Grants for Bulgarian teachers
For current secondary-level, full-time teachers
The competition is now open! Stay tuned to be the first to know about our free info sessions!
Application deadline: March 25, 2025
6 Weeks
Annual competition
English language proficiency
Three or more years of teaching experience
Application deadline - March 25
The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (Fulbright TEA) Program
The Fulbright TEA Program is a six-week, non-degree professional development initiative hosted at a U.S. university, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered by IREX.
Program Overview:
The program will bring about 180 international secondary teachers to the U.S. in January or September 2026 for academic seminars and professional development. Participants will share expertise with peers and observe U.S. teaching practices at the host university and local schools in any of the three thematic cohorts: media literacy, environmental education or gender studies.
The program includes:
- Academic seminars on teaching methodologies, lesson planning, and instructional technology.
- A 40-hour practicum with a U.S. partner teacher in a secondary school.
- Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and skill-building for trainer training.
Eligibility Criteria
Bulgarian full-time teachers of students aged 12-18.
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Applicants must:
- Be full-time secondary-level teachers of subjects like English, math, science, social studies, or journalism.
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and have 3+ years of teaching experience.
- Live and work in Bulgaria during application and participation.
- Score at least 45 on the internet-based TOEFL.
- Commit to teaching post-program.
Ineligible Applicants:
Past TEA Program participants, educational administrators, part-time teachers, university faculty, private tutors, and teachers at schools serving expatriates.
Selection Process
Merit-based competition. Top candidates must take the TOEFL.
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Fulbright TEA participants are chosen through a merit-based competition. Top candidates will be interviewed and must take the TOEFL or provide valid test results from May 2024 or later. Ideal candidates demonstrate:
- Commitment to secondary education.
- Leadership in their school or district.
- Relevant professional and educational achievements.
- Potential to build lasting U.S.-Bulgaria educational ties.
- Maturity, flexibility, and independence for intensive U.S. training.
- Teamwork and a willingness to foster a collaborative learning community.
- Clear plans to use the program experience to improve education at home.
- Strong communication skills and English proficiency (minimum iBT TOEFL score of 45).
Fellowship Benefits
Round-trip airfare, housing, meals, daily allowance, academic fees.
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- J-1 visa support.
- Pre-departure orientation in the home country.
- Round-trip airfare to and within the U.S.
- Academic program fees.
- Housing, meals, and a daily allowance for incidentals.
- Health care coverage for accidents and sickness.
- Transportation to practicum schools (if needed).
- Baggage allowance.
- Welcome Orientation and End-of-Program Workshops.
- Eligibility to apply for alumni small grants.
Deadline for submitting applications for 2026 is March 25, 2025.
The interview dates are fixed and are not subject to changes or additional options.
March 25, 2025
Application deadline
Mid-April 2025
Interviews with shortlisted candidates
Mid-May 2025
Candidate nomination
End of August 2025
Final selection
January - March 2026
Spring cohort
September - October 2026
Fall cohort
why should
you apply?
You get funding for you tuition
Qualification opportunity from an elite university in the USA
Educational and Cultural Exchange
Networking opportunities with top experts in your area of expertise
Develop an awareness and critical thinking skills
Contact person
Rada Kaneva
Program Officer
0879 918 212
rkaneva@fulbright.bg
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