2019 Update on Teacher Travel Scholarships:
Please use this link to teacher travel grants for the latest and most useful listings.
In particular, consider these funding ideas:
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79 Teacher Fellowships
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18 Travel Grants
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24 Free Travel for Teachers Opportunities
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8 Professional Development for Teachers Programs
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Fund for Teachers and EF Tours
I hope these resources help you get funding to make your global education dreams come true. Good luck!
Best,
Lillie Marshall of Teaching Traveling
Older, 2011 Article (Links no Longer Updated):
During Boston Teaching Traveling Inspiration Night on March 31, 2011, fantastically useful handouts flew left and right, giving aspiring Teacher-Travelers the tools to see the world cheaply.
In a previous article, we listed 100 Ways to Finally Start Traveling, ranging from structured to un-structured programs, with and without students.
What this new article will give you is specific links to prestigious, highly established programs for which you often must apply up to a year in advance. But despite the long planning-ahead time, the payoffs are worth it! In fact, all opportunities on this list are sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, or US Department of Education.
Most of the deadlines for this year’s travel have passed, but simply click the link to find the dates for next year’s applications, or Google the name if the link is redirecting to the previous year. Do enjoy the accompanying photos from the exceptional Chihuly exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.
Without further ado, we give you:
9 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR U.S. TEACHERS TO TRAVEL:
1.) Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program: Administered by the Academy for Educational Development, this program is open to elementary and secondary teachers.
Program dates: Three- to six-month programs.
Application deadline: December.
2.) Educational Seminars for Teachers: Administered by the American Councils for International Education. Programs in Thailand and Uruguay are open to elementary and secondary educators. Programs in India, Italy and Greece are for secondary educators.
Program dates: three-to-eight week programs in summer.
Application deadline: deadlines vary.
3.) Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program: Administered by the Academy for Educational Development, this program is open to elementary and secondary teachers.
Program dates: Fall semester, or academic year.
Application deadline: October.
4.) Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad- Bilateral Projects: This is a short term travel study abroad program for US educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of other peoples and countries.
Program dates: 4- 6 weeks in the summer.
Application deadline: October.
5.) Fulbright-Hays – Group Projects Abroad: This program provides grants to support overseas projects in training, research and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor. Projects may include short-term seminars, curriculum development, group research or study, or advanced intensive language programs.
Program dates: short to long term projects.
Application deadline: October.
6.) Intensive Summer Language Institutes: Administered by American Councils for International Education, this program is for teachers of Mandarin and Arabic including elementary and secondary teachers, community college instructors, and those enrolled in teacher certification programs.
Program dates: Late June through early August.
Application deadline: March.
7.) Teaching Excellence and Achievement Award: Administered by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX), this program is open to secondary teachers.
Program dates: Two week international programs in Spring/Summer with pre- and post- program professional development online and in Washington D.C.
Application deadline: TBA. For updates on deadlines, please register on the IREX website.
8.) American Councils Exchanges, Training and Study Abroad: American Councils administers a variety of cultural exchange, study abroad, and research programs on behalf of both public and private funders. Participation in these programs is through an open, merit-based competition, and facilitates mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia, Southeast Europe, and South Asia.
9.) Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology, Math Science Exchange: Through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, American Councils for International Education administers Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology, Math, and Science Exchange Program (LTMS).
With support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Uchitelskaya Gazeta, and local education departments, the program aims to recognize the excellence and commitment of secondary school teachers and teacher-trainers in a broad range of subjects by providing U.S. based professional development seminars, practical classroom-learning opportunities, and preparation to conduct post-program professional development workshops for colleagues in Russia. Professional development seminars will be offered in teaching methodologies, curriculum development, and workshop design and implementation.

The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English from Boston who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched TeachingTraveling.com in 2010 to share expert global education resources, and over 1.6 million readers have visited over the past decade. Lillie also runs AroundTheWorld L.com Travel and Life Blog, and DrawingsOf.com for educational art. Do stay in touch via subscribing to her monthly newsletter, and following @WorldLillie on social media!
Komila
Wednesday 13th of June 2018
American exchange education is excellent for teachers of Uzbekistan
Ashley
Wednesday 12th of October 2016
Hello! I am a recent graduate here in America, and I am searching for a teaching/professional fellowship abroad. Would you happen to know of any besides Fulbright? Also, do you happen to know of any linguistic/translation fellowships by any chance?
I'm just having trouble starting my search for fellowships abroad.
Thank you!
Lillie
Sunday 16th of October 2016
Hi Ashley, check out this article: https://teachingtraveling.mystagingwebsite.com/2015/11/17/free-travel-for-teachers/ . Hope it helps!
Dr.Kakoli Sen
Wednesday 20th of July 2016
Hi Lillie, I am a female, based in New Delhi, India and looking for international opportunities to teach/research at higher education level. I am a Business Management professor and teach Organisational Behavior. I am also the Dean of School of Humanities & Social Science at my university. Any suggestions for me?
Lillie
Sunday 7th of August 2016
Hello! Try the link I've put in reply to the comment right below yours. Best of luck!
Analyn C Altamirano
Wednesday 22nd of June 2016
I am Analyn Cole Altamirano 34 years old. I am an Elementary School teacher in the Philippines and I have one year leave of absence from Public school SY 2016 - 2017. I am ultimately desiring to upgrade and develop my English language skill. May I know if I could be granted to any scholarship to US? Thank you so much for your greatest consideration.
Lillie
Thursday 23rd of June 2016
Hello! Do a search at the website explained here: https://teachingtraveling.mystagingwebsite.com/2014/12/31/travel-scholarships/ . Good luck!
Linda
Monday 20th of June 2016
I am looking for a short summer session because I don't think my school would allow me to be gone during the year. I am a math teacher who teaches mostly algebra one. I see sessions for languages and other humanities but math is basically nonexistent. Also, I am 57 years of age which seems to be about 30 years older than the places I have found want. Suggestions?
Lillie
Monday 20th of June 2016
Hi Linda, I'm SURE you can find something good, given the precious skills and experience you have! Have you checked out https://teachingtraveling.mystagingwebsite.com/2015/11/17/free-travel-for-teachers/ or https://teachingtraveling.mystagingwebsite.com/2014/12/31/travel-scholarships/ ? Another option is to just save up to travel somewhere. Once you're there, you're bound to find a school that would LOVE to have you for the summer. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!