Summer Study Abroad

While Amherst does not grant credit nor award financial aid for summer study abroad, we encourage students to participate in summer study abroad programs. We have developed some resources to help you choose a program and find funding, if necessary. Fellowships are open to first, second and third year students. Graduating seniors are not eligible.

Amherst College Summer Study Abroad Fellowships

Finding a summer study abroad program

Funding a summer study abroad program

Amherst College Summer Study Abroad Fellowships

(Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only)

The Summer Study Abroad Fellowships have one application for several different funds through the generosity of several donors: the Ouyang Family Summer Study Abroad Fund, the Huh Family Fund, the Roch-McKinstry Study Abroad Fund and the William E. Ford III 1983 Fund. These are highly selective fellowships that will fund students to attend a language and culture, research, or internship study abroad program from our summer study abroad program list. You may apply to a program not on the approved list so long as it is recommended by expert faculty from Amherst. You must identify one program to which you are applying/will apply in your fellowship application.

While students may apply to programs anywhere in the world, approximately half of the Ouyang Family funds must support study to China and these applicants must be on financial aid in the semester prior to the summer abroad. The Huh Family Fund supports students interested in studying abroad in Korea with preference for those students who are not of Korean heritage, including students who were adopted from Korea but raised elsewhere and who do not have any connection to their Korean heritage. Students applying to the Shoyu Club Japanese language study fellowship (which has a separate application) are not permitted to submit an application for any of these funds. All applicants must be undergraduates at the time of participation in the program. Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on International Education.

After participation in the program, students are required to:

  • Complete an evaluation of your experience for Amherst.
  • Submit a letter of appreciation to the donor(s).
  • Organize an event with the Study Abroad Office about your study abroad country and program.
Please note: It is possible that these awards will be taxable to the recipient(s) if s/he is a U.S. citizen, but the college is not required to report this payment and you should check with your tax accountant to see if taxes apply to your situation.

Applications must be completed online. The waiver and budget template are to be uploaded to your application is below. Due March 20, 2017.



Arabic Language Study Fellowship

(Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only)

Through the generous support of two Amherst alumnae, Sally Rathman Kadifa, M.D. ’81 and Samia Geha Foster, M.D. ’92, two Amherst students will receive up to $6,000 to study Arabic at the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB) on the CAMES Summer Arabic Program. The program runs from June 21 - August 9, 2017. The Fellowship covers tuition, accommodation in a double room with shared bath on the AUB campus, a required health insurance fee, and may cover partial airfare (depending on price). Students must cover meals, books, personal expenses and any remaining airfare. Students who are awarded the fellowship from the faculty Committee on International Education will have their applications forwarded to AUB for final review. Students must be formally accepted by AUB in order to use the fellowship. After participation in the program, students are required to:

  • Complete an evaluation of the experience for Amherst College.
  • Submit a letter of appreciation to the donors.
  • Organize an event with the Study Abroad Office about the experience/program/location.
Please note: It is possible that this award will be taxable to the recipient(s) if s/he is a U.S. citizen, but the college is not required to report this payment and you should check with your tax accountant to see if taxes apply to your situation.  Awardees must also submit additional documentation (for example, passport photos, a copy of the awardees passport page, and other information) required by AUB. Awardees will be notified of these details upon notification of award.

Applications must be completed online. The waiver and special waiver are to be uploaded to your application is below.


The Summer+Semester in China Fellowship

(Fellowships are for sophomores and juniors only)

The Chia Family Foundation believes a student who is "equipped with an Amherst education - among the finest liberal arts offerings in the world - and a deep understanding of China and Chinese culture is a student with a significant advantage in our future interaction with that part of the world." The Frances Chia Fellowship provides support for financial aid students who have not yet had experience in Asia to spend a summer immersed in China or a Chinese-speaking country. The Chia Fellows will pair an academic semester (or year) with a summer experience participating in a internship, research, or study abroad program from the program list. Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on International Education.

Applications must be completed online. The waiver and budget template are to be uploaded to your application is below. Due March 20, 2017.



Shoyu Club of Japan Fellowship

Pending approval for 2018

Through a generous scholarship from the Shoyu Club of Japan, two Amherst students will have the opportunity to study Japanese with the prestigious Ishikawa Japanese Studies Program. Students will spend six weeks (approximately early July to mid-August, 2018 dates to be determined) taking Japanese language and culture courses while living with a host family. Upon finishing courses, students travel to Tokyo to spend a few days for their cultural studies and to have dinner with members of the Shoyu Club of Japan. Students must have a minimum of one year of college-level Japanese (or the equivalent) to apply and are expected to continue with Japanese language study upon their return. This merit-based award includes tuition, room and board, and one-half of the airfare. Selected students must pay the remaining one-half of the airfare plus any personal expenses. Selected applicants will be interviewed by the department before the final awardees are chosen.

If a student is awarded the Shoyu Club of Japan Fellowship, s/he is not eligible for the Ouyang Family, Roch-McKinstry, and Ford Summer Study Abroad Fellowship in the same summer. Recipients are chosen by a faculty committee in the department of Asian Languages and Civilizations. After returning home, students must complete an evaluation of the experience for Amherst College and Shoyu Club Fellowship recipients must also complete a letter of appreciation.

Applications must be completed online. The waiver is to be uploaded to your application is below.

Nagle Fellowship for Asian Art and Culture

The Summer International Experience in Asian Art and Culture Fellowship, established by Scott Nagle '85, will provide a student with $5000 in funding to travel to Asia over the summer to undertake a project related to Asian art history, Asian culture, or museum careers with a focus on Asian art and/or culture. Asia is broadly defined to include East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, or West Asia (i.e., the Middle East). Faculty in Asian Languages and Civilizations will award funds. Questions should be directed to lmbeckett@amherst.edu. 

Applications must be completed online. The waiver is to be uploaded to your application is below.

Nagle Summer Research Collaboration in Asian Art and Culture Fellowship

The Summer Research Collaboration in Asian Art and Culture Fellowship,established by Scott Nagle '85, will provide a student with $5000 in funding to undertake a project related to Asian art history, Asian culture, or museum careers with a focus on Asian art and culture. This research project will take place in partnership with a professor on campus over the summer. Asia is broadly defined to include East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, or West Asia (i.e., the Middle East.) Faculty in Asian Languages and Civilizations will award funds. Questions should be directed to lmbeckett@amherst.edu.

Applications must be completed online. The waiver is to be uploaded to your application is below.

Finding a summer study abroad program

If you are not applying for one of the fellowships but considering study abroad by either financing it yourself or seeking aid from the program, please read on.  Many of the study abroad providers that have semester and year-long programs will also offer summer study abroad.  In addition there are other programs run by colleges exclusively in the summer.  Since Amherst does not grant credit nor award financial aid for summer study, we do not have an approved list of programs but do recommend students look at the program list for suggestions.  The large study abroad providers all have summer study; a short list is below.  Please note this is not exhaustive!  There are many more programs you can find through www.studyabroad.com.

International Programs

For international summer programs, please refer to the summer study abroad fellowships program list.

Domestic Programs

SEA Semester: Maritime Studies at Woods Hole and at Sea
Woods Hole Partnership Education Program: Marine and Environmental Studies at Woods Hole, MA
O'Neill Theater Institute

Domestic Language Programs

There are also many language schools overseas that offer short non-credit bearing courses.  These programs can range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.  Program fees and services may vary; be sure to research each thoroughly to see if the school is appropriate for you.  Like all summer experiences, Amherst College does not  give credit for these types of schools, but a few suggestions are below.  It is your responsibility to evaluate the school and determine whether or not it meets your needs.

Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Russian
Spanish in Spain
Spanish in South America

More language school suggestions around the world through Transitionsabroad.com, andother opportunities can be found in the study abroad library in the Career Center at the following websites:

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Funding a summer study abroad program

Many study abroad providers will have scholarship (merit- and need-based)  available for their summer programs.  Check directly with the provider to find out if you qualify.  For example:

Other organizations are:

  • Five Colleges, Inc. has two Charles Mack language scholarships, one for the Czech language to study in the Czech Republic and one to study any language taught at the Five College Center for World Languages.
  • The DAAD organization has many fully and partially funded opportunities in Germany.
  • For students interested in economics, environmental studies, real estate and property management, the FIABCI-USA, the U.S. chapter of the International Real Estate Federation, offers scholarships for educational programs in these disciplines in the U.S. or abroad.

There are also special scholarships offered through the U.S. government (for U.S. citizens):

  • U.S. Critical Language Program - offers intensive study of targeted "critical languages" at determined summer institutes around the world.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
  • Boren Scholarships - offer summer language study at a study abroad program of the applicant's choice, but students must be in the sciences, technology, and engineering.  Students from other disciplines should consider a Boren Scholarship for a semester or year.  Each scholarship requires a term of government service; applicants must be U.S. citizens.  See website for more details.
  • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship - provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding.  Study abroad program to non-traditional areas is highly encouraged (e.g. to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East).  See website for more details.

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Be sure to visit StudyAbroadFunding.org, StudyAbroad.com, MoneyGeek.com, and GoAbroad.com for more resources on funding your study abroad experience.  The guide Financial Resources for International Study in the Career Center is also available.

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