Croatia
1 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places Fulbrighters in university level classrooms to provide assistance to the local English language professors. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States. ETAs will interact with undergraduate level students. Croatian Ministry of Science and Education makes the final decisions on the ETAs placement in Croatia.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants will begin in October since the academic year in Croatia starts in the first week of October.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant. The virtual event is organized by IIE.
In-Country orientation will be held in Zagreb in late September or early-October, and should plan arrival accordingly.
Candidate Profile
Well-rounded, articulate candidates at all degree levels 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 the social sciences, with a focus on English, American studies, or Education, are preferred. Successful candidates will assist in English teaching, presenting on American culture, and advising on educational opportunities in the U.S. to local citizens. Previous teaching experience is not required, but is helpful. Successful candidates must be articulate, fluent English speakers.
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.
Fulbright grantees in Croatia select from a variety of programming that includes an in-country orientation program, invitations to Embassy events, and opportunities to participate in educational programs and activities around Croatia. There are five American Corners in public and university libraries in Croatia – in Zagreb, Zadar, Osijek, Vukovar, and Rijeka. The Embassy encourages and facilitates Fulbright grantees' participation in American Corner programs. Croatian alumni of exchange programs and institutions are eligible to compete for small grants through the Embassy's Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), and Fulbright grantees often work with host institutions and partners to propose follow-on projects.
Croatia is rich in cultural programs, culinary events, and outdoor activities (Official website of the Croatian National Tourist Board | Croatia.hr). Most major cities boast summertime cultural and food festivals and winter advent holiday markets. Zagreb won the award for the best advent market in Europe for many years. The academic year runs from October until June, with semesters running from October until January, and March until June.
Eligibility
3 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.
Croatian language proficiency is not required, but helpful. Some study of Croatian prior to arrival is encouraged in order to promote deeper engagement with the host community. Funding may become available to cover additional language instruction during grant period.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
ETAs will assist in teaching under the supervision of an experienced English instructor and will serve as a resource for conversation, vocabulary, and reading and writing courses. Grantees may also be involved with some educational advising, outreach, or community activities.
ETAs should be prepared to dedicate about 25 hours per week to prepare for and offer English language teaching, to include small group tutorials, organizing extra-curricular language-learning activities, and teaching curricular components.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Placement could be in the capital or a regional city with a public university based on the recommendation of Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth.
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.
Additionally, each Fulbright student will receive a monthly stipend from the Croatian Government, payable in local currency but estimated to be approximately $950, to cover housing expenses and contribute to other living expenses.
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.
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
The one-time allowances total includes allowances for round trip international airfare, settling in expenses, english materials allowance, and language training.
Supplementary Project
We highly recommend engagement in the local community. Grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. Grantees can also cooperate and volunteer with American Spaces or with the local EducationUSA center in Croatia. This may be an independent study/research project or other activity that will not conflict with assigned assistant-teaching and advising responsibilities. Applicants should include a brief description of their supplementary projects in their Statements of Grant Purpose. ETAs should expect to commit a minimum of 4 hours/month on community engagement activities.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Average housing expenses in Croatia are estimated between 750 and 1000 USD, depending on the type of accommodation (student dorm or privately rented housing) and the city in Croatia. Larger cities like Zagreb or Split, as well as popular tourist destinations, are generally more expensive. Students who plan to study in coastal tourist cities such as Dubrovnik, Zadar or Split should take into special consideration that long term apartment rentals there are often cancelled during tourist months mid May - end of August and the rental prices in these months increase significantly, doubling or even tripling the regular monthly amount. For more information on average prices in Croatia, please visit Numbeo. Please note that Croatia joined Eurozone on January 1, 2023. The official currency of the Republic of Croatia is the Euro. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, currency exchange offices, post offices, or at some hotels' reception desks. Major credit cards (Visa, Diners Club, Mastercard/Eurocard) are widely accepted in shops, hotels, and restaurants. ATMs ("bankomats") are also widely available across the country. Banks are generally open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm, but office hours may vary, especially in smaller towns. Banks are closed on Sundays and national holidays. For a list of licensed banks in Croatia, please consult the database of the Croatian National Bank.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
ETAs will have to arrange their own housing.
Visa Requirements
First Residence Permit: The Croatian government passed a new law for foreigners similar to residency and entry laws for European Union member states. The law stipulates that foreign citizens planning to stay in Croatia longer than 90 days must apply for the First Residence Permit (for a period covering their entire stay in Croatia). A Certificate confirming that the applicant has no criminal convictions issued by the FBI with an Apostille Stamp at federal level (FBI background check) is one of the requirements for obtaining the Temporary Residence Permit. Fulbright grantees should attain the document in with the Apostille seal before coming to Croatia. The criminal background check can be submitted to the Croatian police directorate in English and does not have to be translated to Croatian. For detailed instructions on the procedure and required documents please refer to the Handbook and Next Steps for Fulbright Grantees in Croatia that will be provided to all grantees as part of pre-departure materials.