Kazakhstan Education Scholarships
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If you’re up on Kazakh studies, chances are you’ve also heard of the movie, “Borat.” This farcical black comedy stars Borat, a fictional, nincompoop Kazakh reporter whose extremist Eastern European viewpoint and pseudo-Russian accent are intended to poke fun at an array of American cultural excesses and a smorgasbord of other international idiosyncrasies.
Seriously, though, Kazakhstan lies smack-dab in the middle of Eurasia, abutting China, Russia and a few other “-stans:” Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and underscoring its position to the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan are just south of these. Historically, Kazakhstan takes up what might be referred to as the cradle of humanity, that region of the world where it is believed most of the world’s civilizations first were spawned and spread forth.
For students, the Eastern European countries offer a varied palette of studies, from those focused on language and culture to the more obvious and contemporary curricula of society, politics and economy that are played out with each new day.
Scholarship Programs
American Councils for International Education is internationally funded and focused on providing collaborative educational opportunities for advanced projects between American and Eastern European scholars:
- The Title VIII Special Initiatives Fellowship program is intended to provide monetary support for post-doctoral scholars whose research studies take them into Kazakhstan and other applicable Eastern European countries. Applicants must have a highly defined project that will only take a few months to complete. Topics must be socio-political in nature. Up to $35,000 available for fellowships.
- For Kazakh undergraduate or graduate students the Bolashak Presidential Scholarships fund the tuition of select students who earn the right to study in the U.S.
- Eurasian Regional Language Program is designed specifically to support students who want to pursue one of the regional languages of a former Soviet country, such as Kazakhstan. The program foots the bill for programs up to a year in length. Candidates may be undergrads, grads, doctoral or post-doctoral. Awards are based solely on academic accomplishment and applicability.
The federal government, whose main interest is in training the next level of security personnel, also funds the hugely popular David L. Boren Scholarships. This is a scholarship for service program which means once you’ve graduated you will be expected to repay the government in kind: with a term of service in national security ideally putting your new knowledge to work. Applicants interested in an innovative and engaging program of study in Kazakhstan should apply. Undergraduate and graduate students are considered for slightly different versions of the scholarship. Those chosen may receive up to $25,000 for a year of study abroad.
The International Research Exchanges Board (IREX) is an internationally recognized organization whose multifarious programs are all intended to nurture a new world order and provide the ideal environment for sustainable development and meaningful collaboration. There are a number of fellowships and scholarships suited to those students and professionals with study abroad requirements in Kazakhstan:
- Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Program is open to students from graduate level through post-doctoral. Eligible applicants must be pursuing a socio-political project that requires they physically be in Kazakhstan. Awards cover travel, living costs and monthly stipend.
- For most students who require travel aborad, the costs can be tricky. IREX actually offers short-term travel fellowships that cover a couple of months of living costs as well as roundtrip travel to an Eastern European country, including Kazakhstan.
The Study Abroad Scholarships Program administered by the University of Northern Iowa may be used by students interested in participating in a stint of study at the Taraz State University in Kazakhstan. The institutions have forged an academic partnership that makes it possible for UNI students to conveniently access this unique part of Eurasia for a semester or yearlong program abroad. The program is designed specifically for students who will most likely be teaching. Eligible applicants must have at least a 2.75 to apply and be able to articulate their educational and career goals in a short essay. Final awards may also be based in part on financial need.
