Nepal
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodMarch StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant provides participants the opportunity to assist in the teaching of English in grades 4 to 8 in schools in and around Kathmandu Valley. The Nepal program prefers applicants with prior teaching or tutoring experience. Applicants must be flexible, able to work independently, and willing to function in a challenging, under-resourced school environment.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The Nepal English Teaching Assistant Program commences in March to align with Nepal's academic calendar. ETAs arrive in mid-March to participate in a one-month orientation program prior to their placements. ETAs work in their respective schools from mid-April through mid-January of the following year.
Orientation
ETAs participate in a mandatory one-month orientation in March which includes Nepali-language training, familiarization with Nepal's educational system and school curriculum, and tips on classroom strategies.
Candidate Profile
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree holders with prior teaching experience
- Bachelor’s degree holders with a teaching certification and at least 1–2 years of teaching experience may also be considered.
- Candidates with degrees in English, Education, TEFL, or Applied Linguistics are preferred, though applicants from all academic backgrounds are welcome.
- Demonstrate independence, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in challenging environments.
Essential Requirements:
- Candidates must be articulate, fluent English speakers
- Selected English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) are required to complete 60 hours of an online TEFL fundamentals course before the program begins, unless they can provide documentation of comparable prior training.
Teaching Environment & Expectations:
Most schools in Nepal have limited facilities and minimal teaching resources. Applicants must be flexible, resourceful, and open to challenges, with the ability to adapt expectations to the realities of their host schools.
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.
Nepal offers a unique and transformative experience for Fulbrighters, blending its rich cultural heritage with a dynamic landscape of political and social change. In recent decades, the country has undergone significant transition, including the adoption of a federal constitution in 2015 that shifted key decision-making powers to provincial levels, empowering communities across its diverse regions.
With 40.33% of its population aged 16-40 (as per the 2011 Population and Housing Census), Nepal is a youthful nation ripe with potential. However, its educational infrastructure faces challenges that call for improvement, presenting important opportunities for teaching, research, and collaboration between U.S. and Nepalese institutions. While resources in Nepalese schools may be modest compared to those in the U.S., Fulbrighters often find enthusiastic colleagues and motivated students eager to engage with contemporary global issues.
Being an ETA in Nepal is an opportunity for both professional and personal growth. A fundamental part of the experience is engagement with local students, teachers, and communities, sharing knowledge and perspectives. ETAs must be prepared to face challenges such as adjusting to different cultural and professional norms and coping with weak infrastructure, urban pollution, and other health hazards. High degrees of maturity, flexibility, patience, creativity, and resilience are required, along with a sense of humor.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
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.
English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) are expected to self-study the Nepali language before arriving in Nepal to prepare for intensive language training during their one-month in-country orientation.
The grant includes an allowance for incidentals and ongoing language learning, and the Commission strongly encourages ETAs to continue developing their language skills throughout their grant period. Proficiency in Nepali or other local languages significantly enhances the ETA experience, facilitating better classroom engagement and community integration.
ETAs are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with Nepali-English translation tools and language learning technology before arriving to aid their communication and learning process.
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
- Secondary School
- Teacher Training
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Placements are in schools (Grades 4-8) with local counterpart teachers who teach classes in English. Approximately 25 hours per week of classroom teaching, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities, are required.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
Placements are in and around the capital city of Kathmandu.
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
Excess baggage fees: up to $400 (Re-imbursement basis)
Language training/incidental allowance: up to $300 (Re-imbursement basis)
Settling in allowance $300: (First month, lump sum)
Additional Grant Benefits
- Housing placement
- Mid-year seminar
Mid Checkin/Seminar
ETAs will meet with Commission staff to share their experiences and discuss teaching approaches/strategies during a mid-year check-in, usually in June. In addition, they will be invited to participate with other Fulbright grantees in an annual enrichment retreat where they will share their experiences and discuss matters of national or global importance.
Housing Arrangements
ETAs are provided with semi-furnished housing in apartments/flats/guest houses near the schools where they teach.
Friendship Families
ETAs are paired with Friendship Families to facilitate their integration into local communities in their living areas. The Friendship Family serves as a support system, offering guidance, cultural exchange, and social connections. While ETAs maintain independent living arrangements, they can depend on their Friendship Family for assistance and to foster meaningful community engagement.
Supplementary Project
The supplementary project is conducted alongside the ETA's teaching responsibilities. It should be placement-school based and/or directly benefit the school, students, teachers, senior management committee and community, showcasing English learning. Past projects have ranged from setting up a school library to after-school teacher training and theatrical performance of an English play. Projects must be completed by the end of the grant duration.
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 Nepal on average is 65% lower than the United States. For day-to-day expenses, $20-35 suffices if cooking at home. Dining out may cost $15-30 per meal at a good restaurant. Travel has been made easier due to the advent of ride apps such as Pathao and InDrive. Public transport is cheaper but congested. Researchers are advised to live near their research site or host institution to reduce commuting.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
ETAs are provided semi-furnished housing in apartments/flats/guest houses near the schools where they teach which is paid for by the commission.
Nature of Assignment
Nepal ETAs support local teachers by providing a native English-speaking presence in the classroom, enhancing language instruction and cross-cultural exchange. Past ETAs have led a diverse range of creative activities within schools and communities, collaborating with students, teachers, NGOs, and other stakeholders. ETAs are expected to dedicate approximately 25 hours per week to classroom teaching, in addition to time for lesson planning and school-related activities.
The Nepal academic calendar includes extended school closures in October, November, and December, along with shorter breaks throughout the year. School schedules may vary, and ETAs are required to take personal vacation during official school closures. Travel outside Nepal is limited to 14 days during the grant period (including travel days but excluding weekends) and must occur during school breaks. Travel is not permitted in the final 30 days of the grant.
