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Competitions for Fellowships
for Study and Research
in Yemen |
The American Institute for Yemeni Studies annually holds two competitions for fellowship
programs supporting in-country residence and research in Yemen, one
for U.S. citizens and one for citizens of the Republic of Yemen, funded by grants from the
State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The next deadline for both competitions
is November 15.
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Both ECA-funded competitions have strict eligibility requirements that must be met before
applications may be submitted. Before inquiring about either fellowship program
(U.S. scholars or Yemeni scholars), please be sure that
you meet the requirements for the program in which you are interested.
We regretfully announce that the CAORC-administered
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation fellowship
program for East European scholars, in which AIYS participated, is being discontinued.
Click here for a list of research fellowships awarded through AIYS
since 1991.
Click here for options for intensive study of Arabic language through AIYS.
Competition for U.S. Scholars
Support for this program comes from a grant from the State Department's Bureau for
Educational and Cultural Affairs (State/ECA) through the Council of American Overseas
Research Centers (CAORC).
Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens who are enrolled as full-time graduate students
in recognized degree programs or who are post-graduate professionals. Awards are made on
the basis of merit as determined by a review committee of scholars from among AIYS' members and member
universities. All funds currently available or pending come from US government sources and
may be awarded only to US citizens. These fellowships are fully taxable after legitimate
deductions for professional expenses.
Please note that there currently is a ban on using State Department-funded fellowships for travel to Yemen.
Since it is unknown how long this situation will last, AIYS is accepting fellowship applications, but
successful applicants may need to be flexible in their scheduling.
1. General Fellowship Program
Proposals are invited from graduate and post-graduate scholars for feasibility studies or
research projects. Collaborative or group projects are eligible for funding. It is
permissible to combine Arabic language study with a research or feasibility project.
There is no restriction as to field or discipline. Project funds may at present be used
either for research in Yemen or for research on Yemen elsewhere. Projects are not normally funded above
$10,000. Applicants may need to secure additional funding for other expenses or for
extended research periods, but in the case of multiple awards AIYS reserves the right to
modify or cancel its fellowship offer. A full statement of
conditions governing fellowships may be obtained from the AIYS office. Researchers
whose projects will take them to more than one country are advised to consider applying to
CAORC's Multi-Country Fellowship Program as
well as to AIYS.
US post-doctoral scholars who plan to spend a sabbatical or post-doctoral time for individual
or collaborative research or participation in ongoing AIYS-affiliated projects in Yemen are
encouraged to apply to AIYS to become a "Scholar-in-Residence."
2. Intensive Arabic Language Study
AIYS offers students and scholars the opportunity to obtain intensive Arabic language training
in Yemen through AIYS' ECA-funded individual fellowship program. AIYS Arabic language funds
may only be used for study in Yemen; please note that at present these fellowships are subject to
a ban on using fellowship funds to travel to Yemen.
AIYS ECA-funded individual Arabic language fellowships provide funds for a 10-week program
at an accredited language centers in Sana'a such as the Yemen Language Center
(YLC) or the Center for Arabic Language and Eastern Studies
(CALES). Fellows, who must reside at the AIYS hostel in Sana'a,
may select a time of year for their fellowship tenure that is convenient for their own program,
and choose which institute to attend in consultation
with the AIYS Resident Director in Sana'a, basing their choice on their career and educational
needs. Applicants for these fellowships, for which all local arrangements are made through AIYS'
Sana'a office, are encouraged to relate their intended use of fellowship funds to their present
interests and future career or research plans.
Please note that at present AIYS is not participating in the State Department's
critical languages scholarship group summer program organized by the Council of American Research Centers.
Students wishing to study Arabic through the CLS program are advised to
check for alternate venues at the CLS
program website.
How to Apply for an AIYS Fellowship:
There is a $25 processing fee for applications to the U.S. fellowship program; the
fee is waived for applicants who are individual AIYS members.
All applicants must submit the original plus five copies (i.e., a total of 6) of each of the following:
--a completed application form (available from AIYS Administrative Office and
also on this site);
--a curriculum vitae;
--an application narrative consisting of:
(a) for applicants for Arabic language training grants: a short statement
explaining their interest in Yemen and their background in Arabic language;
(b) for all other applicants: a project description (maximum suggested length 4-6 double-spaced pages), plus a proposed budget
and schedule.
Required supporting documentation (to be sent directly to AIYS postmarked by the application
deadline; single copies are acceptable):
--all applicants should provide three (3) letters of recommendation to be sent
directly to the AIYS office by the
application deadline. These letters should preferably be on institutional stationary.
--pre-doctoral applicants must have both undergraduate and graduate transcripts
sent; recent Ph.D. recipients are encouraged to provide a graduate transcript.
Deadline for Applications
The deadline for receipt of U.S. applications each year is November 15. This is a postmark deadline, but
to be certain of consideration applications must be should be sent in such a manner that their
delivery can reasonably be expected within one week of the deadline. This includes letters of
reference and transcripts sent directly to AIYS by third parties.
For further information and contact the
AIYS office.
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Research Fellowships for Scholars who are Citizens of the
Republic of Yemen
In order to encourage original research by Yemeni scholars in all fields of the humanities, social
sciences, and sciences, the American Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS) may support research
projects proposed by qualified researchers who are citizens of the Republic of Yemen. The deadline
for receipt of applications each year is November 15.
* The proposal must be for original research or field study within Yemen. Work to be done
elsewhere does not qualify for fellowship support.
* Fellowships are not available for translation or publication projects.
* As a general rule AIYS cannot consider applications from researchers who have received
funding from an AIYS fellowship within the previous three years.
* The maximum amount that can be awarded to any one project under this fellowship competition
is $2,000. Applicants should provide a detailed project budget justifying the amount requested.
Preference will be given to applications which explain clearly how AIYS funding will be used for
research purposes. Only research-related expenses will be considered for funding. The level of
approved funding will be decided by AIYS.
* Applicants must show qualifications for undertaking the project described in the proposal.
An advanced degree is not a requirement, nor is fluency in English. However, the application cover
form must be submitted in English.
* Upon completion of the project, the applicant must provide a final report (3-8 pages) in
Arabic or English. Two copies of this report must be submitted to AIYS. It will be published in
the AIYS bulletin, Yemen Update.
* Researchers should also submit a financial accounting of how the research funds provided
by the AIYS fellowship were spent.
* Any publications resulting from this project must acknowledge the aid of the fellowship
from AIYS and two copies of each of these publications must be provided to AIYS for its library in
Sana'a.
* Researchers are responsible for obtaining whatever research permission is necessary for
their projects.
* Research proposals submitted for funding should follow the guidelines in the application
packet; incomplete proposals or proposals that do not conform to the guidelines cannot be considered.
* Inquiries, requests for applications, and completed application packets should be addressed
to the AIYS Resident Director in Sana'a.
* Eligible applicants who are currently in the U.S. should address questions and completed
applications to the AIYS office in the U.S.
* The application form is also available on this site.
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Research Fellowships under the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
program for East European Scholars
Since 2003 AIYS is pleased to have been able to participate in this fellowship program, which allowed
scholars from East European and Baltic countries including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Latvia, and Lithuania to do research in Yemen. The Mellon Foundation is now closing this program and AIYS
will therefore not be able to accept any further application. A list of awards made under this program is accessible
here.
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