The Departure Board — Edition 1: South Korea is boarding
South Korea is boarding: EPIK Spring 2027 applications just opened
Applications for EPIK’s Spring 2027 intake opened this month and get reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applicants get first pick of placements. Here is everything on the board this edition.
EPIK Spring 2027 is open
South Korea’s public school program is the most complete package in TEFL right now, and its Spring 2027 window just opened. EPIK reviews applications as they come in, which means the best placements, think Seoul suburbs and Busan, go to the teachers who apply in the next few weeks, not the ones who wait for the deadline.
You need a bachelor’s degree in any subject, a clean background check, and a 120 hour TEFL certificate. Apply through the official EPIK site or an approved recruiter, then expect an interview, document legalization, and a visa run before February orientation.
| Destination | Now hiring — apply | Salary | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | EPIK Spring 2027 → | 2.1–2.8M KRW / mo (~$1,550–2,050) | Rolling, apply now | BOARDING |
| China | EF & centres → | RMB 15,000–25,000 / mo (~$2,050–3,425) | Year round | BOARDING |
| Taiwan | TFETP → | NT$62,720–91,420 / mo (~$1,950–2,850) | Rolling | BOARDING |
| Vietnam | ILA & centres → | $1,200–2,000 / mo | Year round | BOARDING |
| Thailand | Live jobs on Ajarn → | ฿25,000–55,000 / mo (~$700–1,550) | Sep–Oct hiring | BOARDING |
| Cambodia | Intl schools & centres → | ~$1,000–1,500 / mo | Year round | BOARDING |
| UAE / Dubai | Schools, tax-free → | AED 9,000–15,000 / mo (~$2,450–4,100) | Year round | BOARDING |
| Colombia | Schools & ESL → | ~$700–1,000 / mo | Year round | BOARDING |
| Spain | Meddeas → | Stipend + free host-family lodging | 2026-27 open now | BOARDING |
| Japan | JET Program 2027 | 4.02M JPY / yr (~$27,000) | Opens Sep–Oct | GATE OPENS SEP |
| Spain | NALCAP (government) | €800–1,000 / mo (~$870–1,090) | Reopens early 2027 | CLOSED |
Japan: JET opens next month, start your paperwork now
The JET Program’s 2027 application window opens in late September through your home country’s embassy. First year pay is 4.02 million JPY (about $27,000) with subsidized housing in most placements, rising each year you renew. The application is famously document heavy, so order transcripts and references now.
Source: official JET Program site · verified Aug 2026Taiwan: TFETP wants licensed and TEFL certified teachers
Taiwan’s government program pays NT$62,720 to 91,420 per month (about $1,950 to $2,850) depending on your qualifications, plus a housing allowance and airfare. Applications are rolling, and demand is strongest outside Taipei.
Source: official TFETP site · verified Aug 2026Vietnam: language centers hiring year round
Language centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City pay $1,200 to $2,000 per month against a cost of living around $700 to $900. A degree and a 120 hour TEFL certificate get you a work permit, and many teachers interview from abroad.
Market rates · verified Aug 2026Thailand: November semester hiring ramps up in September
Schools recruit through September and October for the November semester. Expect ฿25,000 to 55,000 per month depending on school type, with international schools at the top of that range.
Market rates · verified Aug 2026Online: rates holding at $10 to $25 per hour
Established platforms are prioritizing teachers with a 120 hour certificate or higher, and business English remains the best paid niche. A steady 20 hour week at mid range rates clears $1,000 a month from anywhere.
Market rates · verified Aug 2026China: EF and private centres hiring year-round
China pays among the best entry salaries in Asia: RMB 15,000 to 25,000 per month (about $2,050 to $3,425) at private centres and chains like EF, usually with a housing allowance, flight reimbursement and a completion bonus on top. You need a degree, a clean background check and a 120 hour TEFL certificate.
Apply: EF careers · salary Premier TEFL China report · verified Aug 2026UAE / Dubai: tax-free pay for licensed teachers
The Gulf is the top of the pay scale. Classroom teachers earn AED 9,000 to 15,000 per month (about $2,450 to $4,100), 100% tax-free, typically with furnished housing or an allowance, annual flights and medical insurance. It rewards licensed K-12 teachers with a degree and experience rather than first-timers.
Apply: Teach Away UAE · verified Aug 2026New to all this? Start with our guides to teaching English in South Korea, TEFL requirements by country, and the TEFL Salary Report 2026, or compare every destination on the Premier TEFL blog.
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