Scholarships for Syria
Language and Culture Studies in One of the Middle East’s Oldest Regions
Syria is located on ancient and hallowed religious ground, making it a must-see for many types of students. But scholarships are not as easy to come by as those to more common Middle Eastern destinations. This may change, though: Syria is gaining a reputation for providing a hospitable environment for a growing population of international scholars.
In most cases students heading to Syria will make Damascus their home base. Not only is it the capital, it also one of the most ancient cities in the Middle East. Students visit for language studies, Islamic and Middle Eastern programs and to experience the culture and lifestyle of the country and people.
Federal Government Pays for Customized Studies in Syria
Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, continue to pique the interest of national security organizations that hope in the future to have a much more highly trained corps of personnel. If you are one of hundreds of other students who may consider a long-term career with the federal government and would like to pursue intense study in Syria, don’t overlook the David L. Boren Scholarships. Hundreds are awarded annually to undergraduate and graduate students across the country. You must be engaging in a program in Syria that allows you to learn the language in its most common form as well as become intimate with the Syrian culture and norms. This type of customized know-how is critical to the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, either one of which you could find yourself working for. Boren Scholars are eligible for up to $26,000 for a graduate package:
- The National Flagship Language Program in Arabic provides scholarships for students who will divide intense language study between U.S. sites and those in Damascus, Syria.
Private Funding
The Dallah Institute in Damascus, Syria specializes in teaching Arabic to students and professionals who may require the language for education or their careers. Students may also pursue courses in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies that deepen their knowledge of Syria and the region as a whole. Dallah also offers custom designed programs that target specific needs of participants. Participants who need financial support for this program are encouraged to contact Dallah and request current information on their scholarship program.
The Fulbright Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious awards granted to top student scholars and academic professionals. Researchers and educators whose goals run parallel to the mission of the Fulbright program may apply for these highly competitive and generous fellowships to Syria and other far-flung destinations. Applicants are expected to have a highly defined proposal for their stint in Syria. Preference is given to those whose goals involve education and multicultural collaboration leading to a deeper understanding of the human condition in an international world. There are a handful of very reputable Syrian universities, including Damascus University, which have hosted dozens of Fulbright Scholars since the program’s inception.
The Center for Arabic Study Abroad located at Emory University, is actually an organization funded by a variety of private and government educational funds. CASA, as it is commonly called, represents a few dozen colleges and universities in the U.S. who have funded fellowships for students to study at the University of Cairo in Egypt. CASA now has a program available at Damascus University in Syria. Fellowships are awarded to students pursuing a year of language studies. Awards are very competitive.
The Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships sponsored by the Department of Education are administered through many colleges and universities. The FLAS fellowships are designed to support graduate students who require advanced language study in Arabic and other non-traditional languages. Applicants must have a scholastic or professional need for the language and may undertake studies abroad to countries like Syria, if travel is currently safe and approved by the institution. Fellowships cover tuition and expenses for approved language programs.
