Fulbright Malaysia Program

Home / Awards to the U.S. / Teachers / Fulbright Teaching Excellence And Achievement Program (TEA)

Fulbright Malaysia Program

Home / Awards to the U.S. / Teachers / Fulbright Teaching Excellence And Achievement Program (TEA)
Contact us now

Fulbright Teaching Excellence And Achievement Program (TEA)

  • Award Duration
    6 weeks (January 2027 or September 2027 intake)
  • Announcement Of Application
    Open - January 8, 2026 | Close - March 16, 2026

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by IREX, offers an incredible professional development opportunity for international secondary school teachers.

We are looking for dedicated full-time secondary educators to join our upcoming six-week program. Whether you teach in a government or private institution, if your work focuses on serving Malaysian students aged 13–18, we encourage you to apply.

Selected educators will travel to the United States in January 2027 or September 2027 to participate in academic seminars at a host university, engage in professional development, and exchange expertise with U.S. teachers and students in both university and local secondary school settings. 

Grants are available for Malaysian secondary school teachers specializing in:

    • English or English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • Foreign Languages
    • Social Studies
    • Journalism
    • Communications
    • Special Education 

The Fulbright TEA Program provides a unique chance to educators to broaden their professional skills, exchange knowledge, and connect with other educators globally.

Click here TO APPLY

MACEE Info Session 2026/2027

Transform Your Classroom: Fulbright TEA Info Session

Secondary School Teachers: Are you ready to bring cutting-edge teaching strategies and a global perspective back to your students?

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program is your opportunity for a transformative six-week professional development experience in the U.S.

Why You Must Attend This Free Info Session:

  • Impact: Learn how to implement innovative teaching techniques immediately.
  • Insights: Hear powerful, real-world experiences from Fulbright TEA alumni.
  • The Edge: Get essential tips and a step-by-step breakdown of the application process to maximize your chances of selection.
Click here to register

Alumni Info Session 1

Building Confidence and Professional Growth Through International Exposure: Lessons from U.S. School Culture. 

Ready to Level Up Your Teaching Confidence?
Hear directly from our alumni as they share how experiencing the U.S. school environment transformed their teaching methodology and boosted their professional confidence.

They’ll share practical takeaways on:

  • How to integrate international teaching practices into your local classroom.
  • Strategies for building stronger professional networks.
  • The essential lessons learned from diverse U.S. school cultures.

Don’t just teach—transform! Sign up now to secure your spot and gain an international edge

Click here to register

Alumni Info Session 2

From Exchange to Impact: How to Apply Your U.S. Experience to Drive Change in Malaysian Classrooms

While the thought of teaching abroad is exciting, the ultimate question is: What happens when you return?

Join this special info session to witness the powerful, real-world impact our alumni are making in in the classrooms after they have completed their Fulbright TEA Program. This is your chance to see the return on investment of the program firsthand.

The session will cover:

  • The types of projects alumni initiate post-exchange (e.g., curriculum development, teacher training).
  • How to adapt U.S. best practices to the Malaysian school environment.
  • Building confidence and leadership skills through international exposure.
Click here to register

Watch our past alumni info sessions

Crafting Outstanding Statement of Purpose Essay

How to Fill Up the Institutional Support and Reference Form

Eligibility

To qualify for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Citizenship and Residency
    1. Must be a Malaysian citizen.
    2. Must reside in Malaysia during the application process and throughout the program participation.
  • Professional Background
    1. Must be a current, full-time secondary-level teachers teaching students aged approximately 13 to 18.
    2. Eligible subjects include English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Journalism, Communications and Special Education.
    3. Teachers must primarily serve a local population in public and private schools.
  • Educational Qualification
    1. Must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
    2. Must have completed a minimum of three years of full-time teaching by the start of the program although five or more years of teaching experience is preferred.
    • English Language Proficiency
      1. Must be proficient in both written and spoken English to actively participate in specialized seminars and deliver presentations in U.S. schools.
      2. Must demonstrate English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 45

Note:

    All shortlisted candidates will be required to take the TOEFL iBT test and MACEE will issue vouchers to cover the cost of the test.
  • Commitment to Teaching
    1. Must show a strong commitment to continuing in the teaching profession after completing the program.
  • Application Requirements
    1. Must submit a complete application with all required documentation.

Ineligibility

The following applicants are not eligible for the Fulbright TEA Program:

  • Educational administrators, such as officials or representatives of the Ministry of Education, and school administrators who do not teach at least 50% of the time.
  • Full-time teacher trainers and university faculty.
  • Private English language tutors.
  • Teachers from schools that primarily serve expatriates.

The Fulbright TEA Program is designed as an upper-level university or graduate-level academic program for practicing teachers.

Award Benefit
  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Monthly stipend
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Accommodation
  • Academic program fees
  • Travel allowance
  • J-1 visa support
Application Procedure

To submit a complete application, ensure the following documents are included:

Reference Materials
Please refer to the following resources for guidance:

Important Notes:
1) Incomplete applications will not be considered

2) Please ensure all questions are answered thoroughly.

Fulbright Plagiarism Policy

This program values the highest academic standards of originality in research, writing, and citation. All application materials will be screened using plagiarism detection software. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification from the program.

Definition of Plagiarism:
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Using exact wording, statistics, or concepts from a source without proper attribution.
  2. Copying text verbatim or with slight alterations without citation.
  3. Paraphrasing ideas from a source without credit.

Applicants must ensure their submissions are original and properly cite all secondary sources, including their own previously published work, if referenced.

Selection Process

MACEE will recruit, interview, and nominate exceptional teachers for the program. Final selection will be determined by an independent panel in Washington, D.C.

Key Dates:

  • Interviews are scheduled for April 2026 and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

For inquiries, please contact us at fulbrightmalaysia@macee.org.my or call 03-21668878.

Program Description

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Applicants are nominated to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program based on their educational and professional experience, academic training, and leadership. Final selection of Fulbright TEA Program applicants is made by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB). The FFSB is an independent, presidentially-appointed board that has oversight responsibility for all Fulbright academic exchange programs.

As part of the application process, applicants must indicate their preference for program participation starting in either January 2027 or September 2027.

Program Components

Applicants who are selected to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program will:

  1. Take part in tailored graduate-level seminars at a U.S. host university.
  2. Observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues in U.S. secondary schools.
  3. Engage in an online professional learning community with other participants to share best practices and other elements of host and home country educational systems; and
  4. Take part in other educational and cultural activities while on program in the United States.

Upon returning home, applicants will share the knowledge and experience gained on the program with teachers and students in their home schools and communities.

University Coursework

Weekly Seminars: Applicants will participate in weekly seminars at their host university featuring presentations and discussions led by university staff, faculty members, and invited educational experts. The Fulbright TEA Program provides academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, content-based instruction, lesson planning, and instructional technology training for teachers.

U.S. School Placements: The program will also include a practicum of at least 40 hours with a U.S. partner teacher in a secondary school near the host university to actively engage participants in the U.S. classroom environment. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided to participants throughout the program.

Online Professional Learning Community

Each Fulbright applicant will participate in a virtual community with other international educators to collaborate and share best practices about education and leadership in the participating countries.

Connect with Your Fulbright TEA State Alum

Need help with your application? Your TEA State Alum is here to assist! They can answer your questions and guide you through completing your application.

Feel free to reach out to your TEA State Alum via email for support.

If you’re unsure how to connect with an alum, email us at fulbrightmalaysia@macee.org.my, and we’ll gladly connect you to one.

We’re here to help—don’t hesitate to reach out!

Johor

Kedah & Perlis

Kelantan & Terengganu

Negeri Sembilan & Melaka

Pahang

Perak

Sabah

Sarawak

Selangor