Azerbaijan
3 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright Program in Azerbaijan seeks to strengthen educational and cultural relations between the United States and Azerbaijan, and U.S. Fulbright grantees to Azerbaijan will find a dynamic and rewarding environment in which to support and strengthen the English-language instruction at Azerbaijani institutions of higher education. Modernizing English-language instruction in the country is a major Embassy goal, and ETAs will play a significant role in helping the transition to a more communicative style of teaching and learning. ETAs can expect guidance and support from the Embassy and will have opportunities to work with the Cultural Affairs Officer and Cultural Affairs team to participate in public and cultural outreach programs, as well as to initiate their own self-designed community service projects (past ETA projects include starting sports, arts, culture or cooking clubs, helping with community or school projects, working with local students to help them apply to university, and serving as judges or coaches for English-language competitions).
The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan will provide ETAs with a visa invitation letter. With this letter, ETAs can apply to the Azerbaijani Consulate in Washington, DC or Los Angles, CA, for a multi-entry, 365-day visa.
John Bunke, ETA, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants will begin on September 10, 2026 and end on June 10, 2027.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant. The event is organized by IIE, virtual or in-person.
The U.S. Embassy in Baku organizes a post-arrival, in-country orientation, which is held the first week of the ETAs' arrival in the country. As an example, this is the schedule from the September 2024 in-country orientation:
1100-1130 Welcome Remarks by Ambassador
11:30-1200 Public Diplomacy Section Stafff Introduction
1200-1230 Security Briefing with Regional Security Office
1230-1330 Lunch at Embassy Cafeteria
1330-1400 Briefing with Embassy Health Unit
1400-1420 Briefing with Consular Section: American Citizens Services
1420-1430 Short break
1430-1630 Workshop to familiarize participants with the country context and their roles in supporting the Embassy's English activities with English Language Specialist, Tiffany Tillman
1630-1700 Role and Responsibilities at Host Institutions/Cultural Norms/Expectations
1700 End of the day.
Candidate Profile
Well-rounded, articulate graduating seniors, recent university graduates, or PhD candidates with an interest in international education and the initiative to teach conversational English at all levels will be considered. Undergraduate degrees in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus on English, American studies, or education, are preferred. Successful candidates will not just be teaching English, but explaining the U.S. to local citizens who have little contextual understanding of America. Previous teaching experience is not required, but is helpful and always preferred by host universities. Applicants must be fluent English-speakers and very self-directed.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Azerbaijan is a safe country in general both for locals and foreigners. The crime rate is low across the country. ETAs are able to travel to the regions on their own and have freedom of movement in the evening. However, they are always advised to practice reasonable caution when traveling in the country and remain vigilant. Public transportation is available and stable in all the cities where ETAs are placed. Taxi service is cheap and available through Bolt Taxi, 189 Taxi, Uber Apps. Housing is usually in apartment buildings located in downtown areas and if not in the downtown then a 5-to-10-minute walk away from the grocery store and bus stop. We recommend ETAs placed in Baku to stay close to campus, walk or use public transportation to commute to work and back to avoid heavy traffic during rush hours.
To learn more about life for Fulbrighters in Azerbaijan, here are some posts about former ETA's and their experiences while in country:
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Additional Information: Knowledge of Azerbaijani or Russian is helpful, but not expected. There is a possibility that ETAs will be provided with a stipend to study the local language while in-country.
Placement Type
- Vocational/Technical School
- Teacher Training
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Recent ETAs were placed in Ganja, Lankaran, Sumgayit, and Sheki as well as the capital city of Baku and were hosted by universities including:
Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University
Azerbaijan State Agricultural University
Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Language training allowance
- Settling in allowance
- Local transportation allowance
Additional Grant Benefits
- Diplomatic pouch
Supplementary Project
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Currency
The Azerbaijani manat is the official currency of Azerbaijan. The currency code is AZN, and its symbol is ₼. Travelers can exchange their U.S. dollars for Azerbaijani Manat at banks, exchange offices, or use ATMs in Azerbaijan. Average Monthly Net Salary for locals after tax can reach around $380 (646 AZN). A single person’s estimated monthly costs are around 533.6$ (907.1man) without rent in Baku, while in the regions this can vary but is significantly less. The cost of living in Azerbaijan is, on average, 55.6% lower than in United States; Baku is 60% less expensive than Washington (not considering rent).
If you’re paying in a small shop or convenience store, you’ll need to use cash. Bank cards aren’t widely accepted outside of Baku. You’ll need to be sure to take all the cash you’ll need with you should you leave the capital, as ATMs are few and far between outside of Baku but are located in most major towns and cities.
Transportation
In Baku, residents use the Baku Card (https://bakikart.az/ ) for subway and bus travel both as a plastic card and via a mobile app. After you get your card, you can add money similar to transport pay-as-you-go systems in other global cities. However, some buses may not have card systems, requiring cash instead. A one-way ticket for the local transport (bus/metro) is 0.50 AZN ($0.30). Many people use the ride-share application Bolt to get around, both inside Baku and in other cities, as well as inter-city travel. In Baku, Bolt fares range between 3.5 – 7 AZN ($2-4), making this option the safest while being reasonably affordable. All the cities where ETAs are placed have bus stations for in-country travelling, while cities like Baku, Ganja, Gabala, Aghstafa, Zagatala now have train stations. A Baku-Ganja train ticket costs 20-25 AZN (12-15 USD) and takes around 4 to 5 hours to get to your destination. Tickets can be purchased at the train station or online at https://ticket.ady.az/ticket-search/
Rent
A 1 bedroom apartment in Baku’s city center ranges between 700-900 AZN ($412-530). In regional cities, this can vary greatly but is less expensive than Baku. Apartments are usually furnished since the previous occupants, or the landlord leave the basic furnishings. Air conditioning and heating is usually provided.
Phone and the Internet
Major mobile providers in Azerbaijan include Bakcell, Nar, and Azercell, each offering detailed price plans and a comprehensive list of services on their websites. Many apartment rentals in Azerbaijan typically include cable and internet services. On average, monthly mobile phone plans with calls and 10 GB+ data cost around 21.48 AZN (12.60 USD), while internet services alone average around 27.13 AZN (15.95 USD). Keep in mind that these prices may vary, and it's advisable to check with the specific service providers for the most up-to-date information.
Food
Azerbaijani cuisine is rich and diverse, featuring a variety of flavorful dishes. Known for its use of aromatic herbs, grilled meats, and pilaf (plov), Azerbaijani food reflects a fusion of Middle Eastern, Persian, and Central Asian culinary influences. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs 15 AZN ($8.80), and at a mid-range restaurant could range between 22-34 AZN ($13-20). While meat is a central part of any Azerbaijani meal, vegetarian options such as salads, vegetarian omelettes, grilled vegetables, soups and other dishes are usually available. Supermarkets are usually easy to access and local produce is much more affordable than in the United States.
Entertainment
Admission fees for tourist attractions and historical sites in Azerbaijan typically start at 1 AZN (0.59 USD). But the price is different for foreigners and usually start at 5 AZN (2.94 USD). The cost for locals may vary based on factors such as student status, nationality, or citizenship. Concert ticket prices typically range from 20 to 50 AZN (11.76 to 29.41 USD), varying based on factors such as the performer and venue. Meanwhile, theater tickets start at 10 to 15 AZN (5.9 to 8.9 USD), reflecting the diverse pricing based on different theaters and performances. Via this website you can find variety of concerts, theaters, tourist attractions and more, and purchase an online ticket https://iticket.az/en/
Healthcare
There are modern health facilities in Azerbaijan, although more limited outside of Baku. Most specialized clinics and hospitals are in Baku. Only Azerbaijani citizens have access to free healthcare in the country, so foreigners will need to secure their own health insurance policies. Healthcare in Azerbaijan is provided by public and private healthcare institutions and regulated through the Ministry of Health. For more detailed information about healthcare options, costs and procedures, it is advisable to consult the Embassy and individual health insurance companies. They can provide comprehensive details about healthcare expenses and the application process. Embassy also provides a handbook with recommended list of healthcare facilities for Azerbaijan and the cities ETAs are placed.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan and host institutions will assist ETAs with their housing. Host university contacts will help ETAs find appropriate aparments near the university campus or in the city center.