Awards and Fellowships

Center for the Middle East and North Africa Logo

One of CMENA’s missions is to create and support opportunities for students to learn about, travel within, and research North Africa and the Middle East. 

Student Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Paper Award

Application Deadline: May 1st, 2025

Amount: $3,000

The Center for the Middle East and North Africa (CMENA) welcomes applications from graduate students from any division at UC Santa Cruz to support the study of Arabic during the Summer of 2025 in the amount of $3,000. Three awards are available.

Applicants will be selected based on the demonstrated benefits that language study will offer to their proposed research. CMENA strongly recommends that the grant be used to enroll at the Bourguiba language school in Tunis (where CMENA can help facilitate lodging). Graduate students at all stages (MA, PhD) are welcome to apply. Before receiving the funds, awardees will be required to demonstrate enrollment at a recognized center for language study. Moreover, they will be asked to provide proof of completion on their return.

Arabic Language Study Graduate Fellowship

Application Deadline: May 1st, 2025

Amount: $3,000

The Center for the Middle East and North Africa (CMENA) welcomes applications from graduate students from any division at UC Santa Cruz to support the study of Arabic during the Summer of 2025 in the amount of $3,000. Three awards are available.

Applicants will be selected based on the demonstrated benefits that language study will offer to their proposed research. CMENA strongly recommends that the grant be used to enroll at the Bourguiba language school in Tunis (where CMENA can help facilitate lodging). Graduate students at all stages (MA, PhD) are welcome to apply. Before receiving the funds, awardees will be required to demonstrate enrollment at a recognized center for language study. Moreover, they will be asked to provide proof of completion on their return.