FLTA - Thinking of Applying

In the upcoming academic year, more than 300 FLTAs will live, study and teach at American colleges and universities across the United States. IIE invites institutions to join hundreds of other colleges and universities across the U.S. which are enjoying the enriching, rewarding and beneficial experience of hosting an FLTA. To apply, complete the institutional application for academic year 2025-26. The application deadline is February 28, 2025.

There are two basic requirements to becoming a host institution for a Fulbright FLTA:

• In order to host a Fulbright FLTA, institutions must provide tuition and fee waivers covering all costs related to the two courses per semester that FLTAs must take. FLTAs may take courses on an audit basis. The FLTA Program is a non-degree program. Offering credit for coursework taken by an FLTA is at the discretion of the host institution.
• Host institutions must arrange appropriate duties for the FLTA. FLTAs may:
• Work up to 20 hours per week
• Serve as the instructor of a language course or serve in a more traditional assistant role. If they will serve as the primary instructor for a language course, at least one hour per week should be scheduled with the supervisor/mentor for planning and to review performance and address any concerns. FLTAs must serve as instructors for the language in which they received their Fulbright grant. For example, Arabic language FLTAs who may be fluent in French cannot teach a French language course. FLTAs cannot teach other courses (history, business, political science, international relations). They may guest lecture in these courses but their primary role must be the instruction of the language. Please describe the duties and expectations you have for your FLTA in as much detail as possible on the application form.

Also considered when evaluating potential host sites:

• Innovative programs
• Supportive administrators and supervisors willing to mentor an FLTA and be flexible
• Colleges and universities in communities where access to native speakers is limited
• Campus facilities
• International student support
• Schools interested in hosting FLTAs in the less commonly taught languages
• Offered financial support

Who can host?

All accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the U.S. are eligible to host.  Host institutions represent the breadth of American higher education institutions.

Please note the following special restrictions:

• Fulbright FLTAs are funded for one academic year. There are no renewals permitted for individual FLTAs.
• Fulbright FLTAs are sponsored as J-1 non-degree students. Sponsorship cannot be transferred to host institutions when their Fulbright grant is complete. We request that host institutions honor this program requirement and not offer FLTAs an additional year as an assistant. We make every effort to ensure that qualified host institutions receive a new FLTA each year.

For more inquiries about the program, email dcook@iie.org.

Schools wishing to host FLTAs are free to tailor the program to meet their unique pedagogical needs. FLTAs often teach beginning and intermediate classes or offer tutorial sessions to improve students’ language acquisition. On many campuses they serve as directors of language houses or language floors, offering students uncommon access to target languages. Under visa regulations, FLTAs can work up to 20 hours per week.
FLTAs add a youthful, up-to-date cultural component to foreign language classes, as well as unique contributions to student life on campus. FLTAs host language tables, cooking sessions, cultural presentations and other co-curricular events, allowing U.S. students to work with young native speakers in non-traditional settings. This interaction makes studying a foreign language more meaningful and real.

Fulbright FLTAs are selected by U.S. Embassies, Fulbright Commissions and Bi-National Centers in their home countries.

What you can expect from IIE:

Our professional staff stands ready to serve host institutions in several ways, we will:

• Match FLTAs according to host institution needs and preferences
• Respond to host institution queries in a timely and professional manner
• Handle all visa sponsorship issues and monitor FLTA records in SEVIS
• Monitor FLTA performance in collaboration with the host institution and intervene, when necessary
• Provide orientation and enrichment programs for FLTAs to ease transition and improve performance
• Provide ongoing support and advice

It is hoped that host institutions will re-apply each year and receive an FLTA in the same language(s) for which they hosted the previous year.  However, IIE's ability to meet host institution requests each year is impacted by candidate availability and funding levels.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) provides all Fulbright FLTA grant recipients with Fulbright enrichment activities and a health benefit plan.

U.S. Host Institution Financial Support

All colleges and universities requesting a Fulbright FLTA must provide tuition and fees waiver(s) for two courses per semester or (one per quarter), inclusive of fees generated by the FLTAs’ enrollment in coursework or presence on campus.  When possible, maximum financial support (i.e. a combination of the suggested awards below) should be included in applications.

Please note that for Community Colleges and resource-constrained institutions applying to host, the Fulbright Program will not exclude institutions from consideration that are requesting financial support (stipends, housing costs, etc.) in traditional languages. At these institutional types, the program may be able to offer in-country financial support regardless of language.

Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) and LCTL Northern Europe

IIE does not exclude institutions requesting assistance in a less commonly taught language based on potential financial support. For institutions able to offer financial support, recommended awards include:

• An in-kind contribution of free housing or meal plan, AND/OR
•  $800 - $1,000 per month to be used towards housing, food, and other costs

Please note: Clarification on budgetary constraints can be included in applications to host

Traditional Languages

Host institutions requesting assistance for traditional languages should also include an award for the FLTA’s program expenses. Acceptable awards include:

• A financial award great enough to cover room, board and daily living expenses.

• If offering free room and board, the FLTA must receive a monthly stipend between $500-$600 at minimum. The Fulbright monthly maintenance rates (MMRs) used to calculate necessary support for visa sponsorship are increasing in AY25-26, and while not required, it is highly recommended to raise stipends beyond the minimum required to increase competitiveness of applications. While not required, a stipend of $900-1,000 per month would be closer to the new MMRs next AY.  Institutions that can only offer the level of support they have traditionally provided remain encouraged to apply.

• If your institution offers free room only, the FLTA should receive a monthly stipend (minimum recommended of $750) for food and other living expenses. As above, institutions are encouraged to increase stipend contributions beyond the required minimum.

Institutions interested in traditional languages, but unable to provide the required financial support should contact dcook@iie.org to discuss their constraints.