Alwaleed Travel Award | Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies

Alwaleed Travel Award

The Prince Alwaleed Award is a prestigious scholarship providing students with the unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Arabic-speaking world through immersive experiences that extend beyond their designated Study Abroad, which is typically a part of their degree programmes. It aims to enhance their Arabic language proficiency and cultural knowledge, offering a significant advantage that is not commonly available to many students.

The Prince Alwaleed Travel Awards are made possible through the generous donation of HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud and Alwaleed Philanthropies.

The Prince Alwaleed Award can be used for one of two primary purposes:

Study of Arabic at an Institution in Arabic-speaking Countries: An immersive environment invaluable for language acquisition, providing students with the chance to practise their language skills in real-life situations, engage with native speakers, and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances that cannot be fully grasped in a classroom setting.

Travel to the MENA Region for Dissertation Research: This funding enables students to gather primary data, access resources that are not available outside the region, and conduct interviews or fieldwork that are critical for their research projects. This hands-on experience is crucial for producing high-quality, original research that contributes to the academic field of Arab and Islamic Studies.

Recommended Institutions and Language Schools

Drawing on the extensive travel and study experiences of IAIS students, we have compiled recommendations for language schools and institutions across the MENA region. These recommendations are based on years of firsthand experience, ensuring high-quality education and a supportive environment for foreign students. Our recommendations can be found in the downloadable brochure and include institutions in the following countries:

Bahrain

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Student experiences

"Without this funding the trip would simply not have been an option for me. I would have missed out on some very memorable experiences and relationships and my understanding of the region would have been much impoverished."

Harry (MArabic)
Studied in Lebanon

“With the funding received from Alwaleed I was able to study a media translation course in Morocco for a month. It was an amazing opportunity to test my language skills, pick up the local Moroccan (Darija) dialect and take part in cultural activities to learn more about the rich culture and history of Morocco.
Because of the course I studied using the funds, I was then able to secure a 2-year translation internship with an NGO based in Cairo. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the Alwaleed bursary and I will always be grateful for the opportunity presented to me.”

Luke Noble, (MArabic)
Studied in Morocco

“The grant allowed me to develop my Arabic within an Arabic-speaking country enabling me to advance my language skills before starting my second year of my Masters. Having the Alwaleed scholarship also allowed me to travel and learn about Lebanese culture enriching my experience there and developing my language and personal skills.”

Alejandra (MA in Middle East Politics and Arabic)
Studied in Beirut

"I could not have afforded to pay for flights, let alone pay for intensive Arabic classes, if it had not been for Alwaleed Philanthropies. It was vital in providing me with the financial support to have a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to travel and study in the Levant without incurring significant debt.
I am so grateful that I had this opportunity as my Arabic improved so much more from being fully immersed in Arabic-speaking societies.”

Hannah Cook (MA in Middle East Politics and Arabic)
Studied in Lebanon and Jordan.

“During my two-week programme, I studied MSA to help bridge the gap between first and second year. It was hugely beneficial and definitely put me in a better position to start my studies in Amman. Alwaleed was extremely helpful as it funded the whole trip and gave me the opportunity to study in a MENA region country, that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to visit as I don’t have the means to do so.”

Gethin Marshall, MArabic
Studied in Morocco

“My classmates and I enrolled in a month-long programme at Taa Marbouta which is a Tunisian organisation that has strong links to Exeter University. We had lessons from 1pm to 5pm every weekday in Standard Arabic and also lessons in Tunisian Dialect… Without the Alwaleed grant, I would not have been able to go and would have missed out on an experience which I will covet for life”

Dawood Khan, BA Middle East Studies
Studied in Tunisia