Theodore de Bary Language Study Fellowship

Deadline: March 6th, 2025

The Middle East Institute (MEI) offers the annual Theodore de Bary Language Study Fellowship for intensive language study in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. The fellowship is open to Columbia and Barnard undergraduate students who are not US citizens or permanent residents.

Theodore de Barry awards can be used for intensive summer language study in the U.S. or abroad. The award offers up to $8500 towards summer program tuition and living expenses. Preference is given to students who have already begun study in the target language. This fellowship complements the Summer FLAS for undergraduates, making summer language training funding available to international students who are not American citizens or permanent residents.


Eligibility

  • Undergraduate Freshmen, Sophomore or Juniors enrolled full time at Columbia College, the School of General Studies and Barnard College.

  • International students who are neither American citizens or permanent residents. (American citizens and residents are eligible to apply to the FLAS instead)

  • Students of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish who have completed at least 1 year’s study in the language prior to summer 2025 with a strong interest in using their language of choice as part of their academic and/or professional career

  • Applicants must propose intensive summer language programs that are a minimum of six consecutive weeks and 140 classroom hours for beginning/intermediate level or 120 classroom hours for advanced level

  • Fellowship may be used at an U.S. institution, or at an overseas institution. The course of study must be undertaken in an established program, institute or university. (Students should apply to their summer programs as soon as possible.  Many programs have deadlines that are earlier than the de Bary Fellowship application deadline.)

Application Requirements:

  • Statement of purpose: The one- or two-page statement of purpose should describe your academic purpose, the role the proposed language plays within that academic purpose, and how you intend to use the language. Describe how the language and area study will relate to your educational and career goals. Also, indicate previous language experience, both formal and informal.

  • Academic transcript: may be an official or unofficial copy of your current academic transcript

  • Planned Summer program: include a brief description of the summer programs you’ve applied to attend. Summer programs should be the equivalent of two semesters. Please provide links to any relevant program brochures, websites and/or other documentation with your application.

Recommended but not required:

  • Short Budget: including details of expected costs for tuition, and travel. Budgets are not expected to be final or comprehensive but provide a brief overview of expected costs for the program of choice.

  • Letter(s) of recommendation: from professors or employers that can speak to your academic ability, and preferably language learning.

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)

  • Letter of language evaluation

Only complete applications will be considered.