The Fulbright Commission invites Nepalese educators to apply for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (Fulbright TEA) Program for the 2026-27 academic year. This initiative brings secondary-level teachers from around the world to the United States for a six-week period. Participants engage in academic seminars aimed at professional growth at a designated university, observe classrooms, and contribute their knowledge to both the host university and local secondary schools. Throughout their stay, Fulbright TEA participants actively engage with Americans, particularly in classrooms, fostering positive interactions. They also have the chance to observe, co-teach, and share their expertise in U.S. secondary schools.
Program Components
Participants will take part in a structured blend of academic learning, classroom experience, and cultural engagement.
Academic Seminars
Teachers will attend weekly academic seminars focusing on:
- New and innovative teaching methodologies.
- Student-centered learning and content-based instruction.
- Lesson planning and curriculum development.
- Using instructional technology in classrooms.
- Best practices for educational leadership and community engagement.
U.S. School Practicum
Participants will spend at least 40 hours working alongside U.S. partner teachers in local secondary schools. This practicum provides hands-on experience in U.S. classrooms and promotes collaboration between participants and U.S. educators.
Cultural Exchange and Community Engagement
Participants will engage in:
- Civic and cultural activities in host communities.
- Opportunities to learn about U.S. history, society, and values.
- Activities that foster mutual understanding and global connections.
Online Professional Learning Community
Teachers will join a virtual platform to exchange ideas and best practices with educators worldwide, enabling continued collaboration and professional growth.
What the Program Covers
- J-1 Visa support
- Travel: International travel to and from the program locations in the U.S. is covered.
- Housing: Participants will live on or near the host university campus in single rooms arranged by the university. Dependents are not permitted to accompany the teachers on this 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.
Eligibility
- Must be current secondary school-level, full-time teachers of English, math, science, foreign language, social studies, journalism, or communications. This includes special education teachers in schools that primarily serve public and private school students. Secondary-level teachers include both middle and high school teachers serving students aged approximately 12 to 18.
- Applicants must hold a four-year Bachelor’s degree. If the Bachelor’s degree was less than four years long, then a two-year Master’s degree is also required.
- Have five or more years of classroom experience in TEA teaching disciplines
- Be citizens and residents of Nepal
- Be proficient in written and spoken English, with the ability to obtain a good score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching after the completion of the program
- The most competitive applicants will have demonstrated leadership in their schools.
- Educational administrators (such as representatives or officials of the Ministry of Education) and school administrators who do not teach at least 50% of their time, full-time teacher trainers, university faculty, private English Language tutors, and teachers from schools primarily serving expatriates are not eligible.
Program Timeline
- Accepting Applications: January 1, 2026
- Application Submission Deadline: March 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM NPT
- Final Interview: April 2026
- Nomination of finalists and alternates to IREX: May 2026
- Applicants Notified after final selection: August 2026
- Spring 2027 Cohort Program: January – March 2027
- Fall 2027 Cohort Program: September – October 2027
Interested Candidates can apply for the Exchange Program online HERE
The selection process for this program is highly competitive, and only a limited number of participants from Nepal will be selected. The Fulbright Commission will notify all applicants of their status after the application deadline. Applicants are not required to have taken the TOEFL exam before applying but should be prepared to take the exam if selected by the U.S. Embassy.
For more information, contact (9863026750/ 9851123258) between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) or email fulbcomm@fulbrightnepal.org.np
