Rwanda
English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in Rwanda aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Rwanda. Candidates selected for this award will assist with English language programming at a selected host institution as outlined in the "Nature of Assignment" section given below.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The academic year usually begins in September/October 2025 and ends in June/July 2026, but some universities start earlier than others. The high school calendar starts in January and end in July of the same year.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2025.
A mandatory in-country group orientation will be provided by the U.S. Embassy in Kigali.
Candidate Profile
Graduating seniors or graduate students with an undergraduate degree in English or Education who are considering careers in English, Education, or TEFL/applied linguistics and who have experience teaching or tutoring will be considered. Other fields will be considered if combined with teaching experience and/or coursework in pedagogy. Candidates with an interest in African languages, culture, and history are also encouraged to apply.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Rwanda is an underdeveloped country and the infrastructure in most cities is not comparable to the United States. Despite that, Fulbright grantees are able to find decent accommodation apartments, receive health care as needed, and other essential services.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
No special application instructions.
Foreign Language Proficiency
English is sufficient. Knowledge of French or Kinyarwanda can be helpful.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Vocational/Technical School
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
Placement will be made by the U.S. Embassy at technical colleges, universities, and/or other educational institutions, including high schools.
Placement Locations
- Capital City
- Regional City
Both capital and secondary cities will be considered for placement. Other places can also be considered with due diligence by the U.S. Embassy program team.
Supplementary Project
ETAs may be asked by the U.S. Embassy to volunteer to facilitate sessions and run programs in the American Center. Topics are varied (for example, leading conversations on U.S.-related issues for audiences interested in practicing their spoken English, or running a training on business and entrepreneurship), but ETAs may choose ones they are more comfortable with.
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
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Living costs may vary by location. Grantees staying in the capital - Kigali - will spend more than those in secondary cities. The average housing cost is $600 per month, although the price is cheaper in other cities.
The U.S. Embassy offers further details for selected candidates.
Dependents
A dependent is a legal child or spouse of the grantee. A partner with no marriage certificate will not be recognized by the host country, making it impossible to secure the dependent visa.
Housing Arrangements
The U.S. Embassy will work with host institutions to assist ETAs in identifying and securing housing.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Nature of Assignment
Approximately 20 hours per week assisting the principal classroom teacher or lecturer in their classrooms, plus requisite class preparation time and school-related activities, will be required. ETAs may assist with: developing communication modules; training academic and administrative staff; and assisting lecturers with their research, lesson plans, and course presentations to improve the English for academic reading and writing skills of university undergraduates, or selected high schools, for whom English is both a second language and the medium of instruction at school. ETAs will be assigned as language-learning assistants, but may be asked to be responsible for teaching entire courses. Occasionally, the U.S. Embassy may invite ETAs to participate in English program activities.