American Institute for Yemeni Studies Fellowship Program

The American Institute for Yemeni Studies annually holds 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 the Yemeni competition is January 15, 2011. The next deadline for U.S. researchers is March 1, 2011.

Please note that while AIYS' normal fellowship program that supports both research and Arabic study in Yemen is described below, there currently is a ban on using State Department-funded fellowships for travel to Yemen. For the current competition, AIYS is therefore accepting ONLY applications for research on Yemen in venues other than Yemen. For the same reason, at this time AIYS is NOT accepting applications for intensive Arabic study.


ECA-funded Fellowships Awarded through AIYS

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.

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.

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.

Scholars planning to conduct research in Yemen funded by other sources are reminded that AIYS continues to provide its normal research support services in Yemen. For details contact the AIYS office or consult the research permit page on this site.

2. Intensive Arabic Language Study

AIYS normally offers students and scholars the opportunity to obtain intensive Arabic language training in Yemen through AIYS' ECA-funded individual fellowship program. Since AIYS Arabic language funds may only be used for study in Yemen, these fellowships are subject to the ban on using ECA-funded fellowship funds to travel to Yemen. This competition is not offered for the present deadline.

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.

For information on Yemeni applicants, and the AIY please click here.