Study Abroad in Arabic Language Flagship

Study Abroad Scholarships

The University of Mississippi and the Language Flagship partner provide extensive funding for summer study abroad opportunities and the Capstone year in Morocco. Exact amounts of summer funding are determined annually based on the availability of funding. Full support for capstone funding is assured by UM for students who are accepted into the capstone program. Below are additional scholarship opportunities.

Honors College Fellowships

The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College has an Honors Fellowship program to give students the intellectual and personal development through studying abroad, research programs, internship experiences, and more. 

• Exclusively for Honors College students
• Awards typically range from $500 – $1,500.
• Applications are due in April for summer programs.

Boren Awards

Boren Awards are an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office. They are prestigious, national scholarships for studying critical languages, including Arabic. The University of Mississippi is a top university in the nation for the number of Boren award recipients. 

• Merit-based award up to $25,000 for a year-long study abroad program with a one-year federal service requirement
• For students interested in government service in the security sector
• Flagship students must be sure to indicate their status as a Flagship applicant. Read more about the Boren Flagship Scholarship.
• Applications are due in February.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State's Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students with financial need to study or intern abroad. 

• Need-based award of up to $8,000 for critical-need language study abroad programs of at least three weeks
• For students who are eligible for the Pell grant
• Applications are due in March for Summer programs.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship Program has a goal to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to our national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world. 

UM Study Abroad Scholarships

Students who are accepted as participants in a UM Study Abroad program may apply for financial assistance through the UM Office of Financial Aid. Most study abroad programs qualify for some type of financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans), but the availability of aid is based on a number of factors, including (but not limited to):

• the student's current financial aid status,
• the specific costs charged by the program,
• the student's remaining financial aid eligibility for the term(s) and
• the particular academic term(s) of the program.

The Importance of Study Abroad

"Studying abroad is a crucial, and mandatory, part of pursuing Arabic proficiency at Ole Miss. I cannot stress enough how much I have learned not only about Arabic and Arab culture, but about myself from studying abroad in the Middle East and North Africa."

Caleb Ray

B.A. in Arabic and International Studies '21

Summer in Jordan

 

First Summer After Freshman Year

Modern Language Center (MLC) in Amman, Jordan

Flagship students spend the summer following their freshman year at the Modern Language Center in Amman, Jordan. It includes intensive Arabic languages courses in both Modern Standard Arabic and the Levantine dialect. This program prepares students for the Oral Proficiency Interviews, and takes students on several excursions around Jordan, including Petra and Wadi Rum. Housing is located in on-site apartments, and the staff cooks daily meals that feature the local cuisine. See State Department travel advisory status and other country information.

Application	Apply via UM Study Abroad The deadline for application is early March.
Proficiency Requirements	There are no minimum proficiency standards to attend MLC.
Housing	Students live in MLC housing provided next to the center, which consists of fully furnished apartments with kitchens and access to laundry.
Curriculum	MLC offers courses in Modern Standard Arabic and Jordanian dialect, and accommodates learners from beginners to advanced. Students also participate in numerous cultural activities and excursions, typically to the ancient city of Petra, the Dead Sea, the desert Wadi Rum, the Roman ruins of Jerash and others.
Scholarships and Costs	The University of Mississippi often provides scholarships for Arabic Flagship students to study abroad for one summer. Students are also encouraged to seek outside funding. (See below) Scholarships are sometimes awarded but never guaranteed to non-Flagship students. Program Cost: $7,362 (2024) Includes tuition, apartment housing, 2 meals a day, program fees, 2 excursions, cultural activities and international health insurance

 

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Subsequent Summers or Semesters Abroad

CET Jordan

The CET Jordan program is also located in Amman, Jordan. It includes intensive Arabic languages courses in both Modern Standard Arabic and the Jordanian dialect. Elective courses and internship options are available. See State Department travel advisory status and other country information.

Application	Apply via UM Study Abroad The deadline for application is early March.
Proficiency Requirements	There are no minimum proficiency standards to attend CET.
Housing	Housing is in a shared apartment with Jordanian neighbors that support students in their language pledge to speak only Arabic.
Curriculum	CET offers courses in Modern Standard Arabic and Jordanian dialect, and accommodates learners from beginners to advanced. This program offers three curriculum options in the summer: Intensive Language, Internship, and Research. All options combine various courses for a total of 7 to 9 recommended credits. The intensive option combines one MSA course and one Jordanian Dialect course for a total of 9 recommended credits.

Study Abroad in Jordan

Flagship students spend the summer following their freshman year at the Modern Language Center in Amman, Jordan.

Study Abroad

“Studying abroad changed my perspective on the world, and getting to speak Arabic in my day-to-day life solidified my love for the language. Arabic is so much more than another subject or class, learning the language unlocks a whole new culture that can be experienced by traveling to the Middle East/North Africa region.” - Emma Lane (B.A. in Arabic and International Studies '23)

Emma Lane

Project Coordinator

• ejlane@olemiss.edu
• 662-915-7298

Summer in Morocco

Flagship students spend the summer after their sophomore year at the Arabic Overseas Flagship (AOF) site, the Arab-American Language Institute of Morocco or AALIM, a private language institution for non-native speakers of Arabic in Meknes, Morocco. This is an intensive Arabic program with content classes, and language instruction in Modern Standard Arabic and the Moroccan dialect. See the State Department travel advisory status and other information on Morocco.

Application Deadline	Applications are due and qualifying exams are conducted each January. Interested students should contact the Program Coordinator in October to gain access to the application.
Online Application	Student apply through the UM Study Abroad application.  Arabic Essay & English Essay (Statement of Purpose) Two Letters of Reference  Resume Transcript
Proficiency Exam	Telephonic OPI: Minimum Score of ILR 1+ (Intermediate High) Minimum Score of 1+ in Listening OR Reading Minimum Score of 1 in Writing & other modality
Housing	Each student is paired with another Flagship student and placed with a homestay family that has been carefully selected by AALIM staff.
Curriculum	AALIM summer offers Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan dialect. Students earn 6 credits for ARAB 398. Students also participate in numerous cultural activities and excursions to Moroccan tourist sites.
Scholarships and Costs	Program Cost: $5,960 (Summer 2024) Includes tuition, housing, program costs, excursions, international health insurance. Does not include travel costs, passport fees, and personal travel costs. Flagship funding is subject to annual availability and is never guaranteed.

 

 

 

 

Study Abroad in Morocco

Flagship students spend the summer after their sophomore year at the Arabic Overseas Flagship (AOF) site, the Arab-American Language Institute of Morocco or AALIM, a private language institution for non-native speakers of Arabic in Meknes, Morocco. 

Capstone Year Abroad in Morocco

The Flagship experience culminates in the Capstone year, a twelve-month study abroad experience in Meknes, Morocco, during which time students participate in intensive language coursework, community service, and an internship to facilitate a smooth transition to using Arabic in their careers. UM currently ensures full funding for students who are accepted into the program.  

Intensive Coursework	UM Arabic Flagship students join Flagship students from across the country to attend Capstone language classes at the Flagship overseas site AALIM located in the historic district of Meknes. Coursework includes language classes in Modern Standard Arabic, Moroccan colloquial dialect, and supplemental Egyptian/Levantine colloquial dialect courses, as well as content courses such as Gender in the Arab World, Urban Areas of the Arab World, Issues of the Maghrebi Region, and more.
University Lectures	Flagship students experience Moroccan higher education by attending lectures hosted by professors of local University Moulay Ismail (UMI) alongside UMI students. Lectures are held entirely in Arabic, and include diverse topics, such as Moroccan history, climate and the environment, women in Moroccan society, and Islamic law.
Internship and Service	Students gain practical language experience by participating in a professional internship. Examples of internship sites include a local Moroccan news station, a social development institution, a private clinic, a fig tree nursery, a pottery studio, and in primary/secondary education.
Language Partners	Students work one-on-one with talented language instructors as well as with Moroccan conversation partners. Tutoring with instructors is two hours a week during the summer and fall, and increases to three hours a week in the spring. Moroccan language partners meet with the students for three hours a week and show them their favorite spots in Meknes, teaching them about the culture, and practicing Moroccan dialect as well as standard Arabic.
Housing	Students live with Moroccan host families for the first two months of Capstone while they search for apartments of their own. Host families provide traditional Moroccan meals as well as an inside look into Moroccan society. Even after moving out, students often continue to visit their host families for holidays and family dinners. Students have the option to stay with their host family instead of moving to an apartment.
Cultural Excursions	Capstone students explore Morocco’s diverse landscape and unique history. Excursion locations include Chefchaouen, Marrakech, ancient city Volubilis, and desert village Merzouga. Students complete week-long volunteer internships and present on their experiences in Tangier and Essaouira, both coastal cities with rich histories.

Capstone Year in Morocco

The Flagship experience culminates in the Capstone year, a twelve-month study abroad experience in Meknes, Morocco.