Overview and Guidelines

Fulbright Greece will award up to two grants to outstanding Greek primary and secondary-level school educators to attend the 2026 Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, and to complete an Educator Project, take courses for professional development at a U.S. host university, and observe, collaborate and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues. The program is a practice-based, intensive five-month professional development program that is primarily focused on education leadership and sharing best practices in education.

Emphases:

• Promote mutual understanding between teachers, their schools, and communities in the United States and abroad by building teachers’ and students’ global competence, and by sharing educational best practices internationally.
• Provide professional development to enhance educators’ expertise in their disciplines and furnish them with a deeper understanding of best practices in education.
• Contribute to improving education in participating countries by preparing participants to serve as educational leaders who are equipped to apply and share their experience and skills with their colleagues and students upon returning home.

Key factors in candidate selection include professional experience, academic training, research project idea, leadership potential, academic excellence, potential for professional development, civic engagement, extra-curricular activities, and personal qualities/abilities to serve as a cultural ambassador for Greece.

All awards are subject to the Fulbright Foundation policies, in compliance with the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) guidelines, and all U.S. government regulations regarding visas, immigration, travel, and residence.

View the official Fulbright DAI Program Announcement
View the official Program Page

Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship: Greek citizenship or possession of a Greek passport. Candidates with U.S./Greek dual citizenship are not eligible;

High Academic Achievement: Demonstrated by academic grades, awards, and recommendations.

Employment: Full-time or a combination of positions that add up to full-time equivalence, with at least 50 percent of teaching to the local population as part of the full-time employment. Applicants who are teacher trainers do not need to work directly with elementary and secondary students, but must work with elementary or secondary pre-service or in-service teachers at least fifty percent of their time. Part-time teachers are not eligible.

Assignment: Teachers and administrators assigned to the Greek public school system at the primary and secondary education level. Very limited private schools can be considered and only if they serve under-resourced student populations. Substitute teachers are not eligible.

Residency: Have permanent residency in Greece and commit to returning to fulfill the mission and aim of the Fulbright grant.

English Proficiency: Excellent command of the English language.

Grant Period: FDAI are intensive academic programs that take place over the course of a semester beginning in mid-August and ending at the beginning of December. Participants are expected to complete a research project, take courses for professional development at a host university, and observe, collaborate and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues. The program is practice-based and primarily focused on education leadership and sharing best practices in education

Full-time Engagement: Participants should be prepared for an intensive 4-month U.S.-based training program with very limited free time for personal travel or sightseeing.

Preferences

Education: Preference given to candidates with a B.A./M.A. degree from recognized institutions in Greece.

Age: Preference given to candidates who are mid-career and under the age of 45 at the time of application with at least three years of full-time teaching; however, the most competitive applicants will have at least five years’ experience of related professional teaching experience.

Recent U.S. Experience: Preference given to qualified candidates without substantial recent experience in the United States.

Location: Candidates in the United States at the time of application are not eligible.

Grant Benefits

Fulbright Experience:

Transformative Experience: Opportunity for a transformative cultural and academic journey.
Comprehensive Support: Extensive guidance provided before, during, and after the Fulbright year, opening numerous doors.
Global Networking: Unique global networking opportunities.

Financial Benefits:

Funding: The programs are fully funded, with all participant costs covered, including academic program fees, domestic travel, ground transportation for school visits during the program, housing and meal arrangements, incidental expenses, baggage and technology allowances.
Travel Coverage: Round-trip travel allowance provided.
Health Plan Coverage: Limited accident and sickness benefits plan included.

Program Support:

Annual Awards Ceremony: Participate in the annual Awards Ceremony.
Visa Assistance: Obtain a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.

Additional Benefits:

Community Membership: Gain memberships in both local and global communities.
Invitations: for participation in Outreach and Train the Trainers Programs.

NOTE: at present, the Ministry of Education does not grant paid leave for this program and participants have to take into account when applying that they may need to make the necessary arrangements for their leave from home.

Terms and Conditions

• Application: Submission of a complete application is mandatory.
  
  Deferral: Awards cannot be deferred to the following year.
  
  J-1 visa: Fulbright grant recipients must travel on a J-1 visa sponsored by the Fulbright Program. It is a condition of the visa that, after completing the research program, scholars must return to Greece and reside there for two years before being eligible to immigrate or apply for permanent residence or a work permit in the United States. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return to their home country and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright Program to broaden and strengthen mutual understanding between Greece and the United States.

Application Procedures

Application – Deadline: May 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM EET (23:59 ET)
The application process take place online through a designated platform.

Selection

Selection Committee: interviews short-listed candidates on specific dates. Interviews last for about 20 minutes, are conducted in English, and are held online.

Fulbright Teacher Exchanges | Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs | U.S. Department of State & IREX: review the candidates before final placement.
 
Fulbright Foundation's Board of Directors: nominates/endorses the candidates.

Contact
Greek Program Coordinator
The Fulbright Foundation
T 210 7241 811/2, ext. 3
E

Application Form

The application period for the 2025-2026 academic cycle will open on March 4, 2025. The link will be accessible here.

Program Calendar