Bosnia and Herzegovina Education Scholarships
Time for a Change of Scenery?
Between extremes of politics and social issues, including civil war and mass genocide, you couldn’t have a more opportune environment to conduct studies than Bosnia and Herzegovina. Just a couple of decades ago, the region was a confusing amalgam of disparate ethnicities, rampant human rights violations, tales of torture and mass graves and was generally a media jumble for most Americans.
Today, the region is working proactively toward more amenable existence. Students and scholars may visit the region to study language and culture, or more specific topics in politics, international policy, human rights, or social issues.
Government Scholarships
David L. Boren Scholarships cover study abroad programs in countries all over the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Awards are given in two categories: undergraduate and graduate. Applicants must be stellar academics and pursuing an intensive program of eligible study outside of Western Europe, and the same old, same old programs. Preference is given to those with a career interest in national security. Others are expected to repay the government in kind with a year of work. Between $20,000 and $25,000 is awarded per scholarship.
Study Abroad Organizations
The Balkans program offered through the School for International Training (SIT) gives students a unique opportunity to explore Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slovenia from a multicultural viewpoint. The focus of the program is “Gender, Transformation, and Civil Society.” The entire region has been marked by occasionally violent and horrific conflict, not to mention their independence from larger, heavy-handed Communist regimes. Scholarships through SIT include:
- Compton Fund scholarships go to participants whose focus is on “peace studies.” Applicants are reviewed for their academic record as well as financial need.
- SIT Fund is the flagship scholarship and is most widely disbursed. In fact, more students than not qualify for some sort of scholarship assistance through SIT.
- Diversity Fund scholarships go to applicants who might otherwise be overlooked in traditional study abroad programs whether for ethnic, economic or social issues.
- HBCU Fund scholarships are earmarked for eligible participants whose home institution is one of the historically black colleges.
- Sally Bragg Baker Scholarships are awarded to exemplary female students whose enthusiasm for multi-cultural exchange and peace is unrivalled.
Private Funding
American Councils for International Education specializes in providing state of the art programs for scholars who require funding for research in an Eastern European or Eurasian country like Bosnia-Herzegovina. The organization runs on an international spectrum but specifically provides educational and professional programs between U.S. and Eastern European/Eurasian scholars and professionals. There are a number of scholarship programs through the organization that speak specifically to those interested in Bosnia-Herzegovina:
- Title VIII Southeastern Europe Language Program is funded by the Department of State. Awards cover at least a month of intensive language study in the country; which specifically includes travel, tuition, housing and medical insurance.
- Title VIII Southeastern Research Program is similar to the above, but the language component is replaced with the research and applicants must have a need to be in the country for at least three months.
The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international organization whose multi-faceted mission is to provide valuable educational and research opps for students, scholars and professionals, as well as enable the same to collaborate via modern means of communication in open and sustainable environments. A couple of fellowship funds specifically provide monies for those who wish to study in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Individual Advanced Research Opportunities program provides Title VIII mandated funding to students and scholars working at a range of educational levels: graduate, post-graduate, doctoral, post-doctoral, and professional. Depending upon the type of program, candidates may study abroad for up to nine months. Fellowships cover travel, housing, any necessary tuition, and monthly stipend.
- IREX Short-term Travel Fellowships are restricted to those whose stint of time in Bosnia and Herzegovina is only a couple of months. Candidates must have a well-developed plan of research that demonstrates brevity. Awards are $5,000.
