Niger Study Abroad Scholarships
Monetary Opportunities Fund Challenging International Studies
Niger, in western Africa, is struggling for rebirth as a democratic country. However, the country is one of the poorest in the world and is marked by famine, poor agricultural practices, a struggling economy and reports of human rights violations. Students willing to engage in studies related to the country’s current development will find a rich experiential classroom.
Government Scholarships
If you are a graduate, post-graduate or Ph.D. candidate, you might consider going for a Fulbright Scholarship. This well-known program provides hotly contested awards for study abroad scholarships to Niger and a slew of other international locations. Applicants for Niger are required to be fluent in French and must submit all project proposals in French. Preference is given to candidates who need to conduct research for their dissertation on a topic related to economics or foreign policy, or any of a number of development issues.
Undergraduate students who have traditionally been underrepresented in study abroad programs have been using the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships as a way to a once in a lifetime overseas program. This immensely popular program offers candidates a maximum of $7,000 to study abroad in such disparate locations as Niger. The purpose of the program is to expand the opportunities for American students at the same time it gives the next generation of adults an edge in their professional lives.
The David L. Boren Scholarships are designed to provide generous funding to students who want to study in countries of interest to national security, including countries in Africa like Namibia. The Boren Scholarships are highly competitive and provide up to $25,000. Candidates with a career interest in national security are preferred. Others must spend a year in service with the federal government following graduation.
The West African Research Association is funded in part by the Department of State which funds like programs that foster education and scholarly collaboration across heretofore unheard of international borders. The WARA provides a number of very generous fellowships that make it possible for students to study in Niger and other West African countries. The program maintains headquarters at the University of Boston, University of Florida and in Dakar, Senegal:
- WARA Pre-Doctoral Fellowships are awarded to eligible U.S. scholars at least in the final year of their graduate program. Applicants must have a predetermined dissertation proposal that requires travel to Niger for at least a few months. The fellowships cover a summer semester, which includes travel costs and an additional $3,000.
- WARA Post-Doctoral Fellowships provide the same level of funding for the same period of time, but applicants must be beyond dissertation work and onto another research project that brings them to Niger.
College Scholarships
The Naimey International Development Program from Boston University provides an innovative meld of service learning with intensive course work in sustainable development and culture courses. Participants may apply for the Pamela Posen Endowed Memorial Scholarship if they are an upper level undergraduate with a zeal for international studies and a significant financial need. Awards vary in number and amount up to $2,500.
