Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program 2025-26

Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program 2025-26 is an initiative by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) for full-time senior secondary school teachers in India. This fellowship is part of the overall Fulbright Program, named in honor of Senator J. William Fulbright.
It is a 6 week, non-degree, non-credit academic program which will comprise up to six teachers from India to participate in the U.S. University.The selected participants will receive variable awards.

Source: USIEF

The program is being organised by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

To be eligible for this program, an applicant must:-

• be a full-time senior secondary teacher (Classes 6 to 12) in a school that serves a primarily local (not expatriate) population
• have completed at least five years of full-time teaching by the start of the program in FTEA teaching disciplines - 
  • English
  • English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
  • Social Studies, Mathematics
  • Science, or Special Education

For applicants who live and teach in India - 

• be citizens of and residents in India
• have earned a bachelor’s degree
• be present in India at the time of submitting the application and for the interview
• have obtained a minimum score of 61 on iBT TOEFL or equivalent English language examination*
• demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program
• have submitted a complete application

*Note:- TOEFL scores are not required at the time of application. If the participants are shortlisted for an interview, USIEF will provide instructions for TOEFL or an equivalent for the English proficiency test.

The teachers selected for the 6-week program will receive the following benefits:- 

• J-1 visa support
• A baggage allowance
• A pre-departure orientation held in the participant’s home country
• Round-trip airfare to and within the US
• Academic program fees
• Housing (generally shared with other program fellows) and meals
• Accident and sickness medical insurance coverage (does not cover pre-existing conditions)
• Transportation to the practicum school (if necessary)
• A daily allowance for incidentals during the university academic program
• An end-of-program workshop in Washington, D.C.
• An opportunity to apply for alumni small grants for alumni in good standing

Eligible candidates can apply for the scholarship by following the steps mentioned below:-

Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Navigate to the 'How to Apply' section and click on the first link.
Step 3: For first time users, click on the 'Create an Account' link, whereas registered users click on the 'Login' button.
Step 4: To register for an account, enter an email address, first and last name, birthday and click on 'Continue' tab.
Step 5: Enter the pin received through email to activate the account and create a password to complete the process.
Step 6: After successfully creating the account, log in using valid credentials.
Step 7: Fill in the required information step-by-step and upload the required documents s in PDF format as required​.
Step 8: Fill in the grant and additional information and submit the form.

Note:- For detailed information, kindly go through the 'Application Instructions Guide' document.

• CV
• Copy of latest University degree transcript
• Teaching awards (if any)
• Passport

The applicants will be selected through a merit-based competition based on the criteria below:- 

• Demonstrated commitment to teaching in the field of secondary education
• Demonstrated leadership potential
• Professional and educational experience and achievements
• Potential for developing long-term linkages between US and Indian educational institutions and schools
• Preparedness for an intensive US-based training program with very limited free time for personal travel or sightseeing
• Willingness and capacity to work and live collaboratively with international peers to foster a positive learning community for professional development
• Articulated ideas for applying program experience to improving secondary education in the home country
• Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively
• English language skills adequate to manage coursework, develop lesson plans and team-teach in US schools

Application Deadline: 07th March 2025

Question: What are the eligibility criteria for the Fulbright TEA Program?
Answer: Fulbright TEA Program eligibility generally requires full-time secondary school teaching experience, strong English proficiency (TOEFL iBT score of 45 or equivalent), and a commitment to continued teaching. 

Question:What are the key benefits of participating in the program?
Answer: Fulbright TEA offers professional development, diverse learning, and fosters U.S.-India education connections.

Question: How can I apply for the Fulbright TEA Program?
Answer: Students can apply for the Fulbright TEA Program through the official Fulbright Commission website and follow the application instructions carefully.

Question: Is it mandatory to have a CV?
Answer: Yes, students must have a CV to apply online for this fellowship. 

Question: Does the fellowship cover travel expenses?
Answer: Yes, this fellowship covers the travel expenses. 

• USIEF will only accept online applications from Indian applicants. Paper applications will not be accepted.
• Plagiarism in the application will lead to disqualification.
• No changes can be made to the application after submission.
• The application needs to be completed in English only.
• Preference will be given to applicants who are members of or who work with students from under-served communities or traditionally underrepresented groups including but not limited to women, racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, people with disabilities, and the LGBTI community and people from diverse geographical areas of the country.
• Preference will also be given to applicants who have not previously received a Fulbright grant.
• Applicants should keep the word limit in mind while answering the questions in the application.
• Applications not fulfilling the eligibility criteria will not be forwarded to the selection committee.
• Applicants who have had few or no opportunities to travel to the U.S. will be given priority.
• The teachers will attend academic seminars on teaching methodologies and strategies, curriculum development, lesson planning, and instructional technology training. They will also participate in a practicum at a US secondary school.
• The candidates who apply for both FTEA and FDAI programs will be considered Ineligible.