Find Money for Arabic Language Study Abroad
Sources of Scholarships and Funding for Middle East Study Programs
Sep 29, 2009
Arabic, the primary language of Saudi Arabia, is also spoken in at least 25 other countries throughout the Middle East and Africa, according the Languages of the World’s Ethnologue website. As a result, there is great need for bilingual Arabic/English speakers in the U.S. Many students are simply fascinated by the cultures and language of the Middle East and choose to learn Arabic for personal reasons.
The best way to become proficient in a language is to live and study in a country in which that language is spoken. However, studying abroad can be an expensive proposition. The following are organizations that offer funding for Arabic language study overseas.
National Security Education Program
The National Security Education Program provides funding for U.S. students to study the language and culture of regions around the world critical to U.S. interests. The program includes the Boren Scholarship for undergraduate students, the Boren Fellowship for graduate students, and the National Flagship Language Program, which is an intensive language study and immersion program in Arabic (as well as several other key programs).
The NSEP scholarships provide varying sized grants of up to $10,000 for a semester, $20,000 for a full year to cover tuition, travel expenses, living expenses, housing, and health insurance. The application deadline is mid-February, and notification is made in late April. More information can be found at the BorenAwards.org website.
Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes
The U.S. State Department along with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) have teamed to offer over 500 Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) for intensive summer language institutes in Arabic as well as several other targeted languages. The institutes run from seven to ten weeks. The focus is on group-based intensive language instruction, along with cultural enrichment experiences. Many of the programs accept beginning, intermediate and advanced students.
Student of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply, however participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period. Applicants will also be expected to apply their language skills in their future professional careers.
All programs costs are covered for participants, including travel expenses, living expenses, housing, and a stipend. The deadline for applications is in November. More information can be found at the CLScholaship.org website.
American Institute for Yemeni Studies Fellowships
The American Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS) offers fellowships for a 10-week intensive Arabic language program in Yemen. Awards cover the cost of tuition, travel expenses, living expenses, housing, health insurance, and a stipend. The application deadline is in November.
Only U.S. citizens are eligible for the AIYS fellowships, and study is at the post-graduate level. More information can be found at the AIYS.org website.
Center for Arabic Study Abroad
The Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA), housed at the University of Texas at Austin, is represented by a consortium of 35 U.S. universities and colleges. CASA offers intensive advanced level Arabic in Cairo, Egypt and Damascus, Syria.
Fellowships to the CASA programs are available providing tuition, roundtrip airfare, and a small monthly stipend. Information can be found at the CASA website.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program
This U.S. Department of Education program provides funds for graduate students studying foreign languages. The funds are funneled through grantee institutions (colleges, universities, and foreign language institutes) and applications must be made through those institutions. Ask for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship information. The application window is expected to be January and February.
Arabic is a considered a “critical” language by the U.S. government, and funding is available to encourage students majoring in a variety of professions to study this language. The organizations listed above are not the only sources of funding for Arabic study, but are the most prominent and provide a starting point in the search for funding for study abroad.
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