Saudi Arabia
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
As part of its ambitious economic transformation to diversify revenue away from oil and gas, Saudi Arabia is prioritizing English language instruction in higher education to better position its citizens for the global market. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program supports these goals by placing American educators in Saudi institutions.
Beyond the classroom, ETAs lead extracurricular activities that strengthen the understanding of American culture among students. With approximately 50% of Saudi nationals under the age of 25, ETAs play a vital role in engaging with the nation's youth. The most successful ETAs demonstrate a deep interest in their host nation, utilizing this unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Saudi culture and gain firsthand insight into the Kingdom’s higher education sector.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Program dates are typically in accordance with the academic year in Saudi Arabia, which starts in September and ends in May/June. However, some institutions may require a summer or spring start.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a Pre-departure orientation in the United States in Summer 2026 as a condition of their grants.
The U.S. Embassy will meet with ETAs upon arrival and provide a security briefing.
Candidate Profile
Grantees will work at a university in Saudi Arabia to enhance English education by conducting English classes, American culture classes, and extracurricular activities. ETAs may also work with other education institutions as applicable. Grantees must be creative, flexible, and self-reliant team players who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff, and students. Grantees must possess excellent spoken and written English skills. English language teaching experience is preferred.
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.
Saudi Arabia provides a comfortable and modern lifestyle for ETAs. Major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam offer an array of amenities, from shopping malls and restaurants to entertainment venues. The country’s infrastructure, including transportation and medical services, is well developed. Visitors can use rideshare services, such as Uber, to navigate major cities. The Riyadh metro system, the longest driverless metro in the world, launched in December 2024 and has further enhanced mobility across the city.
Life in Saudi Arabia is changing rapidly and rewards ETAs who are adventurous, proactive, and flexible. Contrary to common stereotypes, women can drive, attend public events, and are not required to cover their hair or wear an abaya in public. Saudi women still wear abayas, but it is common to see fashionable, fitted abayas of various colors, compared to traditional black garments. Female ETAs may wear traditional U.S. business attire or abayas in professional settings; however, Saudi universities may have their own dress codes.
Visitors to Saudi Arabia will find a robust entertainment scene, including concerts, comedy shows, public cinemas, and social clubs of every kind. Still, social norms continue to be conservative by U.S. standards, including modest dress and less physical contact between men and women.
Applicants are expected to research Saudi Arabia prior to application to ensure they are prepared for the realities of life in the Kingdom. Application materials should indicate an understanding of the Saudi community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Eligibility
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-finalists will be required to email updated CVs upon receiving notification of their semi-finalist status and participate in an interview with the U.S. Embassy and/or host institution.
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.
Basic knowledge or proficiency in Arabic is preferable but not mandatory. The local dialect in Saudi Arabia is Gulf Arabic.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Grantees will be placed at a university. Final placement will be approved by the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Ministry of Education. ETAs may also work with other community-based education organizations.
ETAs should be prepared to dedicate about 25 hours per week to preparation and teaching, including small group tutorials, extra-curricular language-learning activities, and classroom instruction.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Placement locations vary and will be in or near one of Saudi Arabia's three major cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dhahran.
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.
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.
5975 USD monthly stipend amount.
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.
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Supplementary Project
Projects are recommended, not required. This will be an added value to the application and gives insight into an ETA’s prospective plans at the host institution. Projects are, however, subject to host institution approval.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
A single person's estimated monthly cost of living is $803.60 (3,014.4﷼), not including the cost of rent. Cost of living in Saudi Arabia is, on average, 35.5% lower than that in United States.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing will be provided by host institution. Please note, grantees should be adaptable to life in a relatively conservative religious culture.
Security Information
Grantees must inform the U.S. Embassy of any travel plans within (away from the host city) or outside Saudi Arabia. A designated point of contact from the U.S. Embassy will be in communication with grantees throughout their program duration. For more security information, please refer to the most recent State Department Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.