Summer Study Away

Arabic Language Study Fellowship

Two Amherst students will receive funds from Sally Rathman Kadifa, M.D. ’81 and Samia Geha Foster, M.D. ’92, 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 has moved online for the summer of 2021 and will run from June 14 - July 30, 2021. The fellowship will cover all academic fees, e.g., tuition, books.

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 Global Education Office about the experience/program/location.

Please note the following:

• Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only and all participants must be undergraduates for the duration of their program.
• Students selected for this fellowship must submit additional documentation (e.g., passport photos, a copy of the passport page, and other information) as required by AUB. Students must be formally accepted by AUB in order to use the fellowship.
• 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.
• 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.
• Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on Global Education.

Research Internship at The American University of Beirut

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at The American University of Beirut is "an independent, research-based, policy oriented institute. It aims to initiate and develop policy-relevant research in and about the Arab region.​" 

IFI accepts internship applications from university students from around the world. Interns are independent students who are motivated in making contributions towards public policy and international affairs in the Middle East. No knowledge of Arabic is required, though preference may be given to students who have previous language experience.

There are two types of internship programs: Communications and Program Internships. Program Internships are offered in a range of topics. Inters work a minimum of 20 hours per week, but more depending on the research supervisor. All interns have access to the AUB campus, AUB library, and AUB's internet connections. Upon successful completion of the research internship, students will receive a certificate.

Applications from students who intend to study away in the fall 2021 semester on an approved program that offers courses related to the summer research internship at AUB IFI (e.g., Middle East studies) are given preference. Students should note in their personal statement to what fall program they intend to apply and how the summer experience relates to courses and/or experiences related to that program. Examples of fall semester pairings with AUB IFI summer research internship include: AUB Exchange Program, SOAS London (through Arcadia or IFSA), AMIDEAST programs, American University of Cairo, programs in Jordan (Middelbury, SIT or CET). 

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 Global Education Office about the experience/program/location.

Please note the following:

• Students traveling to countries with a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Level 3 must petition the college to travel on college-sponsored trips to that country and complete the Special Acknowledgement of Risk form (which includes a parent signature).
• Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only and all participants must be undergraduates for the duration of their program.
• Students selected for this fellowship must submit additional documentation (e.g., passport photos, a copy of the passport page, and other information) as required by AUB. Students must be formally accepted by AUB in order to use the fellowship.
• 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.
• 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.
• Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on Global Education.

Applications must be completed online and are due March 22, 2021. The travel petition, waiver and special acknowledgement of risk form for Lebanon and a complete budget (template at top of this page) are to be uploaded to your online application. Students may find the AUB Cost of Living Sheet helpful in learning more about AUB and also understanding expenses in Beirut.

The Summer+Semester in China Fellowship

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.

Please note the following:

• Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only and all participants must be undergraduates for the duration of their program.
• Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on Global Education.

Applications must be completed online and are due March 22, 2021. The waiver to be uploaded to your application is at the top of this webpage.

Shoyu Club of Japan Fellowship 

Participation in the summer 2021 is dependent on the College's student travel policy and Japanese entry requirements. 

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.  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 will study in Japan from late May to late June (exact dates to be determined), taking Japanese language and culture courses while living with a host family. Students must have a minimum of one year of college-level Japanese to apply. They must also have a strong and continuous interest in pursuing the Japanese language and culture 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 summer study abroad fellowships 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 and are due TBD. The waiver needs to be uploaded to your application.

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 (and up to $7500, depending on the project) 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 scmorse@amherst.edu.

Applications must be completed online and are due February 17, 2020. The waiver to be uploaded to your application is at the top of this webpage. 

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 (and up to $7500, depending on the project) 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 scmorse@amherst.edu.

Applications must be completed online and are due February 17, 2020. The waiver to be uploaded to your application is at the top of this webpage. 

Nihon Ryuugaku Japan Fellowship

The Nihon Ryuugaku Japan Fellowship is funded by Geoff Smith '99 and supports study of Japanese language and culture. These funds are managed by the Asian Languages and Civilizations department and may extend the deadline for this particular application. Questions should be directed to Jessie Berlingo (jberlingo@amherst.edu).

Social Change Internship in India

Organized by FLAME University in Pune, India - one of Amherst's new student exchange partners - students will intern at an NGO, semi-government, or government agency for the six to eight weeks during the summer. Internships are organized through FLAME University. From FLAME:

Civic engagement is an essential component of any liberal education program. The Developmental Activities Program (DAP) is designed to get students to recognize the socio- economic realities of India at the grassroots, and understand how organizations have developed to address these problems. Students are required to volunteer at a non-profit organisation working for social change, which can be an NGO, or a semi-government, or a government agency. Examples include: Sahyog Trust (education, health, environment), Centre for Environment Education, Nari Samata Manch (gender equity), ResQ (animal welfare), Wildlife Research and Conservation Society. 

Please note the following:

• Fellowships are for first-years, sophomores, and juniors only and all participants must be undergraduates for the duration of their program.
• Recipients are chosen by the faculty Committee on Global Education.

Applications must be completed online and are due March 22, 2021. The waiver to be uploaded to your application is at the top of this webpage.