The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

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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.

Costa Rica

2 English Teaching Assistant Award

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

The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grantees are placed in classrooms of 25 to 30 students to provide assistance to the local English Teachers. ETAs help teach English and support host institution teachers with various classroom activities, while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S.  

In Costa Rica, ETAs teach to students at high school, technical education, and higher education levels, outside of the capital. ETAs should expect to be placed in very rural communities, about 3 to 4 hours away from the capital city. 

Grant Length
10 Months
Grant Period
January Start

Grant Length: 10 months.

Grants begin in mid-January or early February 2026. 

Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation

As a condition of the grant, all grantees to Costa Rica are required to actively participate in the Pre-Departure Orientation in the U.S. prior to the grant.

Candidate Profile

Candidates with degrees in English, Spanish, Education or TEFL/Applied Linguistics with experience teaching or tutoring and who have an interest in working in an international educational environment are preferred. Other fields will be seriously considered if combined with teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Fulbrighters typically get very involved and volunteer in their communities. Many enjoy teaching English as their secondary project in the local community and participating in cultural events. It is also important that Fulbrighters be openminded and feel comfortable dealing with potential bureaucracy within the host institution. Teaching materials and technology may be limited at some locations. Fulbrighters are also expected to attend activities hosted by the embassy.

A group of people sitting around a table with plates of food.