The Middle Eastern Studies (MEST) Program invites UA Little Rock students to apply for Middle Eastern Studies grants to support their activities and scholarship related to the Middle East. Grants generally range from $500-$2000, and typically will not exceed $2500. Grants will be reviewed on a competitive basis by the MEST Committee.
Students are encouraged to think creatively about the activities that the grants could potentially fund. Academic projects related to any aspect of the Middle East or Middle Eastern Studies are eligible. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Examples of what the grant can be used for include, but are not limited to: participation in an archaeological expedition in a Middle Eastern country; historical research in archives in the US or abroad; participation in a biological or geological field project in the Middle East; conducting a cultural anthropological project in a Middle Eastern culture in the US or abroad; working with an NGO to improve social, economic, or ecological conditions in the Middle East; a language study program of any Middle Eastern language either abroad or in the US.
Past grants included funding for:
- Studying Regional Languages (for example Arabic Jordan, Egypt, or Oman, studying Turkish in Turkey)
- Anthropological work and language study in the UAE
- International business school in Dubai
- Archaeological fieldwork
The National Council on US-Arab Relations has a list of internships and programs that students might consider for their grant applications. There are many institutions offering study of Middle Eastern Languages abroad or in the US. Students might also check the programs at the King Fahd Center at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. All of the above are merely examples; any study program related to the Middle East will be considered. Students are encouraged to seek out and identify these programs first and then to apply for funding with a specific study plan.
Students who submit their proposals by the deadline will be notified about the status of their applications within three weeks of the deadline. The Committee will continue to review applications until the funds allocated for student grants have been exhausted, whichever comes first. Proposals involving travel must be submitted at least three months in advance of the anticipated departure date.
How to Apply
Please submit a detailed letter of application, a résumé, and a budget via Google Form. You must also have at least two letters of recommendation, of which one must be from a UA Little Rock faculty member. Have your recommenders send them directly to:
Dr. Simon Hawkins, MEST Coordinator
sxhawkins@ualr.edu
In your letter of application, please describe how your activities would fit into your agenda of study, scholarship, and career, and how, due to the grant, you could contribute to the advancement of Middle Eastern Studies at UA Little Rock. Also, state the amount that you are requesting and submit a preliminary budget; the budget should be itemized and as detailed as possible.
Students are encouraged, but not required, to discuss their proposal with the MEST Coordinator before formally submitting an application.
Grantees will be expected to make a campus presentation about their activities after completion of the grant-funded activities. All grantees must submit a report documenting and reflecting upon what they did with the grant.
We will accept applications on a rolling basis until all funds allocated for this purpose have been exhausted.
Applications received by October 25, 2024, will be given priority for the 2024- 2025 academic year.