Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)

The Purpose of the Grant Program

The purpose of the program is to support and diversify the teaching of Finnish language and culture in the U.S. At the same time, it enables Finnish students to get to know the world of American higher education. Selected grantees act as ambassadors for the Fulbright program, Finland, and their home institutions, sharing their culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

The academic year lasts for 9 months and starts either in August or September, depending on the schedule of the host university. The American collaborative partner of the FLTA program is the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The application round for the academic year 2025-26 is now closed. The next application cycle will open in August 2025 for the academic year 2026-27.

Teaching Assistants (the ”TAs”) are common on American campuses. A TA is usually a master's or doctoral-level student who works in the faculty or department for a defined number of hours per week and, as compensation, gets a discount on tuition fees or is completely freed of them. The contents of the work tasks largely depend on the department but they usually include assisting teachers or even teaching independently. The tasks can also include organizing different kinds of events related to the Finnish language and culture.

The program provides Finnish students and early career Finnish teachers a great opportunity to develop their teaching skills in a challenging and fruitful environment, strengthen their English skills, and add to their knowledge of American culture and society, and the cultural exchange between Finland and the U.S.

Benefits

• The total minimum grant USD 15 000 (including the university contribution).
• The support and advice services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation are available for the grantees the entire year. The orientation training is organized in May 2025. In the orientation, you will receive information on e.g. social security, visa, apartments, and practical issues related to the American study and research environment.
• During the FLTA year, the grantee has a right to complete four university courses for free: two during the fall semester and two during the spring semester. The courses are agreed on together with the university and depending on the university, the courses are for credit or audit-only.
• The support and advice services provided by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in the U.S.: The IIE contact person is available to help in questions related to e.g. visa, taxation, and local regulations of the U.S.
• Before arriving to the U.S., attendance at a virtual orientation during summer 2025, prior to arrival at host institutions in August/September, organized by IIE.
• Extensive orientation training to the U.S. culture, higher education system, and details for the upcoming Fulbright period including online materials, virtual meetings, and orientation day in Helsinki.
• Fulbright grantees do not have to pay visa fees.
• The Fulbright grant and network bring additional value to your career development: the grant is internationally known and valued.
• The alumni network and activities.

During my Fulbright year as a teaching assistant I gained valuable knowledge and skills about teaching Finnish as a second language. This skill set is a great addition to my pedagogical knowledge I have acquired in my MA on elementary education in Finland. Getting to work and be mentored by a professional Finnish language teacher has been inspiring and rewarding. While working at the university I also came across with some great opportunities to enhance my academic career. - FLTA grantee 2023-24

Support for Grantees with Disabilities

Extra funding support is available for grantees with disabilities. If you have a disability that would cause additional costs for the grant term, contact the Foundation to discuss reasonable accommodations. Email the Foundation ([email protected]) by the grant application deadline your self-assessment with a description of the disability and the specific accommodations requested.

Please note that disclosing the need for disability accommodation does not affect the review and selection process.

Eligibility

Participating in the FLTA program means you have to have a strong interest in teaching, intercultural communication, Finnish culture and language, and cultural exchange between Finland and the U.S.

• The program is meant for those who have at least a bachelor’s degree.
• The program is suitable for Master's and Doctoral level students from all fields who are interested in teaching Finnish language and culture in the U.S. Also, recent graduates and early career teachers are eligible to apply.
• The applicant has to have good English skills, needed for the duties in the U.S.
• The applicant has to be a Finnish citizen and has to arrive in the U.S. with a J-1 visa. Dual citizens of Finland and the U.S. cannot apply for the FLTA grant.
• An applicant who aims at getting, or who already has a permanent residence permit in the U.S., cannot apply for the grant. The grant will also not be awarded to someone who already resides in the U.S. Applicants with active applications for permanent residency or the diversity visa lottery are not considered for the program or required J-1 visa.
• There are some restrictions for employees of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. missions abroad (section 525). Please see more information on eligibility guidelines and other Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) policies.

Limitations of the FLTA program on the grantee

• One of the courses the grantee takes in the U.S. has to, in some way, include studies about American society, history, or culture (the so-called American Studies).
• The FLTA grant will only cover one academic year (9 months). The J-1 visa for the program cannot be extended.
• The FLTA grants are subjected to the so-called two-year home country residence requirement. Based on this requirement, the grantee must return to Finland for two years after the grant period ends. The grantee cannot apply for a work permit or an immigration visa to the U.S. during this time. However, normal tourist visits and studying are possible.
• The FLTA program does not support J-2 family visas, which means that the grantee with a J-1 visa cannot take family with them. However, it is possible for families to briefly visit grantees as tourists.

Host Universities in the U.S

Finnish language and culture can be studied approximately in ten U.S. universities. Finnish FLTA-grantees have been hosted in for example by the following universities:

• Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
• Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• University of California, Berkeley, CA
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI
• University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Host Universities for the academic year 2024-25 were:

• University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

How to Apply?

• Application
  • If you encounter any technical problems when filling in the application, you can contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation.
  • Please note that the Fulbright Finland Foundation only processes applications that have been submitted by the application deadline and include all the required attachments.
• Fill out the application by following the application instructions 
• Please make sure to submit all required documents with your application (attachments are a mandatory part of the application): 
  • Checklist (has to be attached to the application)
  • CV/Resume
  • Official transcripts (opintorekisteriote) in English
  • University or post-secondary diploma (tutkintotodistus) in Finnish or in English
  • Official Diploma Supplement
  • Objectives and Motivations Statement
  • Passport
  • Three Recommendation Letters written in English (recommender submits directly to the application portal) 
• Use the checklist to make sure you have attached all the necessary documents to the application. The applicant is responsible for saving all the required attachments in the application system by the deadline.
• The applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board and the interviews focus on the following attributes. The Foundation does not provide feedback on individual applications, their review process or on any single grant decision.

What happens after the selection?

• All selected grantees must do a TOEFL language test in December 2024/January 2025. The grantees receive a coupon from the Fulbright Finland Foundation for the test. More information on the test can be found here.
• All selected grantees must obtain a medical certificate for insurance purposes during spring 2025 (6 months before the start of the grant period at most). The expenses for obtaining this certificate will not be covered.
• The grantees will be notified of their host university during January or February 2025. Both the university and the grantee have to commit to the program for the grantee to get the grant.
• The orientation event for the FLTA grantees will be organized in Helsinki in May 2025. All grantees must attend the event in person.
• IIE organizes a virtual orientation for all FLTAs during the summer 2025. Participation is required for all Fulbright FLTAs.
• The departure to the U.S. will take place in August or September 2025. 

Alumni Experiences

• Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors are happy to share their experiences from the U.S. Feel free to contact them.
• Teaching Finnish Language and Culture in Seattle
  • Ronja Salo, FLTA 2023-24, University of Washington, Seattle
• Suomen kielen opettajana Yhdysvalloissa - konferenssimatka Washingtoniin
  • Milla Mykrä, FLTA 2022-23, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
  • Laura Niemeläinen, FLTA 2022-23, Indiana University Bloomington
• Interview with Laura Niemeläinen conducted by Indiana University
  • Laura Niemeläinen, FLTA 2022-23, Indiana University Bloomington
• Milla Minnesotassa
  • Milla Mykrä, FLTA 2022-23, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
• Mari Minnesotassa
  • Mari Mäki-Leppilampi, FLTA 2021-2022, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
• Sanni Samoilee
  • Sanni Törmänen, FLTA 2019-2020, Indiana University, Bloomington
• Kuulumisia Minnesotasta
  • Laura Tuomainen, FLTA 2017-2018, University of Minnesota

Program Partner

The Finnish FLTA program is part of the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program in the U.S. administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

What is the Fulbright Finland Foundation?

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is

• to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, and
• to support the internationalization of education and research in Finland, and help U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages.

What Makes the Fulbright Finland Foundation Programs Unique?

• In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Finland Foundation offers the grantees several additional benefits and free support services, as well as access to a global, multi-professional network.
• We are looking for applicants who want to impact the future and make a difference – applicants who want to facilitate positive change, develop and advance their own profession or discipline, and find solutions to national and international challenges in their field.
• The grantees also act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, their home country, and their home organizations and, in this way, do their part in sharing their home country and culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

The Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.