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.

Malawi


English Teaching Assistant Award

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

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program in Malawi is sponsored and administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State. The program is managed in country by the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe.

The Fulbright ETA Program aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Malawi and provides the opportunity for recent graduates of various fields with interest in teaching to work in local educational institutions. Malawi offers a rewarding experience for those seeking to work in and gain cultural exposure to a developing country, where their contributions will make a lasting difference.

Regardless of educational and work experience, Fulbright ETAs will not be full-fledged professors and will be expected to co-teach alongside their local colleagues. This program is a professional development opportunity to advance teaching skills, serve as a cultural ambassador, and have a positive experience in the host country.

Malawi is known as the “warm heart of Africa” for its welcoming people. It is famous for Lake Malawi, the fourth-largest freshwater lake (by volume) in the world and home to hundreds of endemic fish species. UNESCO-acclaimed Chongoni Rock-Art Area in Malawi features the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa. Malawian diversity is evident through the many languages spoken here. However, Chichewa and English are the two national languages.

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
September Start

There is no standard academic calendar for Malawian educational establishments. However, ETAs should anticipate beginning their grants in September 2024, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Malawi.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation

As a condition of their grants, all grantees will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2024.

A mandatory in-country group orientation and security briefing will be provided by the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe.

Candidate Profile

Master's-level candidates are preferred. However, graduating seniors or graduate students considering careers in education, who have a degree in English, education or TEFL/applied linguistics and have experience teaching or tutoring will be considered. Other fields will be considered if combined with experience in working with first-generation college students, teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy. Candidates with the ability to incorporate or organize extra-curricular activities – music, art, dance, English Clubs, Reading and Writing Clubs - are preferred. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply. 

Eligibility
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required
Placement Type
  • Secondary School
  • Other Educational/Community Institution
Placement Locations
  • Capital City
  • Regional City
  • Rural

Fulbright ETAs may be placed in educational institutions located throughout the country and range from the capital to rural areas with great need for native English speakers. Depending on the current needs of the country, host institutions may include secondary schools or university-level language departments.

Supplementary Project
Required

When not engaged in ETA-related duties, grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. Lilongwe-based ETAs are required to collaborate with the Public Diplomacy Section to design activities at the American Center in Lilongwe.

Housing Arrangements

ETAs are responsible for arranging their own accommodations.  The Public Diplomacy Section can provide suggestions to assist in identifying long-term accommodations in Malawi, but each grantee is ultimately responsible for arranging his/her own accommodations.  

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Education Outreach Coordinator: ChitawoF@state.gov
Public Diplomacy Officer: DennyEW@state.gov