AIBS Bangla Language Fellowship Program
Program Overview
The AIBS Bangla Language Program is open to highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early career faculty members from U.S. academic institutions. The program will run for eight weeks during the summer of 2025 and will be administered by the Bangla Language Wing (BLW) at Independent University Bangladesh. Depending on travel conditions and State Department guidelines, the program will be offered in person, online, or in a hybrid format.
Fellowship Opportunities
AIBS is pleased to provide partial to full fellowships to qualified applicants on a competitive basis. Funding is generously supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s American Overseas Research Centers program. Special consideration will be given to:
AIBS is committed to creating an inclusive environment and will make every effort to accommodate participants with disabilities or special needs.
Eligibility
This intensive, immersion-based language program is open to graduate and highly motivated undergraduate students, as well as early-career faculty members at U.S. colleges and universities. Individuals who are not currently enrolled as students but can demonstrate a clear professional need for intensive language study are also encouraged to apply. Applications are welcomed from all language proficiency levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Familiarity with the Bangla alphabet before the program begins is recommended.
*Please note, these fellowships are available to U.S. citizens only.
Fees and Financial Aid
The cost for the eight-week in-person immersive language program in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is approximately $8,000 USD per participant. This fee covers:
- 160 hours of tuition
- Language partner fees
- Lodging and meals
- Airport pickup
- Internet access
- Most learning materials
- Cultural excursions
- Emergency medical care
- Other incidentals
AIBS may cover 50-100% of the program cost, depending on budget availability and the number of applicants each cycle. For online participants, AIBS may cover the full program cost. Participants are required to arrange their own laptops or computers and internet access for online participation.
Applicants are encouraged to explore funding opportunities such as the Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships at their institutions, which are generally sufficient to cover travel, maintenance, and program fees, or other sources of financial support.
Program Structure
This is an intensive program designed to enhance participants’ language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Key components include:
- Classroom Instruction: Four hours of instruction, five days a week, in small classes.
- Individual Tutorials: Personalized sessions tailored to participants’ learning goals through the language partner program.
- Assignments: Regular homework to reinforce language acquisition.
- Cultural Engagement: Activities such as attending films, plays, and cultural events to deepen understanding of Bangladeshi society and language use.
- Community Interaction: Opportunities to connect with local speech communities to practice language skills in real-world contexts.
- Self-Directed Learning: Participants will be encouraged to identify personal goals, monitor their progress, and actively manage their learning journey.
This program is not research-focused; participants are expected to dedicate their full attention to developing language proficiency. However, individual tutorials provide ample opportunity to work on research-related materials in Bangla, aligning language learning with academic interests.
Accommodation
For participants attending in person, modest accommodations will be provided at the Independent University Bangladesh’s dormitories, ensuring a comfortable and focused environment for immersive learning.
Application Information
Applications are now open, and we invite prospective participants to apply early. Please click the link to start an application. Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to Bangla language learning and cultural engagement. Application Deadline is February 10, 2025, at 11.59 PM US Eastern Time.