Starting on April 26, 2026, teacher scholarships will no longer just pay for regular classroom training. Instead, they will pay for professional research, global exchange, and leadership. The deadline for the 2027 international research awards and UK leadership grants is now open or about to open, even though a few main spring deadlines have just passed.
Here are the main opportunities for teachers that are currently available for the 2026/27 school year.
1. The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DAI)
This is the best programme for primary and secondary school teachers from other countries to do research and professional development at a U.S. university.
- The Award: Five months in the U.S. with all expenses paid, including international travel, tuition, housing, and a daily allowance for living expenses.
- • Status: Applications are open in some areas, like Botswana.
- Due date: early May 2026 (this may be a little different in each country; check with your local U.S. Embassy).
- The program will run from August through December 2027.
- • To be eligible, you must have at least three to five years of full-time teaching experience and be able to speak English well (usually shown by a TOEFL score after the interview).
2. Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA)
A shorter, six-week professional development program focuses on teaching, planning lessons, and using technology in the classroom.
- The Award: full financial support, including airfare, university seminars, and a monthly maintenance allowance.
- 2027 Intake: Local U.S. Embassies usually choose teachers. Some areas closed in March, but most “Spring 2027” nominations are due in May or June 2026.
- Who can apply: secondary-level English, math, science, or social studies teachers who have been teaching for at least three years.
3. Rotary Peace Fellowships for the 2027–28 school year
Great for teachers who work in areas with a lot of violence or who teach about social justice and civic duty.
- The Award: Covers all costs, including tuition, room and board, travel, and field study.
- Status Right Now: Applications Are Open.
- Due date: May 15, 2026.
- Professional Track: A one-year certificate program at a top university, like Makerere in Uganda or Chulalongkorn in Thailand, is for leaders who have been working for at least five years.
4. Scholarships for Chevening in the UK for 2027/28
The UK’s top award for leaders. A lot of teachers use this award to get a Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Education Policy.
- The award includes free tuition, a monthly stipend, and travel.
- 2027 Cycle Planning: The portal should open on August 5, 2026.
- You need to have worked for at least two years (2,800 hours). All the hours you spend teaching count toward this requirement.
5. The UNESCO-Aschberg Programme
This is for teachers in the arts and creative fields who are working on projects to promote cultural education or artistic freedom.
- The Award: Up to $50,000 in financial help for projects run by civil society organisations.
- Status: The 2026 call ended in February, but the results and project implementations are still happening in late 2026.
- Next Cycle: Calls for the next cycle, which could happen in 2027, are usually made in January 2027.
6. Important 2026 Plan for Teachers
To get an international teaching grant this year, you need to make sure to point out your role as a “Multiplayer”:
- Proof of Leadership: In 2026, competitive applications will look at how you help other teachers. If you are a head of department, a mentor to student teachers, or a developer of new curricula, please say so.
- The “TOEFL” Readiness: A valid TOEFL score is often required in the last round for Fulbright programmes. If you want to apply for the 2027 intake, you might want to schedule your test for June or July 2026.
- The Global Teacher Prize Insight: The 2026 Top 50 finalists have already been named. They include teachers from Nigeria, India, and Colombia. The best way to find out what current committees care about is to look at their profiles. They value things like digital innovation, community impact, and being open to everyone.
- If you want to go to school in the UK (through Chevening), you have to apply to each of your three chosen universities separately. If you want to get an unconditional offer by July 2027, you should start applying to colleges in September 2026.
7. A list of important deadlines (May/August 2026)
- Fulbright DAI (Regional): May 2026.
- • May 15, 2026: Rotary Peace Fellowship.
- The Chevening 2027 Cycle starts on August 5, 2026.
- Deadline for the Fulbright Student/Scholar programme is October 6, 2026.