Funding Opportunities for Study at MEDLI

The Summer 2024 WISLI Tuition Scholarship competition is now open.

Deadline: Late 2024

WISLI is pleased to offer the WISLI Tuition Scholarship, which covers half payment of tuition for language study at CESSI, MEDLI (formerly APTLI), MULTI, NORD, SASLI, SEASSI, or SIPI for Summer 2025.  The purpose of the WISLI Tuition Scholarship is to broaden support for learning less commonly taught languages.

AWARD DETAILS

The WISLI Tuition Scholarship covers 50% of the tuition for summer 2024 language study at one of the WISLI summer language institutes.  See Tuition and Fees for information about estimated costs for Summer 2025.

The WISLI Tuition Scholarship does not cover expenses such as segregated fees, textbooks, living expenses, housing, incidentals, travel or other costs.  International students are required to have UW–Madison approved health insurance coverage, and may need to enroll in the UW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if not able to get a waiver. Students who have not previously attended UW–Madison will be charged a one-time official document fee of $130.00.

ELIGIBILITY

All applicants to a WISLI summer language institute are eligible to apply for a WISLI Tuition Scholarship, including:

• Domestic and international students
• Students in degree programs at UW-Madison and students from other institutions of higher learning, such as community colleges
• Adult lifelong learners and non-degree seeking students

Because of limited funds available, not all qualified applicants can be awarded WISLI Tuition Scholarships.  See the WISLI funding page for additional resources and suggestions for identifying other funding sources for language study.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for a WISLI Tuition Scholarship:

• Complete the WISLI Tuition Scholarship application form. Applications will open late 2024.
• Submit a one-page (approximately 500 words) statement of purpose describing your intended personal/academic/professional goals and the broader impact of these goals for language study at a WISLI Institute.
• Provide two letters of recommendation with your application.  You can opt to have your Institute recommendation letters applied to your WISLI Tuition Scholarship application, or you can submit your letters or have your recommenders submit their recommendation letters via the WISLI Tuition Scholarship recommendation submission form.

Applicants must complete separate applications if applying for a WISLI Tuition Scholarship in multiple languages hosted at different Institutions. If you are applying to multiple languages within the same Institution, please address that where indicated on your application. 

The WISLI Tuition Scholarship application deadline is late 2024. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all application materials are complete and submitted on time.

Students should expect to receive information regarding the status of their scholarship in late March. Those offered an award must indicate acceptance within two weeks of receiving the award letter. Those who have not accepted by the two-week deadline stated on the award letter will have the offer withdrawn.

Once a student is accepted by their summer language institute and enrolled in their language courses for summer 2025, the WISLI Tuition Scholarship will be applied directly to tuition costs.

Students who accept the WISLI Tuition Scholarship are expected to complete the entire 8-week program with a passing grade.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

Contact us at funding@lpo.wisc.edu for questions about the WISLI Tuition Scholarship.

UW-Madison FLAS Deadline is late 2024.

Apply at Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (wisc.edu)

FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the UW’s National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies. FLAS awards are only available for specific languages and are contingent on federal funding.

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications by students in professional fields are encouraged. Preference will be given to applicants with a high level of academic ability and with previous language training. Academic year and summer FLAS awards are two separate competitions requiring separate and complete applications.

MEDLI students may be eligible to apply for Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for summer language study. See flas.wisc.edu for details and contact the coordinator of the specific Area Studies Center that offers your language. Note that many centers require a specific regional focus. Students are also encouraged to apply for scholarships at their home institution or inquire about applying their financial aid package toward summer language studies.

Summer awards are for intensive language programs either domestically or abroad. Details on minimum contact hours and duration of allowable summer programs are outlined on the FLAS FAQ page. Summer FLAS awards may be used for study at UW-Madison by non-UW students.

Through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Adult Career and Special Student Services, scholarships are available for admitted UW–Madison nontraditional and returning adult students. Thank you to the generous contributions from our donors.

Application opens: Late fall; Closes: Early spring

To apply for these scholarships, please complete the following steps:

1) Access the scholarship application through Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH). Using the filter, select Division of Continuing Studies scholarships, then sign in to complete the application. Submit just one common scholarship application for all of the scholarships that you are interested in applying for.

2) Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please review these tips to help you complete your scholarship application.

The Madison Gateway Scholarship application is open to any currently enrolled Madison Area Technical College (MATC) student applying to the Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI, formerly APTLI). The scholarship covers full MEDLI tuition to study Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish language at any level.

The Madison Gateway Scholarship was created with the goal of increasing Less Commonly Taught Language (LCTL) learning for people of underserved populations and create a pathway for success for MATC language students to attend MEDLI.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be currently enrolled Madison Area Technical College students

Scholarship app requirements: Madison Gateway Scholarship applicants must submit the following materials to medli@lpo.wisc.edu. 

• 1 Letter of Recommendation

• Statement of Purpose: Applicants should demonstrate need for the language and their academic, professional, and/or personal reason(s) for studying it. (approx. 500 words)
• Funding is still available and eligible students encouraged to apply.

Applications will be received on a rolling basis once the MEDLI application is opened in late Fall 2024.

If someone will be sponsoring you to attend MEDLI (i.e. paying your tuition), please review the following procedures:

In order to create a third party payment, the UW-Madison Bursar’s office needs a letter of authorization from the sponsoring organization. You will need to have your sponsor send the following information on department or university letterhead:

• Your Name
• Your University of Wisconsin-Madison Student ID number
• The Duration of Sponsorship
• Amount to be invoiced
• Your Sponsor’s Contact Name and Address
• How payment will be made (Check or wire transfer)
• *Special Invoice Instructions (Where and who the invoice must be addressed to)

The letter of authorization should be forwarded immediately to thirdparty@bussvc.wisc.edu. If the sponsor’s letter of authorization is received before the tuition and fee bill is generated, the amount of charges deferred to a third party sponsor is indicated on the bill.

*If possible, please have your sponsor copy MEDLI at medli@lpo.wisc.edu when sending the letter.

Once your sponsor has completed these steps, you can log on to your MyUW account (opens in new tab) and select the Financial tab to view your Tuition and Fee Student Account activity; you should be able to determine that your charges have been deferred to a third party sponsor for payment. Please allow a minimum of 5 business days for processing.

If the sponsor is not paying the entire tuition and fee cost, you must pay the remaining balance before the tuition due date in order to avoid a late payment fee.

PLEASE NOTE: If the sponsor’s authorization is not received prior to the tuition due date, you will be held responsible for payment of the late payment fee.

Once the authorization letter has been received a third party deferral is applied to the student’s account. The third party invoice will be issued by approximately mid-July for the Summer semester. The sponsor needs to notify the University in writing should a student be removed from sponsorship.

If you have any additional questions, please contact MEDLI via email at medli@lpo.wisc.edu.

The Gilman Scholarship is a need-based program through the U.S. Department of State that’s designed to allow students who might not otherwise be able to study abroad the opportunity. You select the program you want to participate in, so there’s flexibility with regards to language and location. Scholarship winners come from all over the United States and travel all over the world.

Also, if you receive this scholarship, you’ll have a competitive advantage for certain federal jobs for the next 12 months by being allowed to apply for jobs only open to federal employees.

Eligibility:

• United States citizen
• Undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions)
• Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship
• In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement
• Applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or area with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System, or is on the list of approved Travel Advisory Level 3 countries/areas. However, certain locations within these countries or areas may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either “Do not travel to” (Level 4) or “Reconsider travel to” (Level 3) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to these specific locations

Deadline:

• For deadlines, please visit https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/applicants/deadlines-and-timeline/

Click here to learn more and/or apply.

Industry Arabic is a translation company that focuses on providing services focusing on the Arabic language. They award scholarships of $2,000 to support tuition and living expenses for 1-2 students pursuing advanced, immersive Arabic study. They are looking to support the next generation of superior Arabic linguists regardless of field (linguistics, area studies, literature, anthropology, political science, etc).

Eligibility:

• Limited to U.S citizens
• Students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program that incorporates advanced Arabic language skills. A major/concentration in Arabic in not necessary.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of practical skill as demonstrated in the sample translation, as well as overall academic merit.

Click here to learn more and/or apply.

The Arab American Institute

The Arab American Institute is a hub for nicely organized resources for both American students of Arab descent and Arab students studying in the US, as well as acting as a database for a host of other scholarships for both Arab and American students. It will be a superb overall information center for your foray into finding scholarships for the study of Arabic.

For example, the Arab American Institute is a proponent of the Qalam wa Lawh Center for Arabic Studies. The Center offers the Ibn Battuta Merit Scholarships for Arabic Peace and Diplomacy. Applicants will answer the essay question “What do you hope to achieve through your study of the Arabic language?” in 1000 words or less, as part of their completed application. This award will send students to study Arabic in the Middle East on a semester or summer basis, and covers all tuition and housing costs of the program.

Egypt Fulbright Language Study

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Center for Advanced Arabic Study in Cairo (CAASIC) are accepting applications to the Fulbright Arabic Language Study Grants at CAASIC for academic year 2025-2026. Applicants applying for this award must have an acceptance letter for the CAASIC Fall and Spring 9-month option for academic year 2024-2025. If awarded a Fulbright grant, the student’s acceptance to CAASIC will be automatically deferred to academic year 2025-2026.

Please note that components of the application to the Fulbright Arabic Language Study Grants at CAASIC must be completed prior to the opening of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program application in the Spring. A detailed application timeline can be found below.

CAASIC is an intensive Arabic language program designed for students from the United States with high levels of Arabic proficiency to attend the American University in Cairo (AUC) to advance their Arabic language fluency. This program offers a rigorous academic and immersive experience in the culture of Egypt and the Middle East.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants to successful candidates who are selected for the CAASIC Program and meet the eligibility and selection requirements of the Fulbright Program. Clearance from the Government of Egypt is required for all Fulbright U.S. Student grants and must be obtained in order for award issuance. The Fulbright Commission will facilitate the approval process on the student’s behalf. Final awards for 2024-2025 are contingent upon medical clearance, clearance by the Government of Egypt, the availability of funds, the security situation in country and the operating status of the host institution and the Fulbright Program in-country.

IMPORTANT: Grantees of the Fulbright Arabic Language Study Grants at CAASIC must abide by all regulations of the Fulbright Commission in Egypt as well as the security guidelines communicated by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and the Fulbright Commission.

WUJS Ulpan Scholarship:

Ulpan Scholarships for intensive Hebrew language programs in Israel are available for BA, MA and PhD students, and early career scholars of Jewish Studies. These scholarships have been funded through the generous support of the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.

Applicants may apply for up to 1500 GBP toward their tuition and housing costs and, in cases where housing is not required, the remainder of the grant may be used towards travel costs in cooperation with partner travel agencies. Find more information about eligibility requirements on the World Union of Jewish Studies site.

Ephraim Urbach Grants

Congratulations to the 2023 Ephraim E. Urbach Fellowship Recipients:

Bick, Shraga, Israel/USA Yale University — The Praying Body in Late Antiquity.
Chen, Elnatan, Israel Academy of the Hebrew Language – Biblical Hebrew Grammar and Biblical Exegesis in the Language Ages: From Islam to Christianity.
Holzer-Kawalko Anna, Israel Leo Baeck Institute – Vanishing Heritage, German-Jewish Libraries in Post-war Czechoslovakia.
Strakhova Anastasiia, Ukraine/USA Duke University – Selective Emigration: Border Control and the Jewish Escape in Late Imperial Russia, 1881-1917.

The International Ephraim E. Urbach Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Jewish Studies is funded and administered by the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture (MFJC) in cooperation with the World Union of Jewish Studies. Its purpose is to assist a limited number of outstanding recent recipients of the Ph.D., within the last three years, in a field of Jewish studies in publishing their first book, launching their scholarly career, and/or furthering research in their area of special interest.

________________________

Applicants must be nominated by the Head of the Department at which their PhD was awarded.  The Fellowship is designed for scholars who completed their dissertations with distinction, and who show promise of achieving distinguished academic careers

The applications are evaluated by an international panel of experts and committees of the World Union of Jewish Studies and the MFJC.

The Fellowship provides a stipend of up to $15,000 for one year. Past recipients include applicants from programs at: Bar-Ilan University, Ben Gurion University, Brandeis University, Ecole Pratique des Hautes, Etudes, Paris, Hebrew University, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York University, Stanford University and the University of Geneva.

Nominations letters (with the applicant’s name and contact information) and further inquiries, please send to office@mfjc.org.

For more information, click here.

Amouzegar Undergraduate Scholarships

Established in 2006 by His Excellency Dr. Jamshid Amouzegar, the Ulrike and Jamshid Amouzegar Undergraduate Scholarship in Persian Studies (AMUS) is an endowed fund to provide annual scholarships for freshman or sophomore students who are seeking a double major, major or minor in Persian Studies.

Requirements: First and Second year students only, Persian Studies Major or Minor

Deadline: March

Minimum GPA: 3.25

Amount: $1,000, amounts may vary by year

Persian Scholarship Foundation

The Persian Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit foundation with the mission to recognize academic excellence among students of Iranian descent studying in the United States—especially those who through their activities and leadership help to disseminate knowledge about the Persian culture, history and heritage within the United States.

Requirements: Publication of an essay / article within your school’s newspaper or a local / national newspaper in which you discuss themes relating to the history, culture, literature and or heritage of the Iranian people or the achievements of scholars, scientists and leaders of Iranian descent.

Deadline: December

Minimum GPA: N/A

Amount: $1,000

Persian Studies Essay Scholarship

Made possible by a generous gift from the Iranian-American philanthropist, Mr. Hossein Amirsaleh, in 2010, The Persian Studies Essay Award is an endowed fund to recognize outstanding undergraduate student essays submitted in partial fulfillment of a Persian Studies course requirements.

Requirements: Submit an original essay that was written as part of coursework in a Persian Studies course

Deadline: March

Minimum GPA: N/A

Amount: $500, amount varies by year

Türkiye Scholarships

Türkiye Scholarships has designed different and specific scholarship programs for each education level. It offers many qualified scholarship opportunities ranging from long-term bachelor’s, master’s as well as PhD scholarships to research and merit-based scholarships, art scholarships to joint scholarship programs created with international reputable institutions.

Application Criteria

Minimum Academic Achievement

• For undergraduate candidates: 70%
• For graduate candidates: 75%
• For candidates of Health Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy): 90%

Age Criteria

• For undergraduate programs: being under the age of 21
• For master’s programs: being under the age of 30
• For PhD programs: being under the age of 35
• For Research Scholarship: being under the age of 50

Eligibility

Eligible Groups:

• Citizens of all countries
• Graduates or those who will graduate at the end of the current academic year (before August 2022)
• Researchers and academics

Ineligible Groups:

• Turkish citizens and individuals who have lost Turkish citizenship
• Individuals who are currently enrolled in programs in Turkish universities at the level of education will apply.

ARIT Summer Fellowships for Intensive Advanced Turkish Language at Bogaziçi University

mid-June – early August 2025

Program Announcement | Program Application Form

THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:  For summer 2025, the American Research Institute in Turkey will offer fellowships for participants in the summer program in intensive advanced Turkish language at Boğaziçi University* in Istanbul. This is a unique opportunity for intensive and immersive study of advanced Turkish language.

PREDEPARTURE ACTIVITIES: Participation in the program includes 6 hours of preparation and orientation activities online.

COURSE OF STUDY:   The Boğaziçi TLCP is an *intensive* language program, with four hours of classes plus lab and conversation hours each weekday.  The ARIT fellowship supports the advanced study of Turkish. Class size is limited to ten students. Classes are conducted in Turkish, with informal and formal styles introduced and reviewed through classroom instruction, laboratory work, and open conversations with teaching assistants. Weekly lectures are given on various aspects of Turkish culture ranging from economics, history, literature, fine arts, architecture and others by scholars specialized in their fields as well as weekly Turkish film sessions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:  Full-time students and scholars affiliated at academic institutions are eligible to apply. To be a fellowship applicant, you must:

1. Be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States
2. Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate level academic program, or be faculty
3. Have a minimum B average in current program of study; and
4. Perform at the high-intermediate level on a proficiency-based admissions examination

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  Complete the application on-line. Transcripts and letters may be submitted separately, either electronically or by mail to the address below. The application deadline is likely to be in early February 2025. Please pay the application fee via the link below. The application includes:

1. 1. 1. Application form including your statement of purpose
      2. Two letters of reference, including one that addresses your abilities as a language learner
      3. Official transcript
      4. Application fee in the amount of $25 via Paypal.

We would like to provide students with the tools they need to succeed. Below is a list of relevant databases that students can search on an individual basis in order to find funding opportunities that would best fit their situation.

• COS Pivot: Offers several databases for approximately 25,000 private and federal funding sources. Grants in the non-science areas are included. (Note: You must set up a personal login account using your wisc.edu email – free to UW-Madison clientele – through the COS Workbench feature for some of the COS Pivot services, however, a login is not necessary to use the database.)

Funding resources for students of different educational standing:

• Undergraduate study, and undergraduate study at UW-Madison.
• Graduate study.
• International students.
• Resources for those who are not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program.

Visit the UW-Madison Summer Term website for information on scholarship opportunities, including:

• UW-Madison Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study (available to UW-Madison undergraduate degree-seeking students)
• Transfer Scholars Summer Award  (only open for Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 UW-Madison transfer students)
• Summer Finish (only open to UW-Madison students who apply to graduate by Summer 2024)
• Summer Housing Boost (UW-students are only eligible if they are at least half-time)
• Summer Internship Scholarship (only available to UW-Madison students pursuing an internship over the summer)