Official Programs to Teach English in Europe

A few countries have official programs to bring in native English speakers to work as language assistants in the public school system. If you are currently an undergraduate student or have a BA and are under 30 years of age, then there are several programs to teach English in Europe to choose from. However, there are a few programs that will consider applicants over 30, especially in Spain.

1. France (For citizens of all major English-speaking nations)

The Teaching Assistant Program in France (managed by the CIEP) is open to English-speaking citizens of several countries: the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, as well as students from any of the members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States who are enrolled at the University of the West Indies.

Monthly salary: 790€ net; assistants placed in DOM-TOMs receive higher salaries but NOT those placed in Paris

US program: Must have completed 2 years of a BA and be between ages of 21 and 30, with intermediate level of French. Application fee of $40. Dual French-American citizens are not eligible.
Deadline: January 15

Canadian program: Applicants must have completed two years of higher education by October 1, 2015. Dual French-Canadian citizens are not eligible, and there is an application fee of $40 USD.
Deadline: February 15

UK program through British Council
Deadline: December 19

Irish program: must be between ages of 20 and 35 and have completed 2nd year of BA
Deadline: February 20

Australia
Deadline: December 17

New Zealand
Deadline: February 27

India
Deadline: December 2

Jamaica and the Bahamas
Deadline: January 5

 

2. Spain (For citizens of US, Canada, UK, and Ireland)

US & Canadian program: must hold a minimum of a BA or BS by the end of the academic year preceding the start of the program, be a junior or a senior, or have become a university graduate. Age limit is 60 years of age (as of 2016, the age limit of 35 for Madrid has been removed and all regions in Spain are now participating).
Monthly salary: 700€ for most locations; 1,000€ for those placed in Madrid
Deadline: April

UK program through British Council: undergraduates studying Spanish at a UK university will be treated as priority candidates
Monthly salary: 700€ for most locations; 1,000€ for those placed in Madrid
Deadline: December 19

Irish program through ELA Scheme
No age limit; must have completed one year of university
Monthly salary: 700€ net
Deadline: March 2

A few other language assistant programs in Spain which have no age limits include UCETAM (Madrid only), Meddeas (private schools), and BEDA (Catholic schools mostly in Madrid).

 

3. Italy (For citizens of the US, UK, and Ireland)

US program: Placements available in Lombardy only
Monthly salary: 700€ net
Deadline: February

UK program through British Council
Monthly salary: 850€ net
Deadline: December 19

Irish program through ELA Scheme: Undergraduates who are studying Italian at a university/third level institution of education, are under 30 years of age, and have completed two years of third level studies are eligible to apply.
Monthly salary: 850€ net
Deadline: March 2

 

4. Germany (For citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand)

US program through Fulbright
Deadline: Usually in October

UK program through British Council
Monthly salary: 800€ net
Deadline: December 19

Irish program through ELA Scheme: must have completed 2 years of university and be under 29
Monthly salary: 800€ net
Deadline: March 2

Australian program: must have BA, be under 29, and have good knowledge of German
Monthly salary: 800€ plus one-time travel grant of 1,000€
Deadline: February 28

 

5. Austria (For citizens of the US, UK, and Ireland)

US program: Must have BA and working knowledge of German
Monthly salary: 1,105€ net
Deadline: January 15

UK program through British Council
Monthly salary: around 1,133€
Deadline: December 19

Irish program through the ELA Scheme
Modern language undergraduates after their second year of study are eligible to apply; Austrian authorities request that applicants are under 30 years old.
Monthly salary: approximately 1,000€ net
Deadline: March 2

 

6. Switzerland (For citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia)

UK and Irish applicants are considered first, then if necessary, those from the US, Canada and Australia. Aimed at students and graduates of universities and teacher training colleges; must be between ages of 21 and 30
Monthly salary: 2,550 CHF net
Deadline: February 27

 

7. Czech Republic

Knowledge of Czech not required. No age limit. Positions in Prague are scarce.

 

8. Hungary (For citizens of the US, Canada, UK, and Australia)

Applications accepted at all times, but there is an application fee of $750. Bachelor’s degree required. Knowledge of Hungarian not required. No age limit.

For US citizens, the Fulbright program has several English Teaching Assistant positions (throughout the world, not just Europe) but these positions are quite competitive. The largest program in Europe is Germany, with 140 positions available. The deadline for Fulbright grants is typically in October for a program that starts in the following year. Applicants 29 and younger receive special consideration, and you cannot apply to a country for which you hold citizenship.

For UK citizens, the British Council offers assistantships in several countries both within and outside of Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland in Europe; and Argentina, (Francophone) Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador or Mexico outside of Europe. Applications are usually due by December for programs that start in the following year. For Irish citizens, the English Language Assistant Scheme offers positions in France, Austria, Germany, Italy and Spain.

 

If you’re looking to teach English in Europe but don’t have much experience, go to my ESL Lesson Plans page to see what I’ve used in my courses (and you can download them for free!)