F U L B R I G H T

CZECH REPUBL IC • FRANCE • HUNGARY INDIA • MEXICO • SWITZERLAND UNITED KINGDOM

F U L B R I G H T C L A S S R O O M T E A C H E R E X C H A N G E P R O G R A M

For more information, please contact Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. 

T: 202.464.3916 E: fulbrightcte@fhi360.org W: www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org 

The Fulbright Program is a program of the United States Department of State. Bureau of Educational and Cultural A airs

2O12 2O13 Exchange classrooms with a teacher from another country. 

Give your school the opportunity to host an international teacher.

TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

FHI 360
PROGRAM overview
T

HE Fulbright program was established in 1946 

under legislation introduced by Senator J. 

William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright 

Program became part of the Fulbright-Hays Act 

(the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act) 

which was signed by President Kennedy in 1961. 

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international 

exchange program sponsored by the U.S. 

government designed to increase mutual 

understanding of the people of the United States and 

people of other countries. The Fulbright Program 

provides participants—chosen for their academic 

merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity 

to study, teach and conduct research, exchange 

ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared 

international concerns.

The Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program 

provides opportunities for teachers to participate in 

direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from 

other countries for a semester or academic year. 

By living and working in the cultures of their host 

countries, Fulbright teachers gain an understanding 

and appreciation of the similarities and differences in 

national cultures and education systems. Fulbright 

teachers enrich their schools and communities with 

a new awareness of other cultures and of events 

occurring in different parts of the world, providing 

students and citizens with new perspectives about 

the world in which they live.

Fulbright exchanges result in continuing relationships 

between schools, some of which establish their own 

student and faculty exchanges and Internet links. In 

other instances, exchanges benefit local communities 

by providing them with international resources 

that are not otherwise available. International 

collaborations such as these foster enduring 

relationships and continuously provide students with 

opportunities to increase their subject knowledge and 

understand its relevance in the greater context of 

the world. Participating teachers develop and share 

their expertise with colleagues abroad, and schools 

gain from the experience of having an international 

resource in their communities. 

Full-time U.S. teachers are eligible to apply for 

a year-long or semester-long direct exchange of 

teaching positions with a counterpart in another 

country teaching the same subject(s) at the same 

level. Fulbright program staff in the U.S. and abroad 

match U.S. and overseas candidates in the spring 

of each year. Fulbright staff then propose matchedexchanges that each candidate and each school 

administration must approve before the program 

takes place.
From left to right: President Harry S. Truman, Senator J. William Fulbright, Assistant Secretary of State William Benton
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The Fulbright Program, the U.S. 

government’s flagship program 

for international educational 

exchange, was proposed to 

the U.S. Congress in 1945 by 

Senator J. William Fulbright of 

Arkansas, with the purpose of 

promoting “mutual understanding 

between the people of the United 

States and the people of other 

countries of the world.”
Fulbright grants are made to 

U.S. citizens and nationals of 

other countries for a variety of 

educational activities, primarily 

university lecturing, advanced 

research, graduate study and 

teaching in elementary and 

secondary schools. Since 

the program’s inception, 

approximately 294,000 

participants, chosen for their 

academic merit and leadership 

potential, have been afforded 

the opportunity to exchange 

ideas and contribute to finding 

solutions to shared concerns. 

Currently, the Program operates 

in approximately 155 countries 

worldwide.
7

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM IS PERFORMED BY SEVERAL ENTITIES IN THE US AND ABROAD:

PROGRAM administration

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Department of State. 

Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries and the United States also contribute financially.

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB), composed of 12 educational 

and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States, formulates policy for 

the administration of the program, establishes criteria for the selection of candidates and 

approves candidates nominated for awards.

The United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

develops policies to assure fulfillment of the purposes of the Program and administers it 

with the assistance of binational commissions and foundations in 50 countries, United 

States Embassies in 100 other countries, and a number of cooperating agencies in the 

United States. The Office of Global Educational Programs is responsible for administering 

the Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural affairs, binational 

commissions and foundations manage program in consultation with schools and 

organizations in the host country. They also screen, interview and recommend to the FSB 

qualified candidates for grants. In the United Kingdom, the partner organization is the 

British Council and in Switzerland, ch Youth Exchange. 

(FHI 360, under a cooperative agreement with the Department of State, administers the 

Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program and the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in 

Teaching.  

OTHER FULBRIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

There are also Fulbright grant opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to 

SEE travel, study, conduct research and work abroad.  fulbright.state.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION
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PROGRAM benefits

BENEFITS TO teachers

•	 increased understanding of host 

country, language, and 

academic field;

•	 opportunity for a career-enhancing 

professional development experience 

which allows teachers to gain new 

perspectives and be exposed to 

new teaching methods and to share 

professional expertise;

•	 opportunity to develop lifelong 

friendships and professional 

relationships and to become 

a member of an international 

community of Fulbrighters;

•	 additional benefit to accompanying 

family members, who get to live or 

go to school in a different cultural 

environment.

BENEFITS TO schools

•	 increased global awareness on part 

of students taught by international 

exchange teachers and by the 

returning Fulbright teacher;

•	 increased knowledge and 

international awareness on the part 

of professional colleagues through 

interactions with exchange teachers;

•	 opportunity for students to learn 

foreign languages from native 

speakers; 

•	 development of a long-term 

professional relationship between the 

U.S. and the foreign school, which 

can lead to student and teacher 

collaboration and privately arranged 

teacher exchanges, student linkages, 

and future student exchanges.

BENEFITS TO communities

•	 presence of an international teacher 

and his or her family as resources in 

the community, providing the whole 

community the opportunity to learn of 

another nation;

•	 opportunity for increased awareness 

of diversity of ideas, values, world 

views, and ways of life.

IN EXCHANGING POSITIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS, U.S. TEACHERS DEVELOP NEW 

CURRICULA, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE CULTURES OF THEIR HOST COUNTRIES, 

AN EXPERIENCE WHICH BENEFITS THE TEACHERS, THEIR SCHOOLS, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
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Applying to the 

Fulbright Classroom 

Teacher Exchange Program
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Elementary through high school teachers are eligible to apply. However, not all applicants are eligible for all countries. 

Please see the Participating Countries listing for country specific eligibility requirements.

To meet the basic eligibility requirements of the program, an applicant must meet all of the following seven requirements. 

Failure to meet any one of the requirements makes a candidate ineligible. DEADLINEAt the time of application, a candidate must:

ALL APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2012-13 ACADEMIC YEAR MUST 

BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. A PRINTED COPY OF 

THE FULL APPLICATION WITH ALL REFERENCES MUST BE 

SENT TO FHI 360 AND POSTMARKED BY OCTOBER 15, 2011

Eligibility Requirements

Elementary through high school teachers are eligible to apply. However, not all applicants are eligible for all countries. Please see 

the Participating Countries listing for country specific eligibility requirements.

To meet the basic eligibility requirements of the program, an applicant must meet all of the following six requirements. Failure to meet 

any one of the requirements makes a candidate ineligible. At the time of application, a candidate must:

•	 be a U.S. citizen;

•	 be fluent in English;

•	 hold at least a Bachelor’s degree;

•	 have a current full-time teaching assignment in the U.S. or one of its territories;

•	 be in at least the 5th year of full-time teaching; and

•	 meet current FSB eligibility requirements regarding previous grants: previous Fulbright recipients who completed a grant of

longer than eight weeks in 2007 or earlier are eligible to apply. Previous Fulbright recipients who completed a grant of eight 

weeks or less in 2010 or earlier are eligible to apply. Applicants must also not have received more than the lifetime limit of two 

Fulbright grants (eight weeks or more = 1 grant; eight weeks or less = 1⁄2 grant)

For the purpose of determining eligibility, “full time” refers to applicants who are currently employed full time by a single institution (school or 

school district). Teachers who hold a combination of part time jobs which may add up to a full time equivalent are not eligible.

Re-applicants

Previous applicants are eligible to apply for 

the program. All re-applicants must submit 

a current application form in order to be 

considered. However, re-applicants need 

not submit the two additional references, 

provided those on file were submitted within 

the past year. Re-applicants will be advised 

if additional information or interviews are 

necessary.

Previous Grantees

Preference will be given to candidates who 

have not had previous Fulbright grants. 

However, recipients of a semester or yearlong Fulbright grant are eligible to receive 

another Fulbright grant five years after the 

date of completion of the previous grant. 

The five-year requirement between two 

grants does not apply to short-term grants, 

which are defined as grants of under two 

months duration. Waiting periods with regard 

to short term grants are as follows: 

a. Recipients of a short-term grant are 

eligible to receive a semester or yearlong grant two years after the date of 

completion of the preceding short-term 

grant. 

b. Recipients of a semester or year-long 

grant are eligible to receive a shortterm grant two years after the date of 

completion of the preceding basic grant. 

c. Recipients of a short-term grant are 

eligible to receive another short-term 

grant two years after the completion of 

the preceding short-term grant. 

Number of Awards 

The maximum number of any combination 

of basic Fulbright grants for Scholars and 

Teachers is limited to two with the following 

conditions and exceptions: 

a. that a Student grant does not count 

toward this lifetime limit;

b. that a short-term grant (two months 

or less) shall count as 1⁄2 of a basic 

Fulbright grant for purposes of counting 

in a lifetime limit and shall not exceed 

two in a lifetime.

OCTOBER 15, 2011
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Participating Countries
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CZECH DATES: September through June.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 3. 

DEPENDENTS: Permitted

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Language of instruction is English. 

Fluency in Czech not required; some ability useful.

FRANCE

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

English language and American literature and civilization. 

Placement in French junior and senior high schools or in the 

special two-year post-baccalaureate “Brevet de Technicien

Supérieur” (BTS) classes (roughly equivalent to the community 

college level in the U.S.). Level may or may not correspond to 

the teaching assignment in the U.S. Exchanges are also possible 

with the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the French 

Antilles. Candidates should be aware, however, that the cost 

of living is higher in these areas than in metropolitan areas of 

France and the U.S.

LEVEL/SUBJECT

US teachers of French (grades 7-12). The French teacher’s U.S. 

assignment should consist only of French language, literature, 

and civilization.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from 

France who has also secured a leave of absence with pay.

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport

nearest grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance 

per semester. It is suggsted that a couple with two children have 

available a net sum of at least $30,000 for the school year.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in

Washington, D.C. Orientation/information meeting held in 

the Paris area shortly after arrival, organized by the FrancoAmerican Commission (Fulbright Commission) and the Centre 

International d’études Pedagogiques (CIEP).

COUNTERPART AGENCY

The Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange 

(Fulbright Commission) in cooperation with CIEP. See the web site 

of the Commission at www.fulbright-france.org and the website for 

CIEP (http://www.ciep.fr/).

DATES: September through July.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 10.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.

LANGUAGE: Fluency in French required.

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

English as a foreign language at a secondary school.

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Teachers (grades 6-12) of English as a second language, English, 

history, math or physical education.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from 

the Czech Republic who has also secured a leave of absence 

with pay (Czech teacher will receive a maintenance allowance; no 

additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school).

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest 

grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance 

per semester.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C. Orientation workshop upon arrival in Prague, 

mid-year conference, Czech language course upon arrival 

(optional but recommended), book allowance (contingent upon the 

availability of funding).

COUNTERPART AGENCY

J. William Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange in the 

Czech Republic, Prague. Please see the Commission’s web site at 

www.fulbright.cz for more information.

REPUBLIC
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HUNGARY

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

Teaching English as a foreign language or any other subject in 

English at a secondary institution in Hungary. 

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Teachers (grades 7-12) of English as a second language, English, 

history, math or art. 

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher 

from Hungary who has also secured a leave of absence with pay 

(Hungarian teacher will receive a maintenance allowance; no 

additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school).

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

 Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest 

grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. Participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance 

per semester.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C. Two orientation workshops upon arrival in 

Budapest: an orientation day in August dedicated to Teacher 

Exchange participants only and an orientation week for all U.S. 

Fulbright grantees to Hungary in the first week of September.

COUNTERPART AGENCY

 The Hungarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange 

(Fulbright Commission), Budapest. See the web site of the 

Commission at www.fulbright.hu.

DATES: September through June.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 4.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.

LANGUAGE: Language of instruction is English. Fluency in 

Hungarian not required, some ability highly useful.

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

English, math or science at a secondary school.

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Middle or high school teachers of English, math or science. 

Teachers of math or science must have a degree in the subject 

of instruction.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from 

India who has also secured a leave of absence with pay (Indian 

teacher will receive a maintenance allowance; no additional cost 

will accrue to the U.S. school).

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest 

grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

 Participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C. and a Fulbright Commission sponsored 

orientation workshop in New Delhi, India.

COUNTERPART AGENCY

U.S.-India Educational Foundation (Fulbright Commission), New 

Delhi. See the Commission’s web site at www.usief.org.in.

INDIA

DATES: Mid-August through December/January.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 8.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.

LANGUAGE: English.
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MEXICO

DATES: August through early July.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 10.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.

LANGUAGE: Fluency in Spanish required.

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

English at a Mexican institution. (Depending on the level taught in 

the U.S.)

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Teachers of Spanish or ESL (grades K-12).

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher 

from Mexico who has also secured a leave of absence with pay 

(Mexican teacher will receive a maintenance allowance; no 

additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school). U.S. teachers 

should be aware that Mexican class sizes average approximately 

45 students and teachers usually teach 25 hours per week.

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for the grantee only, from airport 

nearest grantee’s home, or reimbursement for certain expenses if 

grantee drives to Mexico.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. participants will also receive a $3000 maintenance allowance 

per semester.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C. and mid-term meeting in Mexico City.

COUNTERPART AGENCY

U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange 

(Fulbright-García Robles Commission), Mexico City. See the 

Commission’s web site at www.comexus.org.mx. 
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UNITED 

KINGDOM

DATES: August/September to mid to late July for year-long 

exchanges; August start for one-semester exchanges.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 22.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.

LANGUAGE: English.

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

Any subject area, at any level from elementary through high 

school. U.S. teachers must follow the U.K. National Curriculum. 

Elementary school teachers will be expected to teach all core 

academic subjects in the U.K.: English, reading, and language 

arts, mathematics, social studies and science as well as physical 

education, music, art, and information technology. Some 

elementary schools will require teachers to teach religion. 

Secondary schools in the U.K. are comprised of students from 

ages 11-16 or 11-18. In order to be eligible for a match in a 

secondary school in the UK, U.S. applicants must be qualified to 

teach students from 11-18 years of age. 

U.S. secondary school science teachers must be able to teach 

physics, chemistry and biology to 11-18 year olds in a secondary 

school in the U.K.

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Elementary and secondary school teachers. Any subject field.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from 

the U.K. who has also secured a leave of absence with pay (no 

additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school).

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest 

grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. participants in year-long exchanges will receive a $4000 

maintenance allowance per semester. Grantees should have 

available for the school year a net sum, including salary, or at least 

£25,000 for a single teacher and £30,000 for a family of four. 

Additional funds would be necessary for international vacation 

travel or purchase of a car while abroad. Teachers appointed to 

the London metropolitan area and other major cities will require 

additional funds.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C.

COUNTERPART AGENCY

British Council, Belfast. 

SCREENING &

SWITZERLAND

DATES: August through July.

ESTIMATED AWARDS: 3.

DEPENDENTS: Permitted.* 

LANGUAGE: Proficiency in German, 

French or Italian strongly recommended.**

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

English language and literature or other subjects for which the U.S. 

teacher has been trained or certified: foreign languages, math, 

science, history, geography, art, music or physical education. 

Placement may be at any type of Swiss secondary school.

LEVEL/SUBJECT

Teachers (grades 7-12) of German, French, Italian, English, 

English as a second language, Spanish, mathematics, science, 

history, geography, or physical education.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Direct exchange of teaching assignments. Requires that 

U.S. teacher obtain a leave of absence with pay from school 

administration. The U.S. school agrees to accept a teacher from 

Switzerland who has also secured a leave of absence with pay (no 

additional cost will accrue to the U.S. school).

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Round-trip economy airfare, for grantee only, from airport nearest 

grantee’s home.

OTHER ALLOWANCES

U.S. participants will receive a $4000 maintenance allowance 

per semester. Please note that the cost of living in Switzerland 

is significantly higher than in the U.S. Applicants should budget 

accordingly.

OTHER BENEFITS

Four-day pre-departure orientation workshop for grantee in 

Washington, D.C. One day orientation workshop in Switzerland.

COUNTERPART AGENCY

CH Youth Exchange, Solothurn.

*Free schooling for dependent children in Swiss public schools.

**Language of instruction is generally English, except when teaching a foreign 

language, although some Swiss schools may request U.S. teachers teach nonlanguage classes in German, French or Italian. 
16

selection

the participating countries to match 

recommended U.S. applicants with 

international applicants. A number of 

criteria are considered when making 

matching recommendations, including 

similarity of teaching assignments, 

similarity of schools, training and 

years of experience, location, housing 

availability, and personal qualities and 

plans as revealed in the applicant’s essay.

Before being recommended for a match, 

applicants to some countries may need to 

participate in an oral language evaluation.

Preference is given to applicants who 

have not previously participated in the 

program, and may be given to applicants 

who have not previously lived in the host 

country. Other factors being equal, and 

to the extent possible, applicants are 

chosen to represent a broad ethnic and 

geographic diversity. Where possible, 

preference is given to veterans. Not all 

applicants recommended by the Peer 

Review Committees will be selected for a 

grant. Regrettably, the number of qualified 

candidates always exceeds the number of 

available grants.

International teachers, who must apply in 

DATES DESCRIPTION

their country of residence, are screened 

and recommended according to FSB 

policies by Fulbright Commissions or 

other educational authorities abroad. 

Recommended international teachers are 

then matched with U.S. counterparts, and 

are proposed for exchange at the same time 

as their U.S. partners.

Teachers selected for an exchange will be 

required, at their own expense, to have a 

physical examination for themselves and 

all accompanying dependents. Final FSB 

approval of an exchange is contingent 

upon the candidate’s submission of a

satisfactory medical report. Teachers will 

also be required to attend a day-long spring

preparatory meeting in May and a weeklong pre-departure orientation in August.

These sessions are considered an essential 

part of the exchange, and therefore 

applicants should not make travel or 

vacation plans for the first week of August.

Teachers who are not matched with an 

international teacher are eligible to apply 

for future program cycles.

TIMELINE

F

ollowing the application deadline 

in October, FHI 360 screens all 

applications for eligibility and 

completeness. Eligible applications are 

forwarded to Peer Review Committees, 

who read the applications and conduct 

phone interviews with the applicants. The 

Committees, consisting of program alumni, 

teachers, and education administrators, 

evaluate candidates for their professional 

qualifications, motivation, seriousness of 

purpose, adaptability, and commitment to 

the program as evidenced in their written 

applications and their performance in 

the interviews. The Committees then 

recommend the highest quality applications 

for further consideration. All applicants 

are notified of their status by January 

after completion of all Peer Review 

interviews. Applicants not recommended 

for participation in the program will not be 

considered further for an exchange. They 

may re-apply for any future program cycle.

The months following the interviews 

are devoted to the matching process, in 

which the State Department’s Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs works 

together with FHI 360 and partners in 

October 15, 2011 Deadline for electronic submission of application and reference postmark 

deadline for 2012-13. 

October – November 2011 Applications screened for eligibility and completeness.

November – December 2011 Peer Review Committees conduct phone interviews with eligible applicants.

December 2011 – January 2012 All applicants are notified of their status after completion of all Peer 

Review interviews.

Spring 2012

Candidate matching process takes place between January and late March. 

Those applicants proposed for a match are required to submit additional 

documentation and undergo a medical examination by a physician.

Final FSB approval of an exchange assignment or seminar is contingent upon the 

candidate’s submission of a satisfactory medical report. Candidates who are not 

matched are notified by April.

May 2012 Matched candidates and school administrator participate in a preparatory 

meeting in Washington, DC or another U.S. city.

August 2012 Orientation in Washington, DC, for selected exchange teachers. Teachers begin 

Fulbright grants.

GRANT details
17

TERMS OF AWARD

EXCHANGE ARRANGEMENTS

U.S. teachers exchange positions directly 

with international teachers and take over 

their teaching assignments. U.S. teachers 

of foreign languages typically teach EFL 

overseas, while their exchange partners 

teach their native languages in the 

United States.

T

he terms of the award for teacher assignments vary from country to country and 

are described in detail in the Participating Countries section. In general, exchange 

teachers are granted a leave of absence with pay and benefits and use their regular 

salary to cover daily expenses while abroad. International teachers are also generally paid by 

their home schools, and replace their U.S. counterparts at no additional cost to the hosting 

school. The U.S. Department of State provides supplemental maintenance allowances to 

teachers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, and Mexico to cover living costs in the 

U.S. ($33,000 for year-long, $16,500 for semester). U.S. Teachers receive supplemental 

allowances as noted in the Participating Countries section.

All teachers should investigate the cost of living for themselves and any accompanying family 

members in the proposed country of assignment. Teachers must make sure that they have 

sufficient funds available to support themselves while on the exchange and need to be aware 

of fluctuating exchange rates.

All Fulbright teachers receive transportation awards. Since all costs for dependents’ travel 

are the participants’ responsibility, teachers interested in taking their families abroad must 

investigate the cost of transportation for their dependents.

Orientation costs, including travel to Washington and food and lodging at the orientation will 

be paid by the United States Department of State for the exchange teacher only.

Modest supplemental health insurance coverage will be provided to teachers selected for 

an exchange. Please note that accompanying dependents are not included in this coverage. 

However, additional coverage for the grantee and/or accompanying dependents may be 

purchased through the United States Department of State. Passport fees are also the 

responsibility of the applicant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
19

FAQs

CAN I APPLY FOR COUNTRIES NOT LISTED IN THE APPLICATION?

No. You may only apply for countries listed in the application for the year that you apply. 

CAN I APPLY FOR SUBJECTS/LEVELS THAT I DON’T CURRENTLY TEACH EVEN IF I’M CERTIFIED TO TEACH 

OTHER SUBJECTS/LEVELS?

No. Since an international teacher will be assuming your teaching duties, the placement of the international teacher in your school is 

based on the subject and level that you currently teach.

DO I HAVE TO SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

Yes, if you are applying to France, Mexico, or Switzerland. Candidates may be required to participate in a language evaluation. If you are 

applying to any other participating country, foreign language proficiency is not required. 

I’M A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER. CAN I APPLY TO THE PROGRAM? 

Yes, but special education exchanges are only offered in the United Kingdom.  

IF I’M A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, LIBRARIAN, NURSE, OR MEDIA SPECIALIST AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY? 

No. These are highly specialized positions, which are not always available in other countries.

WHO PAYS ME WHILE I’M ON EXCHANGE? 

Your school district continues to pay your salary, and the international teacher’s home school district continues to pay her/his salary for 

the duration of the exchange. In addition, U.S. teachers and teachers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, and Mexico will receive a 

supplemental maintenance allowance. 

WHERE WILL I LIVE WHILE I’M ON EXCHANGE? 

Housing arrangements are the responsibility of selected participants. Teachers are expected to help locate suitable housing for their 

partner and vice-versa before going on exchange. Most teachers on programs in France, Switzerland, and the U.K. exchange housing 

with their partners. It is recommended that participants consider the following options when making housing determinations: 1) 

locate temporary housing for a week to ten days upon arrival in the host country; 2) find housing on your own in the open market with 

suggestions from your exchange partner; 3) ask your exchange partner to help locate local, in-country rental options; 4) exchange 

housing with your exchange partner if both partners are in agreement. 

CAN I TAKE MY FAMILY ON EXCHANGE WITH ME? 

Yes. Many exchange teachers take their families on exchange, but at their own expense. See individual country listings for 

any restrictions.  
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CAN I APPLY WITH MY SPOUSE, WHO IS ALSO A TEACHER?

Yes, teaching couples may apply. However, because of the limited number of international candidate couples with similar qualifications, 

it may not be possible to arrange assignments in the same locality or to place both teachers.

I CAN’T GO ON EXCHANGE FOR A WHOLE YEAR.  ARE THERE OTHER POSSIBILITIES?

Yes. India and the United Kingdom also offer semester long exchanges. See specific country listings for more details. 

CAN I DO A TEACHER EXCHANGE IN THE SUMMER? 

No. Unfortunately, direct exchanges are not available during the summer. 

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT? CAN I APPLY FOR AN EXCHANGE AFTER I RETIRE? 

While there is no age limit for participating in the program, you must have a full-time teaching position to apply. 

IS THERE A COST TO MY SCHOOL FOR PARTICIPATING IN AN EXCHANGE? 

No. U.S. teachers participating in a direct exchange of teaching positions are granted a leave of absence with pay and benefits, and use 

their regular salaries to cover daily expenses while abroad. International teachers are paid by their home schools, and replace their U.S. 

counterparts at no additional cost to the hosting school. U.S. schools are asked to cover substitute costs for a number of days while the 

international teacher attends required Fulbright meetings.

CAN MY ADMINISTRATOR CHOOSE THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER WHO WILL TAKE MY PLACE? 

No, but they will have a chance to review the application of the proposed international teacher and accept or decline the exchange 

before final selection. All applicants must submit an Administrative Approval form at the time of application. Those applicants applying 

for a direct exchange of teaching positions must submit the form approved “with salary.” The Administrative Approval form does not 

obligate the school or the district to accept an international teacher, only to approve the U.S. candidate’s application to the program 

for a possible exchange. If an applicant is proposed for a direct exchange of teaching positions, Fulbright forwards the applicant’s 

immediate supervisor and district official the application of the international teacher. The application includes: educational background, 

professional experience, letters of recommendation, teaching credentials, interview results and other supporting documentation. Once 

the administration receives the proposal packet, they should review it with the applicant. We encourage potential U.S. host school 

administrators to interview prospective international teachers directly if there are any questions about that teacher’s qualifications. If the 

applicant or the administration finds the proposed exchange in any way unsatisfactory, the applicant or the administration may decline 

the proposal and Fulbright will search for a more suitable match. Only after all parties have agreed that the exchange is acceptable will 

the final selection and exchange take place. 

ARE INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS CERTIFIED TO TEACH IN THE U.S.? 

International teachers undergo a rigorous screening and interview process by U.S. Embassies or Fulbright Commissions in their own 

countries before their applications are forwarded to the United States. We use the results of these interviews and other supporting 

documents to find a match for your school’s particular needs. All international teachers must be fluent in English and be fully 

credentialed to teach in their own countries before they can apply to the program. As mentioned above, we encourage potential U.S. host 

school administrators to interview prospective international teachers directly if there are any questions about that teacher’s qualifications. 

Since the Fulbright teacher will not technically be employed by your district and will remain employed and paid by his/her own 

international school, the majority of states waive the credential for the teacher. Other states give the teacher an emergency or temporary 

certification, or they have a specific exemption for exchange teachers.  

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER HAS PROBLEMS WHILE ON EXCHANGE IN THE U.S.? 

U.S. teachers selected for an exchange are required to set up a support network for the incoming international teacher before leaving 

the United States. To assist the incoming international teacher, schools must also designate an official mentor teacher, who will assist the 

international teacher on-site. In addition, the U.S. hosting school and international teacher are supported by FHI 360 for the duration of 

the exchange. In the event that problems arise, FHI 360 is there to offer assistance. 

CAN I DO A ONE-WAY EXCHANGE? 

One-way assignments are rare but may be available depending on funding and interest by a particular country. A U.S. applicant may not 

apply directly for a one-way assignment, however, if you answer “Yes” to Question E in the application, you will be considered for a oneway assignment should a suitable assignment become available. In that case, you would need to take a leave of absence, or your school 

would need to cover your teaching assignment while you are away.

FAQs