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When is the best time to apply for a job teaching English abroad?
When is the best time to apply for a job teaching English abroad?

When is the best time to apply for a job teaching English abroad?

A TEFL certificate can take you almost anywhere, whether your heart is set on Thailand, Spain, or Colombia. While you can swiftly complete an accredited TEFL course online or in-class , it’s also important to factor in hiring seasons when planning your teaching abroad timeline. 

In most cases, applying to teach English abroad can be done throughout the year, but specific countries and job types have strict hiring seasons. Read on to find out more about peak hiring seasons and the best time to apply for a job teaching English abroad!

How long does it take to complete a TEFL course?

The courses we offer here at The TEFL Org are named in accordance with the number of hours it takes to complete them. For example, our 120-hour Premier Online TEFL course will take 120 hours – but this can be hard to conceptualise. How many days or weeks is this?

On average, it takes the TEFL Org students around 10 weeks to complete a TEFL course. If you have a more flexible schedule, you can complete your TEFL course in as little as 4–6 weeks. This means that, if everything falls into place, you could be teaching English abroad in as little as 3–4 months from now!

Read more : How Much Time Do You Need to Get TEFL Certified?

Can I apply for a job teaching English abroad at any time?

You can apply to teach abroad at any time, but applying sooner doesn’t necessarily mean teaching sooner if you’ve already missed a cut-off date. While there are countries and schools that hire all year round, you’ll need to time your application, especially when applying for government programs. 

Read more : Government-Sponsored Teach Abroad Programs

Peak hiring seasons in top TEFL locations

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Australia
 6,000 - 9,000 AUD
 January Not usually None
Teach in Bangladesh
 £1,172 - £1,953 GBP
$1,500 - $2,500 USD 		January None
Teach in Bhutan
 25,108 - 50,216 BTN
£232 - £464 GBP
$300 - $600 USD 		February Not usually None
Teach in Cambodia
 5,283,959 KHR
£943 GBP
$1,220 USD 		November under 65
Teach in China
 21,833 CNY
£2,339 GBP
$3,008 USD 		September Yes, if degree obtained from an English-speaking country Under 55
Teach in Hong Kong
 28,000 HKD
£2,786 GBP
$3,585 USD 		August Not usually Under 60
Teach in India
 25,428 INR
£236 GBP
$304 USD 		April None
Teach in Indonesia
 11,444,444 IDR
£505 GBP
$638 USD 		July Not usually under 60
Teach in Japan
 258,542 JPY
£1,268 GBP
$1,639 USD 		April Sometimes under 65
Teach in Kazakhstan
 503,310 KZT
£823 GBP
$1,059 USD 		August None
Teach in Kyrgyzstan
 43,000 - 86,000 KGS
££390 - £783 GBP
$500 - $1,000 USD 		September None
Teach in Laos
 11,045,670 - 33,137,010 LAK
£390 - £1,171 GBP
$500 - $1,500 		September None
Teach in Malaysia
 3,125 MYR
£518 GBP
$667 USD 		January Preferred Sometimes under 65
Teach in Mongolia
 £700 - £1,120 GBP
$875 - $1,400 USD 		September Sometimes None
Teach in Myanmar
 £600 - £1,500 GBP
$800 - $2,000 USD 		June Preferred Sometimes under 52
Teach in Nepal
 Voluntary
 April Sometimes None
Teach in New Zealand
 NZD 4,000 - NZD 8,000
 January Not usually None
Teach in Pakistan
 36,583 PKR
£102 GBP
$131 USD 		August Not usually None
Teach in Papua New Guinea
 3,000 - 8000 PGK
£600 - £1,600 GBP
$770 - $2,054 USD 		January Not usually None
Teach in Philippines
 24,158 PHP
£321 GBP
$413 USD 		August None
Teach in Singapore
 4,713 SGD
£2,720 GBP
$3,500 USD 		January None
Teach in South Korea
 2,679,167 KRW
£1,634 GBP
$1,936 USD 		March Under 62
Teach in Sri Lanka
 37,667 LKR
£96 GBP
$124 USD 		January Not usually None
Teach in Taiwan
 72,436 TWD
£1,725 GBP
$2,220 USD 		September Sometimes Under 65
Teach in Thailand
 44,800 THB
£914 GBP
$1,177 USD 		May Sometimes None
Teach in Vietnam
 44,818,000 VND
£1,373 GBP
$1,766 USD 		August Under 60

Europe

  • Top locations : Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Poland
  • Popular programmes : NALCAP, Meddeas, TAPIF, British Council
  • Peak hiring season : Spring/Summer for September start, autumn for January start

The peak hiring season for most European countries is in spring or early summer, leading up to the new school year in September. Teachers should check for job listings at the start of the year in case of a lengthier application and hiring process, especially if you’re a non-EU citizen. 

While most teachers leave at the end of the school year, some sign one-semester contracts, creating vacancies for the winter semester start. Alternatively, popular countries like Spain , Italy , and France have a high demand for teachers, and you’ll find private language schools that hire year-round. 

Application dates for popular teaching programmes in Europe: 

  • NALCAP : Applications typically open in February/March for September/November starts. 
  • Meddeas : While there aren’t any strict deadlines, teachers are encouraged to apply as early as possible ahead of their preferred start date. 
  • TAPIF : Applications typically close in March.
  • British Council : Teaching assistant programmes in Spain, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland; each programme has a unique deadline for applications.  

Read more : Teaching English in Europe as a non-EU citizen

Check out our Teaching English in Europe Guide

A Japanese street lit up with neon lights

Asia

  • Top locations : China, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan
  • Popular programmes : EPIK, JET, TFETP
  • Peak hiring season : Varied, year-round

From the business giants in China , Japan , and South Korea , to the backpacking hotspots of Thailand and Vietnam , Asia is home to the biggest TEFL market and the demand for English speakers is enormous. 

China and Vietnam follow a similar education timeline to Europe, with public schools starting in August/September, and the second semester in January/February until early summer. 

The school year in South Korea, Japan, and Thailand start earlier in the year in March, April, and May respectively. 

Remember – the teaching market in Asia is huge , and teachers can find work all year-round, particularly at private schools and language centres. With eikaiwas in Japan, hagwons in South Korea, and buxibans in Taiwan, teaching jobs in Asia are available all year round. 

Application dates to consider for popular teaching programmes in Asia: 

  • JET : To teach in Japan on the JET programme, you’ll need to apply by November for an April start date. 
  • EPIK : For the EPIK programme in Korea, applications open in August for the start of the academic year in February/March, and in February for the Autumn start date. 
  • TFETP : To teach in Taiwan with TFETP, apply by April for an autumn start. 

Tip : JET and EPIK are some of the most popular TEFL programmes – apply as early as you can. 

Read more : When do EPIK Applications Open?

Check out our Guide to Teaching English in Asia

Latin America

  • Top locations : Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil 
  • Peak hiring season : December–January, year-round

Central and South America are popular TEFL regions for non-degree holders. While wages aren’t high, teachers have access to low entry requirements jobs, low living costs, awe-inspiring landscapes, and a warm climate. 

There’s a mixture of start dates and hiring seasons; while the academic year in Mexico starts in August, most countries in Latin America – like Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Peru , and Colombia – start in January, February, or March. 

The hiring process can be less formal than in other countries, with teachers often going in-country to secure work. Only a minority of employers advertise positions online and recruit from abroad.

Check out our Guide to Teaching English in Latin America

A mosque in Abu Dhabi

The Middle East

  • Top locations : United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman
  • Peak hiring season : November-February, year-round

You can apply throughout the year to teach English in the Middle East, but schools and employers are very proactive, hiring teachers almost a year in advance. In popular Middle Eastern countries like the UAE and Qatar , hiring season starts in November for the following academic year in September-November.

Teaching positions are available in both public and private schools year-round, as well as opportunities to work in universities and vocation-specific establishments.

Check out our Guide to Teaching English in The Middle East and Africa

Learn here, teach anywhere

When looking for a job teaching English abroad, the best time to apply depends on the country you want to work in. As this article has shown, every region of the world has different requirements and hiring seasons, and many offer year-round teaching opportunities. 

But remember – once you’re TEFL certified, you’re certified for life. Taking a TEFL course with an accredited institution (like the TEFL Org !) means that you’ll carry this qualification with you forever. Check out our TEFL Jobs Centre to discover the latest teaching positions waiting for your application!

Read these guides to plan your journey teaching English abroad: