Application Deadline: Varying by Country
Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program. The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program brings international educators to the United States for a six-week professional learning program featuring academic seminars at a host university and co-teaching placements at area schools. Participants observe classrooms, team-teach, and share their expertise with educators and students at the host university and at a variety of public, private (secular or faith-based), or charter schools. Participants also take part in civic and cultural activities in their host communities.
Program Components
Teachers who are selected to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program will:
1) Take part in tailored graduate-level seminars at a U.S. host university.
2) Observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues in U.S. secondary schools.
3) Engage in an online professional learning community with other participants to share best practices and other elements of host and home country educational systems; and
4) Take part in other educational and cultural activities while on program in the United States
Upon returning home, teachers will share the knowledge and experience gained on the program with teachers and students in their home schools and communities.
Requirements
- Are you currently a full-time, secondary-level educator living and working in one of the participating Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement countries or territories and looking to explore new teaching methodologies, to develop your skills with instructional technology, and learn about the U.S. educational system?
- Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement is open to educators in all disciplines including English as a foreign language, foreign languages, journalism, communications, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), social studies, special education, and others at institutions serving primarily a local population.
- Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience, and demonstrate English language proficiency.
- Applicants must have the ability to travel to the United States for six weeks.
Benefits
- Travel: IREX will make international travel arrangements and provide all teachers with an international airline ticket and a travel allowance to cover the cost of incidental expenses. Fulbright teachers will also be reimbursed for round-trip travel expenses between their home city and the point of departure for the United States; however, participants (or U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions) are responsible for making these domestic travel arrangements to and from the international airport.
- Housing: Participants will live on or near the host university campus in housing in rooms arranged for them by the university. Dependents (spouses, children, etc.) are not permitted to accompany the teachers on the program.
- Maintenance Allowances: Each Fulbright teacher will receive a maintenance allowance during the program to cover expenses such as supplies for classes, household items, personal items, and cultural and other activities. Included in this total is a daily stipend to purchase groceries, meals at local restaurants, or food from on-campus dining services.
University Coursework:
Weekly Seminars: Teachers will participate in weekly seminars at their host university featuring presentations and discussions led by university staff, faculty members, and invited educational experts.
The Fulbright TEA Program provides academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, content-based instruction, lesson planning, and instructional technology training for teachers.
U.S. School Placements: The program will also include a practicum of at least 40 hours with a U.S. partner teacher in a secondary school near the host university to actively engage participants in the U.S. classroom environment. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided to participants throughout the program.
Program Dates
Spring 2026
- By September 5, 2025: U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions confirm finalists’ acceptance of award and submit required documents: signed Terms and Conditions for both Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 Cohorts and completed participant medical forms for Spring 2026 Cohort only.
- November 2025: U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions receive DS-2019 forms and pre-departure orientation (PDO) materials and schedules visa interviews/pre-departure orientations for Spring 2026 Cohort.
- November–December 2025: U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions conduct visa interviews and PDO for Spring 2026 Cohort (making sure to allow adequate time, depending on the country context).
- Late January 2026: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
- Spring 2026 Cohort Fellows begin their six-week program in the United States.
- Mid-March 2026: End of Spring 2026 U.S. program. Fall 2026 By January 30, 2026: U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions send Fall 2026 Cohort completed participant medical forms.
- June 2026: IREX sends DS-2019 forms and pre-departure orientation materials and schedules visa interviews/PDOs for Fall 2026 Cohort.
- June–July 2026: U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions conduct visa interviews and PDOs for Fall 2026 Cohort (making sure to allow adequate time, depending on the country context).
- September 2026: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
- Fall 2026 Cohort Fellows begin their six week program in the United States.
- Late October 2026: End of Fall 2026 U.S. program.
Participating Countries
- Algeria: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program – March 2nd
- Cameroon: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) – March 10
- Cote d’Ivoire: 2026 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program – March 14, 2025
- Guinea-Bissau: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program – February 28, 2025.
- Malawi: Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) – February 23, 2025
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
