2024-2025 competition is closed. 2025-2026 competition will open in April 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.

Switzerland


3 English Teaching Assistant Award

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

Teaching assistants – generally future or beginning language teachers – gain experience in language teaching methods and, at the same time, improve their own knowledge of a foreign language. They broaden their knowledge about life in Switzerland and its education system.

In partnership with Movetia, the Swiss National Agency for Exchange and Mobility and the Fulbright Program in Switzerland, offer three grants, which are part of the general Swiss language Assistantship program.

The ETAs will assist permanent teaching staff generally at a secondary school, such as Grammar schools, Specialist Vocational schools, or Federal Vocational Baccalaureate schools.

Applicants can apply to one of three Swiss language regions: French, German, or Italian. They should indicate their language region in the Statement of Grant Purpose.

Grant Length
10 Months
Grant Period
September Start

Generally beginning September 1st and ending June 30th.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation

All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant.  The event is organized by IIE, virtual or in-person.

There will also be an introductory seminar upon arrival in Switzerland.

Candidate Profile

1. College or University graduate holding a bachelor’s or higher degree, planning to teach English or work in a related field.

2. Possibly having studied German, English, French, or Italian Language or Literature as a major or minor subject.

3. Applicants must be between 21 and 35 years old at the time of the September grant start date; however, the preference is for candidates 30 and younger.

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

All grantees must travel on their U.S. passport. Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than nine months during the year prior to the beginning of the scholarship in September 2024 are not eligible.

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Novice

Depending on the Swiss language region, grantees should have German, French at A2 level, or Italian at B1 (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR). Applicants should indicate their language region in the Statement of Grant Purpose.

Placement Type
  • Secondary School
  • Vocational/Technical School
Placement Locations
  • Capital City
  • Regional City
  • Rural
Supplementary Project
Not Permitted

The teaching assistant commitment is 12 hours a week (16 lessons of 45 minutes each). In addition to teaching, the grantee is expected to engage in extracurricular activities within the school and/or community, such as language clubs or other extra-curricular activities or community volunteering activities. The grantee would also promote the full extent of the Fulbright program to other students and teachers. The teaching, extra-curricular, and community outreach activities should make up a full-time program of 40-42 hours per week.

Housing Arrangements

ETAs are responsible for making their own arrangements for housing, which must be in the Swiss canton in which their host school is located, preferably close to the school.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available

The grant stipend is for the cost of living for a single person only.

Visa/Residency Information

Visa and work permit are required. All Fulbright ETAs must use their U.S. passport and are subject to the Switzerland's trainee agreement with the USA. For details, see the candidate profile above. For more details, click here.

Special Application Instructions

ETAs must obtain an authorization to work as a young professional (trainee) by submitting the trainee agreement application immediately upon confirmation of placement. Applications should be submitted to Cultural Vistas, Attn: Internships Abroad, 233 Broadway, Floor, New York, NY 10279, USA. The procedure requires about 8-12 weeks and the service is payable. A visa is required. For more details, click here.

Only finalists must undergo the visa application process and only after they have been accepted by the host school.

Grant Benefits

Grant benefits include a monthly stipend of CHF 3,200 gross per month, with which grantees finance their costs of board and lodging, insurance policies, and travel, including international travel to and from Switzerland.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Gaby Bloem: BloemGM@state.gov