups; provide small group tutorials; serve as attendants in language laboratories; design motivational activities; promote critical and scientific thinking; and, on occasion, give presentations related to American culture at extracurricular events.

Most schools are plurilingual (Spanish / Galician / English) and work with the CLIL methodology. They are located in urban areas of the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain, either in cities such as Vigo (300,000 inhabitants); A CoruÑa (250,000); Ourense, Lugo or Santiago de Compostela (around 100,000); Pontevedra (80,000) or Ferrol (70,000); or in small towns near said cities. Depending on the number of students in each school, ETAs should be prepared to teach in one or two different schools placed in the same location or in a location nearby. Specific locations and school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted. 

Canary Islands ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff for 16 classroom hours per week, plus an additional 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. ETAs will be placed in early childhood, elementary, and high schools and will assist teachers working with children aged 3 to 5, 6 to 12, and 12 to 16 years old. 

Responsibilities include assistant-teaching, in English, subjects such as social studies, science and technology, art, physical education, and English language. Other activities include directing conversation groups, in some cases with school staff.

ETAs may also be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor or the school. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility (they are not the main classroom teacher) and should be prepared to: assist in the design of motivational activities, promote oral communication; and introduce American culture at cross-curricular events. 

All schools are placed in the Canary Islands. There are eight islands that form two provinces: Santa Cruz (Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro) and Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and La Graciosa.) Some of the schools are located in cities and others in small rural areas; some are located on larger islands, such as Tenerife (894,636 inhabitants) and Gran Canaria (850,390 inhabitants); while others are located in smaller towns, villages, and islands, such as El Hierro (10,162 inhabitants) or La Graciosa (750 inhabitants). Depending on the number of students in each school, ETAs should be prepared to teach in one or two different schools placed in the same location or in a location nearby. Specific locations and school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted.

Comunidad de Madrid ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff at secondary schools for up to 16 classroom hours per week, plus up to an additional 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. Additionally, Global Classrooms (Model UN) preparation requires attendance at regular training sessions.

Responsibilities include assistant-teaching, in English, subjects such as social studies, science and technology, art, physical education, English language, and in some cases, English conversation classes with school staff.

For the first five or six months of the grant, ETAs will prepare students for the Global Classrooms (Model UN) project and will participate in the proceedings. ETAs may also be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility (they are not the main classroom teacher) and should be prepared to: serve as resource persons in conversation groups; provide small group tutorials; serve as attendants in language laboratories; and give presentations related to American culture at extracurricular events.

All ETAs will be required to complete a training module (MOOC) designed by the Comunidad de Madrid from October to February.

All schools are placed in the Comunidad de Madrid region, but some of them are located in the outskirts or in small towns. In some instances, commuting time from Madrid city center may be more than one hour. Specific school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted.

La Rioja ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff at early childhood, elementary, secondary schools, and vocational training schools for up to 16 classroom hours per week, plus up to an additional 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. Responsibilities include assistant-teaching, in English, subjects such as social studies, science and technology, art, physical education, English language, and in some cases, English conversation classes with school staff.

ETAs may also be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor or the school. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility (they are not the main classroom teacher) and should be prepared to: serve as resource persons in conversation groups; provide small group tutorials; serve as attendants in language laboratories; design motivational activities; promote critical and scientific thinking; and give presentations related to American culture at extracurricular events.

All schools are placed in the La Rioja region, some in larger towns such as Logroño (152,000 inhabitants), Calahorra (25,000) and Haro (12,000), while others are located in nearby smaller towns and villages such as Santo Domingo de la Calzada (6,000). Depending on the number of students in each school, ETAs should be prepared to teach in one or two different schools placed in the same location or in a location nearby. Specific school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted.

Asturias ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff at elementary, and/or secondary schools for 16 classroom hours per week, plus 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. Responsibilities include assistant-teaching in English as a foreign language and assistant-teaching in English in subjects such as social studies, science, technology, arts and crafts, and physical education.

ETAs may be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility (they are not the main classroom teacher) and should be prepared to: take part in collaborative teaching activities; serve as resource persons in conversation groups; serve as attendants in language laboratories; and give presentations related to American studies in classes or events organized by the regional Education Department.

All the schools are placed in the Principality of Asturias. They can be elementary or secondary schools. Some of them are located in small rural areas with a small number of students. Depending on the size of the school and on the number of students, ETAs should be prepared to teach in one or two different schools placed in the same village or in villages nearby, which may involve flexibility in teaching at different levels. In some instances, commuting from the biggest cities in Asturias can take more than an hour. Specific school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted.

Universidad Camilo José Cela ETAs: Universidad Camilo José Cela (UCJC) seeks ETAs who are excited to collaborate both with professors and college-age students, and are driven to take initiative in creating high-level content. As university TAs, UCJC ETAs will have less guidance and more flexibility, and should be prepared to take part in a wide range of responsibilities (detailed below). All ETAs will be expected to collaborate with UCJC for 18 hours a week; depending on the university’s needs and each ETA's interests, hours may vary slightly between each ETA and each semester.

UCJC ETA Responsibility Breakdown

**In-Class Teaching/Collaboration (8 hours/week)
Depending on Fulbright interest and professor need, Fulbright ETAs may:

• Lead or guide activities
• Assist professors with class preparation
• Give mini-lectures
• Visit classes to give occasional full lectures
• Work with students outside of class

Fulbright ETAs will only be asked to teach in English, and will not be expected to teach without a professor present. Depending on professor interest and need, they may be asked to create lesson plans/materials or assist with existing content.

**Lesson/Collaboration Planning (3 hours/week)
Time spent developing class materials, creating presentations, preparing seminars, conducting course-related research etc.

**Free English Support (3 hours/week)

Free English Support (FES) sessions are 1:1 or small group English tutoring sessions offered to UCJC students.

**International Club (2 hours/week)
UCJC ETAs will be responsible for leading a club of their own creation or continuing a club led by a former UCJC ETA.

As part of UCJC’s International Club designation, ETA clubs will be primarily led in English and will be organized by topic (sports, professional development, creativity)

**Cohort Meetings w/ Bilingual Coordinator (1 hour/week)
Weekly meetings to discuss updates, plan both short- and long-term collaborations, and provide support for the Fulbright cohort.

**Additional responsibilities (1 hour/week)
UCJC ETAs may be asked to contribute additional hours on behalf of UCJC’s international projects. Examples of past projects include a tour of UCJC for Harvard Education Fellows and attending meetings for the International Advisory Board.

In the second semester, ETAs will contribute additional hours to UCJC’s administrative departments. Examples of past contributions include managing the university’s social media, working with the Fulbright Bilingual Coordinator, and assisting with university event planning.

UCJC History & Profile

UCJC is a private SEK Education Group Spanish university which has been operating since the year 2000. The Fulbright program has been a part of the UCJC community since 2016, present in our three main campuses: Villafranca del Castillo, Castellana, and Almagro. Our campuses are located both in the city center (Castellana - Cuzco / Almagro - Alonso MartÍnez) as well as on the outskirts of Madrid (Villafranca - half an hour from the Moncloa station). 

We offer both undergraduate and graduate studies in four main programs: Communication and Humanities, Technology and Science, Education, and Health. Fulbrights may also participate  in Vocational Training studies such as Equestrian Studies, Transport and Logistics, Marketing and Publicity, and a variety of sports studies. These programs are separated into two categories described as national (spanish-speaking) and international (bilingual) studies. The ETA profiles that we seek are primarily linked to our International undergraduate degree programs.

UCJC Specific Areas of Study

UCJC seeks ETAs with relevant background experience (including majors, minors, or work experience) in the following areas of study. However, UCJC is primarily in search of ETAs with an array of interests who are engaged, flexible, and will take the initiative both to support professor vision and offer their own unique experience to each class, club, project, or activity they take part in. 

Note that some of these areas of study are not offered in English. 

Specific areas of study at UCJC include, but are not limited to:

1. Education: Pedagogy, English as a Second Language (ESL/TEFL), Developmental Psychology, Sociology, Special Education. 

   • Target Bachelor's Degrees Programs at UCJC: Psychology, Infant Education, Primary Education, Pedagogy.

2. Event and & Business Management: Negotiation & Conflict Mediation, Team Management, Emotional Intelligence, Event Planning or related fields.

   • Target Bachelor's Degree Programs at UCJC: Transport & Logistics, Protocol and Event Management and other degrees with general English courses.

3. STEM & Health: Physiotherapy, Nursing, Public Health, Sports Science, Psychology, Nutrition, Health Promotion, Dentistry, Medicine*, Pharmacy*, Biology, Chemistry*, Statistics, Research Methodology.

   • Target Bachelor's Degree Programs at UCJC: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Sports Science, and Psychology.

4. Communications & New Media: Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Digital Media/Arts*, Audiovisual Production*, Film*.

   • Target Bachelor's Degree Programs at UCJC: Audiovisual Communications & New Media, Creative Publicity, Digital Arts, Business & Technology, and Film & Audiovisual Fiction.

5. Business & Technology: Micro- & Macro-economics, Macroeconomics, Business, International Business, Finance*, Accounting*, Statistics, Data Analysis*, Decision Making Tools, Big Data, e-Commerce, Computer Science*, Programming*, Web Programming*, Apps, Machine Learning*, Information Technology*, Statistics*, or related fields.

   • Target Bachelor's Degree Programs at UCJC: Business and Technology, Entrepreneurship and Business Management.

6. International Relations & Legal Studies: International Relations, Criminology*, Law*, Human Rights. 

   • Target Bachelor's Degree Programs at UCJC: International Relations, Criminology and Security*, Audiovisual Communication and New Media, Law*, or Psychology.

*Experience highly suggested.

Universidad de Málaga ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff, conduct academic writing skills workshops, and tutor students at UMA for 16 classroom hours per week, plus an additional 2 hours per week dedicated to coordination meetings.

Responsibilities include supporting the lecturer, particularly in encouraging the students to participate in oral communication activities and motivating students to learn relevant terminology of the subject field and use it idiomatically in different written formats (reports, essays, etc.). They may also be required to assist with the preparation of resource material for lessons, as indicated by the subject teacher.

Selection will be based on the University’s needs and the academic and professional experience and extracurricular profile of the selected candidate. Applicants should submit detailed descriptions of their study or career interests and also include relevant extracurricular activities.

ETAs may be involved in special projects designed by UMA. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility and should be prepared to: take part in collaborative teaching activities in English; lead staff/professor conversation groups; work with students who need extra help on a one-on-one basis during tutoring hours; create and proofread didactic materials for lessons and give support to the coordinator of the courses taught in English.

The University of Málaga is a public Spanish University which has been operating since the year 1972. It has two main campuses (El Ejido and Teatinos). 50 years after its founding, UMA has more than 35,000 students, 58 Bachelor's Programmes, 53 Master's Programmes, 278 research groups and 45 registered patents in 2011. At present, the UMA remains highly committed to making scientific development and innovation the grounds on which social progress rests. The efforts made to promote mobility and attract international talent have stood out in recent years, resulting in an open and cosmopolitan university involved in top-level research projects.

IE ETAs: ETAs will manage the Writing Center and assist teaching staff at IE University for up to 16 hours per week, plus 2 hours per week dedicated to planning and coordination meetings. ETAs’ primary role will be to lead the Writing Center (in person on each campus), overseen by the Executive Director of the School of Humanities. Responsibilities at the Writing Center include offering support for the Research & Academic Writing Skills subjects which many first-year students must take within their degree programs, and tutoring IE students in writing and research skills. ETAs’ other responsibilities may include teaching English conversation classes for IE University staff (in coordination with the main professor), and developing and conducting writing and research skills workshops for general or specific groups of students throughout the year.

ETAs may be also involved in special projects designed by the co-sponsor. ETAs do not assume full teaching responsibility of academic undergraduate courses but should be prepared to: take part in collaborative teaching activities in English, Research and Academic Writing Skills, and Humanities classes; lead staff/professor conversation groups; and work with their Research and Writing Skills students on both campuses (Madrid and Segovia) who need extra help on a one-on-one basis during tutoring hours (by appointment or walk-in).

IE is an international university in Spain. All students at IE study their degree programs wholly in English (https://www.ie.edu). English is the lingua franca at IE, but it is a generic, international English (neither predominantly British nor American). However, most students are at least bilingual, and many are polyglots who already speak/live/study in multiple languages. The IE student body is extremely international with about 70% international students from 100 countries and the other 30% Spanish students.

Selection will be based on the University’s needs and the academic and professional experience and extracurricular profile of the selected candidate. Applicants submit detailed descriptions of their study or career interests and also include relevant extracurricular activities.  The ability to be proactive and take initiative while functioning as part of a tightly knit, extremely coordinated team is essential.

IE University has two campuses, in Madrid and Segovia. Madrid is an innovative city campus while Segovia is a more traditional campus in a beautiful, more provincial setting. TAs will rotate between Madrid and Segovia, and may be asked to travel between campuses for meetings, classes, etc. Travel between campuses will be covered by the Fulbright Commission.

Other Spain ETAs: ETAs will assist teaching staff at early childhood, elementary, middle schools, high schools, vocational/training schools, or universities for up to 16 classroom hours per week, plus up to an additional 2 hours per week for planning and coordination meetings. ETAs may also be involved in special projects designed by the regional co-sponsor or the school, design motivational activities, and promote critical and scientific thinking.

• Capital City
• Regional City
• Rural

Schools are placed throughout Spain, both in urban and rural areas. Depending on the number of students in each school, ETAs should be prepared to teach in one or two different schools placed in the same location or in a location nearby. Please clearly indicate your preferences regarding age group (early childhood, elementary, high school or university) and geographic location (urban or rural areas) in your application. The Spanish region and specific school placements will not be finalized until after the grant has been accepted.

• 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 amounts vary depending on the cost of living in the placement region, and are calculated based on factors such as rent prices, transportation, and food costs. The stipend is calculated to cover these basic expenses and to allow grantees to live comfortably on a budget. 

Grants are disbursed to grant recipients’ Spanish bank accounts in two-month installments. Grant recipients have the option to request their round-trip travel stipend to their US bank account or receive it upon their arrival in Spain.

• Language training allowance
• Research/Materials allowance
• Settling in allowance

• Health insurance (in addition to ASPE)
• Mid-year seminar

Grant recipients will be in contact with the member of the Commission that manages their program or region. Grant recipients will receive access to comprehensive information in the summer prior to their grant, including, but not limited to: instructions for applying for a visa; information on the housing search; guidance on first steps in the host country; and developing one’s health plan in concert with provided health coverage in-country. 

Grant recipients will also receive access to an Online Guide, a comprehensive resource with specific information ranging from finance and budgeting, cultural adjustment, health care, and documentation. The Online Guide is updated every year with the most current information about specific regions, cultural events, and volunteer opportunities.

Furthermore, for programs already established in the host region, grantees will have access to the support of a mentor. Mentors are second-year grantees that are renewing in the same region and host institution, and offer support for grantees in their transition to their host region or program. 

The Mid-Year Seminar is an annual gathering of all Fulbright U.S. Student grantees in Spain in which grantees come together to share information about their grants and reflect on their Fulbright experiences at the midway point of their grant period. 

All ETAs are expected to undertake independent projects, especially those involving community service, outside of school hours. These are referred to as "side projects" or "community engagement projects" and proposals may include projects at host institution(s), at local cultural centers or NGOs, independent research projects, multimedia projects, and other types of engagement with the local community. Applicants should briefly describe the project in which they would like to engage outside of ETA responsibilities in their Statements of Grant Purpose.

Cost of Living also varies greatly from region to region and between rural and urban areas in Spain. All stipends are set in accordance with local estimated cost of living and cover the cost of living for a modest lifestyle in the Host Region or Country: renting a room in a shared flat, purchasing meals and groceries, as well as commuting using public transportation. The grant stipend is not intended to cover costs associated with living alone, frequent travel within or outside of the Host Region, or covering expenses like dry cleaning, media subscriptions, or accrued student loan debts. Grantees from varied socioeconomic backgrounds have found the stipend sufficient with the deferment of student loans and sensible budgeting for personal expenses outside the standard costs of living. 

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in Spain. This website provides helpful information related to the cost of living in Spain: 

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

All Fulbright Spain grantees are required to arrange their own housing. The Commission provides ample resources to aid in the housing search in Spain.