Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)
The FLTA grant program offers Finnish students, recent graduates and early career teachers an opportunity to spend one academic year at an U.S. university. Grantees provide assistance in teaching duties related to Finnish language and culture. Additionally, they can do additional studies and research by attending university courses without paying tuition fees.
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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 U.S. 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 U.S. cooperative agency of the FLTA program is the Institute of International Education (IIE).
The application cycle will open in September 4, 2025 for the academic year 2026-27.
Teaching Assistants (the ”TAs”) are common on U.S. 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 U.S. culture and society, and the cultural exchange between Finland and the U.S.
Benefits
Grant: The total minimum grant USD 15 000 (including the university contribution).
University courses free of charge: The grantee has the 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.
Free visa: Fulbright grantees do not have to pay visa fees.
English language test fee waiver: Grantee does not need to pay fees for the TOEFL test.
Extensive orientation training to the U.S. culture, higher education system, and details for the upcoming Fulbright period, including online materials, virtual meetings, and an orientation day in Helsinki. The in-person orientation training is organized in May 2026, during which you will receive information on e.g., social security, visa, housing, and practical issues related to the U.S. study and research environment. In addition, the Foundation's cooperative agency in the U.S. provides FLTA grantees from around the world with a virtual orientation in summer 2026, held before arrival at host institutions.
Personal advising and guidance services: The Foundation supports you, for example, with various aspects of moving to the U.S., both before your grant term begins and throughout its duration. In addition, the Foundation’s cooperative agency in the U.S. assists grantees with local matters, such as visa-related issues and taxation.
Networking opportunities:Enabling you to build connections professionally and internationally in Finland and the U.S. As a Fulbright grantee, you are provided an opportunity to participate in the Fulbright enrichment activities (Fulbright Enrichment Seminars, events, and workshops), allowing you to connect with fellow grantees from all around the world as well as local community members. In addition, you will be joining a global network of 400 000+ alumni as well as the Fulbright Finland alumni community, which is also a valuable support network for your grant term.
The Fulbright grant also gives remarkable extra value to your career growth, as the grant is internationally recognized and respected.
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.
Milla Mykrä, FLTA 2022-23, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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.
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 subject 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 in several U.S. universities. Finnish FLTA-grantees have been hosted, 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 University for the academic year 2025-26:
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Host Universities for the academic year 2026-27 will be announced later.
How to Apply?
Application: Please contact the Foundation, if you encounter any technical problems when filling in the application.
Application checklist: This is a mandatory item to be submitted along with your application. Please utilize this to make sure you have submitted all required documents. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all required items are submitted by the application deadline.
Laura Tuomainen, FLTA 2017-2018, University of Minnesota
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.
