Norway
3 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The ETA program in Norway aims to strengthen English language instruction, writing skills, and knowledge about the United States at Norwegian high schools and universities.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: 10 months.
Mid-August, 2025 – mid-June, 2026. The grant period begins concurrent with the start of the school year at the host institution(s).
Orientation
ETAs are expected to attend a two-day all-grantee orientation in Oslo in mid-late August, and a separate one-day program focused on the Norwegian education system. The Foundation will pay travel expenses for grantees located in cities other than Oslo.
ETAs are also encouraged to participate in orientation at their host universities.
Candidate Profile
Well-qualified candidates at all degree levels and in all fields of study who plan to pursue a career in education will be considered. However, preference will be given to applicants in English, American studies, social sciences, and humanities. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in teaching, an ability to work well both independently and as part of a team, and the maturity, flexibility, and resourcefulness necessary for doing well in a foreign educational environment.
Applicants who are recommended for final consideration may be contacted by the U.S.-Norway Fulbright Foundation to set up a brief online or telephone interview.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Norway is an excellent place to live, study, and teach. With a strong public emphasis on knowledge and learning, Norway's generously funded and publicly accessible system of higher education and research is the backbone of Norwegian intellectual development, creativity, and innovation. A good introduction to Norway can be found here. In addition, Statistics Norway has a wealth of information in English on many topics.
The vast majority of higher education institutions in Norway are public. There is a single national admissions process for undergraduate study at public colleges and universities as well as some private institutions. In accordance with European standards the years of study for a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degree are three, two and three respectively. In-depth information about higher education in Norway can be found here.
Public primary and secondary schools are free in Norway. For more information about K-12 education in Norway, click here.
Norwegian institutions of higher education and research offer many opportunities for international students to take classes and conduct research. English is used almost as a second language in Norway, and the international environment in most research and higher education institutions means that competence in Norwegian is not a requirement.
ETAs receive student affiliation at their host universities and may take classes provided that doing so does not interfere with their assignment.
Eligibility
5 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
As they provide valuable insight into strength of the applicant, three recommendations, otherwise known as the ETA reference forms, are mandatory.
Excellent writing skills are a prerequisite for all ETA grants in Norway and should be clearly demonstrated throughout the application.
Given the populations ETAs in Norway work with, applicants should address their experience and skills in academic writing and in working with university and/or high school students.
Applicants are advised to list all relevant experience in the Extracurricular Activities & Achievements and/or Professional Experience sections of the application.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Grantees will be placed at a Norwegian secondary school and a local university. Each host institution will tailor the assistantship to its English language teaching needs, but also try to accommodate the grantee’s background, academic interests, and abilities.
Teaching assistant activities may include:
- helping students with written English, especially academic writing at the university level;
- providing small group tutorials;
- serving as a resource person in conversation groups; and,
- giving presentations related to American studies in English classes or school/civic organizations.
Applicants should submit descriptions of their study and/or career interests.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
- Rural
ETAs are placed by the Fulbright office in locations around Norway: two regional cities and one rural location. Current locations are Bergen, Trondheim, and Ås.
Supplementary Project
At the grantee's discretion. No outside studies or projects may be taken on if they conflict with or prevent the ETA from fulfilling all duties of the ETA assignment. However, host institutions are encouraged to work with the ETA to ensure that they have time to get involved in other activities including taking classes or carrying out a supplementary project.
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
- Settling in allowance
An excess baggage fee of 500 Norwegian krone will be paid upon arrival in Norway, and another 500 krone upon departure.
In addition, a 10,000 Norwegian krone relocation allowance is provided to help offset expenses related to moving to Norway which may be incurred prior to leaving the U.S.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
All U.S. grantees participate in a seminar in February during which grantees present on their projects. This is followed by a weekend at a ski resort near Lillehammer. Domestic travel and lodging expenses for the seminar and ski weekend are covered by the Fulbright Foundation. The seminar/ski weekend is a highlight of the Fulbright year.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The cost of living in Norway is relatively high, but the Fulbright stipend is sufficient for covering basic living expenses and exceeds what is required by immigration authorities.
The Norwegian National Institute for Consumer Research maintains a standard Reference Budget for Consumer Expenditures which allows you to calculate estimated expenses: www.oslomet.no/en/about/sifo/reference-budget
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
ETAs are offered affordable housing in the student village at their host universities. They are also welcome to arrange their own private housing.