Opportunities (Fellowships, Language Study, Study Abroad, Volunteering)
For Continuing Undergraduates
Cal Poly Global Program in Vietnam
This 5 week summer program offers an immersive experience in Hanoi, Việt Nam for Cal Poly Students, and is led by History/Asian Studies faculty member Dr. Maggie Bodemer, who has over 20 years of experience in Hà Nội. Students enroll in two GE courses: HIST 319 Modern Southeast Asia and WLC 310 Cultures of Việt Nam, and earn 8 units of Cal Poly credit. The program includes multiple day trips, service learning, and two overnight excursions. It aims to provide students with a unique cross-cultural experience and an insider’s view of life in Việt Nam, including its fantastic food culture! Students will be housed beside Hoàn Kiếm Lake, in the Old Quarter. Through our host, Việt Nam National University, students will also get to know Vietnamese university students in VNU's English club. Using Hà Nội as a “living laboratory,” course projects will be hands-on and encourage interaction with ordinary Hanoians, exploring the over-1,000-year old city of Hà Nội and the surrounding area. The program offers students the chance for adventure, in-depth learning and meaningful cross-cultural exchange. To learn more about this program, contact Dr. Bodemer at mbodemer@calpoly.edu and check out the website: https://abroad.calpoly.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10892
Southeast Asian Summer Studies Institute
SEASSI is an eight-week intensive language training program for undergraduates, graduate students and professionals hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Instruction is offered at the first-, second- and third-year levels in: Burmese, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, and Javanese languages. To learn more, visit seassi.wisc.edu.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. To learn more, visit iie.org/en/programs/freeman-asia.
Boren Awards
Boren Awards fund U.S. undergraduate and graduate language study and research abroad in world regions critical to U.S. national interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. Boren Scholarships provide up to $20,000 for undergraduate students for language-focused study abroad. Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 for graduate students to fund language study, graduate-level research, and academic internships abroad. To learn more, visit borenawards.org/boren_scholarship/basics.
API Equality-LA Community Organizing Internship
API Equality-LA’s Community Organizing Internship will train Asian and Pacific Islander (API) young people to do community organizing and political power-building work with(in) the API community for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) equality. As an organization, API Equality-LA recognizes that our community is under attack in the current political climate, and that this moment in history is our opportunity to educate and mobilize LGBTQ and API people to advance just and equitable immigration policies. To learn more, visit apiequalityla.org/take-action/intern.
After Graduation
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs, to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S. To learn more, visit us.fulbrightonline.org/about/fulbright-us-student-program.
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
The JET Program allows young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan and to represent the United States as cultural ambassadors. Most participants serve as Assistant Language Teachers and work in public and private schools throughout Japan. To learn more, visit
jetprogramusa.org.
Peace Corps, Asia
The Peace Corps’ mission is: (1) To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, (2) To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and (3) To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. The Peace Corps currently has volunteers serving in nine countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. To learn more, visit peacecorps.gov/countries/#asia.
The Blakemore Foundation: Grants for the Study of East and Southeast Asian Languages
Since 1990, the Blakemore Foundation, with the support of The Freeman Foundation, has awarded over $17 million in grants to college graduates and young professionals for an academic year abroad in full-time intensive language study. The fellowships cover tuition and a stipend for related educational expenses, basic living costs and transportation. Superior candidates pursuing careers in fields such as academia, international business, accounting, law, medicine, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), journalism, architecture, teaching, social or NGO work, and government service are encouraged to apply. To learn more, visit blakemorefoundation.org.
Volunteers in Asia (VIA): Global Community Fellowship
The VIA Global Community Fellowship is a 13-15 month program in Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for graduating seniors and young/established professionals. Fellows work at NGO, schools, universities, and social enterprises to support community development and youth education programs. By working directly with communities, fellows get hands-on experience learning how organizations in Asia are using creative and innovative methods to address critical social challenges. To learn more, visit https://viaprograms.org/expand-your-boundaries/global-community-fellowship/