Undergraduate Scholarships & Fellowships - CMES at U of A

Undergraduate Scholarships & Fellowships

FLAS Fellowships | Undergraduate Language Scholarships | Student Travel Grants | Outreach Scholars Program

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

FLAS fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to full-time undergraduate students at UA. CMES administers the FLAS fellowship program under its authorization as a Title VI Middle East National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education.

University of Arizona undergraduate students pursuing Middle Eastern language study are eligible to apply for these FLAS Fellowships. An applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident, and must plan to enroll full-time in a degree program that will include study of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish, and Middle East area studies courses. Awards are offered for both the academic year at UA and approved programs of intensive summer language study either in the US or the Middle East. Academic year and summer fellowships provide full tuition and a stipend. Summer FLAS awards may also provide partial support for travel. Academic Year FLAS Fellowships may be awarded to both incoming and continuing students. Application for FLAS is separate from the admissions application. Undergraduates may receive a FLAS fellowship for language study at intermediate or advanced levels only.

Deadline for submission of ALL application materials for Summer 2010 and AY 2010-2011 FLAS Fellowships is:

4pm on Monday, February 8, 2010

For more information regarding the 2009-2010 fellowships, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

APPLICATIONS: (New applications will be available in December)

CMES FLAS applications are fillable PDF forms. This means they can be completed on your computer and then printed. But you cannot save the document and come back to it. You must fill it in completely and then print it. Of course you can also print the application and use a typewriter to fill it out. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

For additional information regarding FLAS fellowships, please contact Christian Sinclair, CMES Assistant Director, at (520) 621-5450.

Undergraduate Language Scholarship

The University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies annually awards one or more CMES Undergraduate Scholarships to University of Arizona undergraduate students studying the Middle East and its languages. The scholarship can be applied to study at (a) the University of Arizona during the Academic Year, or (b) qualified study abroad programs in the summer or Academic Year. Scholarships are funded exclusively by community donations and fundraising activities. The award amount varies each year, and can range from $250 to $1,000, depending on available funds. Scholarship recipients are selected by the CMES Governing Board.

Eligibility and Requirements

Scholarships may be used for study at the University of Arizona or in academic language programs in the Middle East during the 2009-2010 Academic Year or for overseas language programs during Summer 2009.

1. You are eligible to apply for a CMES Undergraduate Scholarship if you:

are a full-time undergraduate student in any discipline at the University of Arizona
are committed to the study of a Middle Eastern language and show potential for high academic achievement

2. If you receive a CMES Undergraduate Scholarship you must:

enroll in a minimum of one (1) Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish language course during the award period
maintain a “B” average in your Middle Eastern language course(s) for the award period
fulfill CMES reporting requirements at the end of the award period (one page report)

Application Instructions

1. Read through the instructions below.

2. Prepare a statement of purpose. Write a statement discussing how a CMES Undergraduate Scholarship would further your academic and career goals. Statements should be one (1) page and single-spaced.

3. If you are applying for a language study abroad program, include a separate page detailing the overseas program you wish to attend. Be sure to include the program URL.

4. A one-page resume that must include: name, student ID number, current address, email address, educational background, language proficiency and training, AND current GPA.

5. Request two (2) letters of recommendation. Have the referees email their recommendation directly to the Assistant Director of CMES, Christian Sinclair, at christian.sinclair @ arizona.edu. Generally speaking, letters should be from faculty who have knowledge of your academic abilities, especially in terms of Middle Eastern studies/languages. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the letters, are received by the deadline.

6. Obtain a copy of your UA transcript. (Official or unofficial copies are acceptable, but Student Link records do NOT suffice.)

7. Submit materials to CMES via email. Send to Christian Sinclair, christian.sinclair @ arizona.edu. Attach the following:

Statement of purpose
Overseas program information (if applying for a Summer language or Academic Year study abroad program)
one-page resume
do not submit UA transcripts. We will ask for transcripts only if you receive an award

Please note that we are only accepting electronic applications. Do not mail materials or drop anything off at CMES.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009 AT 5PM

If you have any questions regarding undergraduate scholarships, please contact Christian Sinclair , CMES Assistant Director, at (520) 621-8079.

Funding for Conference Attendance

CMES offers funds to support travel to undergraduate students who will present invited papers or posters at professional meetings, conferences and symposia.

For more information, see: Student Travel Grant Information 2008-09

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