Luxembourg
5 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels offers 5 English Teaching Assistant Awards to Luxembourg per year. Assistants are expected to have about 12 contact hours per week with students; activities vary depending on the needs of the students and host institution teachers, and these 12 contact hours do not include prep time for work in front of the classroom. Assistants may be able to enroll in limited courses, including language courses, upon agreement with the host institution on arrival.
Grantees in this award are expected to receive €1,700/month to cover living expenses along with a one-time travel stipend currently set at €1,500 to cover the cost of round-trip flights to/from Luxembourg, the costs of applying for the AST (visa) and the residence permit process once in the country, and other miscellaneous requirements linked to the grant. These amounts are subject to change and are only confirmed once successful candidates have signed their Terms of Award with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The standard grant is for a duration of nine months. Grants will follow the academic calendar, beginning in mid-September and concluding in mid-June.
Orientation
Prior to departure from the U.S., the Fulbright Commission will organize a virtual pre-departure orientation for Fulbright grantees to Belgium and Luxembourg. Upon arrival in September, grantees will be required to attend an in-country orientation with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, Belgium, and will be invited to additional orientation events with the staff at the U.S. Embassy to Luxembourg in Luxembourg City. ETAs may also receive additional training from the Ministry of Education and Youth on the Luxembourgish educational system.
Candidate Profile
Candidates to the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program should be well-rounded, articulate individuals with the skills and motivation needed to assist in teaching American studies and English language to Luxembourgish students at the pre-university and/or university level.
Students with an academic background or professional experience in a related field (e.g., literature, linguistics) should make sure to state this in their applications. Applications from candidates holding Bachelor's or Master's degrees in any field will be accepted, but preference may be given to students with prior teaching experience.
English Teaching Assistants are expected to serve as cultural ambassadors to Luxembourg, and preference is given to candidates who demonstrate the initiative to integrate cultural events into their lesson plans and who will continue to promote US-Luxembourgish relations upon their return to the United States. Previous teaching experience is welcome.
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.
Luxembourg is a small, multilingual and multicultural country with large migrant populations and a network of free public transportation network that spans the Grand Duchy. Fulbright grantees in Luxembourg are enrolled as students at the University of Luxembourg - even if that is not their main affiliation for their project - to grant them access to affordable student housing in the south of the country. Grantees are in touch with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels and with staff at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg to facilitate their cultural integration and also invite them to events in both Luxembourg and Belgium. Luxembourg offers a wide array of unique cultural events throughout the year and a varied and international experience packed into a country small enough to feel accessible and friendly. ETA placements in the country range across all ages with a majority in secondary schools, where ETAs are placed with one or more mentor teachers to incorporate their expertise into the the local curriculum
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.
Foreign language proficiency is not required, but preference may be given to applicants with some level of proficiency in one of Luxembourg's three official languages (French, German, and Luxembourgish).
Upon selection, some study of the local language prior to arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the host community.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Placement Type
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- Secondary School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Host institutions in Luxembourg may include primary schools, secondary schools (located throughout the country) and the University of Luxembourg (located in Esch-sur-Alzette). The Fulbright Commission will place selected grantees in a host institution based on the candidate's academic profile and stated interests as well as the preferences of the partner institution.
Placement types vary from year to year, but candidates are encouraged to visit the website of the Fulbright Commission to learn more about the program and to read blog posts from previous Fulbright grantees.
ETAs are enrolled as exchange students at the University of Luxembourg to provide them access to student housing, which is located in Luxembourg City and in towns in the south of the country. Because ETA host schools are located throughout the country, this could result in long commute times for some grantees.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Teaching assistant placements may vary from year to year, based on partnerships with local host institutions. Past participants have been based in Luxembourg City as well as in regional cities like Belval, Clervaux, Diekirch, Differdange, and Mondorf-les-Bains, just to give a few examples.
The ETA Program in Luxembourg is expanding in partnership with the Luxembourgish Ministry of Education and Youth, which has opened up the program to all public schools in the country, meaning grantees may be placed at new schools in other cities in the future.
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.
Grantees in this award are expected to receive €1,700/month to cover living expenses. These amounts are subject to change and are only confirmed once successful candidates have signed their Terms of Award with the Fulbright Commission in Brussels.
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.
- Settling in allowance
Grantees in this award are expected to receive a one-time travel stipend currently set at €1,500 to cover the cost of round-trip flights to/from Luxembourg, the costs of applying for the AST (visa) and the residence permit process once in the country, and other miscellaneous requirements linked to the grant.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
The Fulbright mid-year meeting usually takes place in Brussels in late January and includes a grantee symposium to present your work (optional), a meeting with the Fulbright Commission and some sort of cultural engagement activity (e.g. a museum visit, a chocolate workshop, etc.) The Fulbright Commission may be able to offer financial support to grantees making the journey to this mandatory event.
Supplementary Project
In addition to their work inside the classroom, grantees are expected to engage in other activities related to their personal, career, and/or educational interests. These may include an extracurricular club for students or an independent study/research project or other activity that will complement, but not conflict with, assigned teaching and advising responsibilities. Applicants should include a brief description of their supplementary projects in their statements of grant purpose.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Cost of living in Luxembourg is, on average, a bit higher than the average cost of living in the United States. You can find a list of average prices here, including the option to compare cost of living to where you are currently located. Compared to most of the United States, these are some major differences:
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Healthcare is usually quite affordable: an appointment with a general practitioner would normally cost around €25 ($27).
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Public transportation in Luxembourg is free throughout the country and for all modes of transport - trams, trains and buses. The only exception is 1st class seats on trains. The scheme applies to residents, cross-border commuters and tourists alike, and more information on other mobility options in Luxembourg can be found here.
- Although rent is much higher in Luxembourg than in most of the U.S., grantees are enrolled as students and have access to student housing at an affordable rate.
Dependents
The Fulbright Commission in Brussels does not provide financial support to grantees bringing dependents, but we do provide additional information for how to bring dependents on the grant. Any dependents wishing to come to Luxembourg for more than 90 days in any 180-day period will be required to apply for a visa as well. This is typically done at the same time as the AST application for the grantee. Because ETAs are placed in limited student housing, bringing dependents will pose an additional challenge and is not recommended.
Please keep in mind that childcare may be difficult to come by in Luxembourg, so bringing young children can pose additional challenges. Enrollment in primary or secondary schools is possible in most cases for grantees staying in Belgium for longer than 90 days. More resources can be provided on a case by case basis.
Housing Arrangements
Fulbright grantees, regardless of their placement, may be offered the possibility of student housing through the University of Luxembourg. The University of Luxembourg has student housing facilities located at the center and the south of Luxembourg, and university residences are highly recommended by the Fulbright Commission and U.S. Embassy to Luxembourg.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
Fulbright Grantee Blog Posts: http://www.fulbright.be/category/luxembourg/americans-in-luxembourg/
University of Luxembourg: https://www.uni.lu/en/