Saudi Arabia
2 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Saudi Arabia has prioritized improving English language proficiency and English language instruction at higher education institutions to help better position Saudis to engage in global dialogue, and as part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic transformation plan to diversify revenue sources away from dependence on the oil and gas sectors. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program is a response to those goals, but also serves the important purpose of enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and of Saudi Arabia.
An estimated 51 percent of Saudi Arabia’s 36.4 million people are under the age of 25, and the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia vigorously promotes American values and culture among Saudi youth. As part of the ETA program, grantees are encouraged to engage in cultural extracurricular engagements that develop and strengthen understanding of American culture among Saudi students. Finally, ETAs to Saudi Arabia have a unique opportunity to become immersed in Saudi culture and to learn first-hand about the Saudi higher education sector.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Program dates are typically in accordance with the academic year in Saudi Arabia, which starts in September and ends in May/June. However, some institutions may require a summer or spring start.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in the United States in Summer 2025 as a condition of their grants.
The U.S. Embassy will provide a security briefing upon arrival.
Candidate Profile
Grantees will work in a university in Saudi Arabia enhancing English teaching, and will, among other things, provide English language conversation and American cultural classes. Grantees must be creative, flexible, and self-reliant team players who are able to maintain excellent relationships with faculty, staff, and students. Grantees must possess excellent spoken and written English skills. English language teaching experience is preferred.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Saudi Arabia provides a comfortable and modern lifestyle for ETAs. Major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam offer an array of amenities, from shopping malls and restaurants to entertainment venues. The country’s infrastructure, including public transportation and medical services, is well developed. Visitors can easily use ride share services, such as Uber, to navigate major cities.
Life in Saudi Arabia is changing rapidly, and rewards ETAs who are adventurous, proactive, and flexible. Women can drive and attend public sports events and are no longer required to cover their hair or wear an abaya in public. Saudi women still wear abayas, but it is common to see fashionable, fitted abayas of various colors, compared to traditional black garments. Visitors to Saudi Arabia will find a robust entertainment scene, including concerts, comedians, public cinemas, sporting, social, artistic, and recreational clubs of every kind. However, social norms continue to be conservative by U.S. standards.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-finalists should be prepared to email updated CVs upon receiving notification of their semi-finalist status and be prepared to participate in an interview with the U.S. Embassy and/or possible host institution.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Basic knowledge or proficiency in Arabic language is preferable but not mandatory. The local dialect in Saudi Arabia is Gulf Arabic.
Placement Type
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Grantees will be placed at a university in Saudi Arabia. Final placement will be approved by the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Ministry of Education.
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 locations vary and will be in one of Saudi Arabia's three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dhahran.
Supplementary Project
Projects are recommended, not required. This will be an added value to the application and gives insight into an ETA’s prospective plans at the host institution. Projects are, however, subject to host institution approval.
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.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
A single person's estimated monthly cost of living is $803.6$ (3,014.4﷼), not including the cost of rent. Cost of living in Saudi Arabia is, on average, 35.5% lower than that in United States.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing will be provided by host institution. Please note, grantees should be adaptable to live in a relatively conservative religious culture.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Security Information
Grantees are encouraged to inform the U.S. Embassy of any travel plans within (away from the host city) or outside Saudi Arabia. A designated point of contact from the U.S. Embassy will be in communication with grantees throughout their program duration. For more security information, please refer to the most recent State Department Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.