Africa and the Middle East

Students studying abroad pay Bryn Mawr tuition.

Egypt

  • Language: Instruction is in English and Arabic. Students take Arabic onsite.
  • Fields of Study: Anthropology, Arabic, Archaeology, English, Environmental Studies, Gender Studies, History, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, and Theatre. 
  • Housing and Meals: Resident halls or apartments. Students prepare their own meals.
  • Registering for courses: for Arabic Language Intensive (ALIN) courses, credit value of each course is one to three; students will enroll in five courses for nine to 15 ALIN credits. For Arabic Language (ALNG) courses, credit value of each course is three to six; students will enroll in four courses for 22 ALNG credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 3.0
  • Dates: Fall Semester: late August to late December; Spring Semester: mid-January to early June.

Learn more at American University of Cairo

Israel

  • Language: Courses taught primarily in Hebrew; some taught in English. Each semester students must enroll in at least one Jewish or Israel studies course and at least four to five class hours per week of Hebrew.
  • Fields of Study: Arabic, Hebrew and Judaic Studies, History, International Studies, Political Science, and Religion.
  • Housing and Meals: University dormitories. Students prepare own meals.
  • Registering for courses: Credit value of each course is three or six. Students enroll in four or five courses, or 15 credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar
  • Eligibility: GPA 3.0
  • Dates: Fall Semester: Late August through early January; Spring Semester: mid-January through early June.

Learn more at Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rothberg International School

  • Language: Courses taught in English as well as Hebrew and Arabic language courses. 
  • Fields of Study: Hebrew, Arabic, Contemporary Israel, Middle East Studies, History, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Religious and Jewish Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Sociology, Literature, Law, and Economics. 
  • Housing and Meals: Students live in dorms with Israeli roommates or suitemates. Students prepare own meals.
  • Registering for courses: Credit value of each course is three to six. Students enroll in four to six courses, or 15 credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 3.0
  • DatesFall Semester: Late September through early January; Spring Semester: mid-February through early June. Will be different (longer) for any students proficient in Hebrew who opt for regular university courses rather than just study abroad courses.  

Learn more at University of Haifa

Morocco

  • Language: Instruction is in English and Arabic.
  • Fields of Study: Modern Standard Arabic, Arabic dialects, French, Middle Eastern History, Culture of the Middle East and North Africa, Political Science, Religion, and Women’s Studies.
  • Housing and Meals: Students have two housing options to choose from. The first option is to live with a Moroccan host family. The host family will provide the student with breakfast and dinner and students will be given a stipend in order to purchase lunch. Students typically live with another student on the program. The second option is to live in a student residence with a Moroccan roommate. A student cafeteria is located across the street from the residence hall where students reside and students are also given access to a kitchen should they choose to prepare their own meals.
  • Registering for courses: Credit value of each course is five credits for Modern Standard Arabic, three credits for Colloquial Arabic, and three three for credit Area Studies classes. Students will enroll in five courses, or 17 credits for full-time load. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar
  • Eligibility: Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Dates: Fall Semester: August-December; Spring Semester: January-May

Learn more at AmidEast, Area and Arabic Language Studies in Morocco 

  • Language: Instruction is in Arabic and French.
  • Fields of Study: African Studies, Arabic Language/Studies, Cultural Studies, French, Gender Studies, History, International Relations, Literature, Political Science, Religion, and Sociology. Communications courses at the IES program will not transfer back for credit at Bryn Mawr.
  • Housing and Meals: Students live in homestays with a Moroccan family, who provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
  • Registering for courses: Students take 16-19 credits per semester. Modern Standard Arabic (six credits, semester long) and Colloquial Moroccan Arabic (one credit, during orientation) are required. All other IES Abroad courses are three credits. Credits vary for courses at the University Mohammed V–Agdal. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 2.75 (GPAs under 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis). Advanced-level proficiency in Arabic or French is required to enroll in courses taught in these languages in the Faculty of Letters and Humanities of the University Mohammed V–Agdal.
  • Dates: Fall Semester: August to December; Spring Semester: January to May.

Learn more at IES Abroad Rabat: Study in Rabat, Morocco

  • Language: Instruction is in English.
  • Fields of Study: A wide range of subjects such as refugees, borders and borderlands, gender, religion and mobility, migration and human rights, migration and development, social movements, and transnational identities. 
  • Housing and Meals: Homestay. All meals covered during the program. Living with a host family is an integral component of studying with SIT Morocco. Other accommodations during the program include hostels or small hotels.
  • Registering for courses: Migration and Transnational Identity: Credit value of each course is three. Students enroll in five courses, or 15 credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 2.5
  • Dates: Fall: August – December; Spring: late January – mid May.

Learn more at SIT Morocco: Migration and Transnational Identity

  • Language: Instruction is in English.
  • Fields of Study: Arabic language study, History, Economics, and Gender Studies. 
  • Housing and Meals: Homestay. All meals covered during the program. Living with a host family is an integral component of studying with SIT Morocco. Other accommodations during the program include hostels or small hotels.
  • Registering for courses: Registering for Courses: Credit value of each course is three. Students enroll in five courses, or 15 credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 2.5
  • Dates: Fall: August – December; Spring: late January – mid May.

Learn more at SIT Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

South Africa

  • Language: Instruction is in English.
  • Fields of Study: African Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Dance, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, Fine Arts, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, and Sociology.
  • Housing and Meals: Students live in a private residence hall with IES Abroad, South African, and other international students. An IES Abroad Resident Assistant lives in the residence hall. Students prepare their own meals.
  • Registering for courses: Credit value of each course is 18-36 HEQF credits. Students enroll in four courses, or 72-90 HEQF credits. Students may not opt for any other form of registration without prior approval from the Bryn Mawr College Study Abroad Office and the Registrar.
  • Eligibility: GPA 3.0
  • Dates: Fall Semester (Third and Fourth Quarters at UCT): Mid July to mid-December; Spring semester (First and Second Quarters at UCT): late-January/early-February to mid-June.
  • Note: This is an early-application program.

Learn more at IES University of Cape Town

Ready to Apply?

Applying to study abroad is a two-step process during your sophomore year.  First, you must apply for BMC approval to study abroad by the required deadline.  Next, when you have received approval through BMC, you must apply for admission to the program of your choice.

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Contact Us

Global Engagement

Tracy Weber
Director of Global Engagement
Phone: 610-526-7352
Fax: 610-526-7560
tweber1@brynmawr.edu
Click here to schedule an advising appointment.

Gabby Sugarman
Program Coordinator of Global Education
Phone: 610-526-7867
gsugarman@brynmawr.edu
Click here to schedule an advising appointment.

Office Hours
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