What is Study NAME?
Study NAME is an opportunity for college students to study overseas while coming alongside a field team to engage the peoples of Northern Africa and the Middle East (NAME) with the gospel. Students are well-trained and work alongside a NAME field team, diving into front-line mission work and being mentored along the way.
Who is Study NAME for?
It is for students who want to both study abroad and connect with what God is doing among the nations. Study NAME is a great opportunity to leverage your education for global kingdom work.
What can I do?
Your first order of business will be to study hard and be a good steward of the academic opportunities God is giving you. Your time at the university will lead to lots of ministry opportunities as you connect with other students. When you are not going to class and studying, you will come alongside the field team and join in life and ministry. The specifics of your ministry activities will depend on the strategy of the field team and how you fit into the overall strategy for reaching their people group. Consider your skills/abilities/gifts and ask the Lord how He wants you to participate in overseas work for His glory.
Where can I go?
There are academic opportunities in universities located all over NAME countries and in major European cities. Many of these universities are in areas close to NAME field teams. We can help you find locations that are both a good fit academically and will put you close to a NAME field team. Wherever you go, you get to move your studies forward and engage people with little to no access to the Gospel!
When do I go and for how long?
Study abroad terms can be a semester, a year, or longer. It all depends on your area of study, the programs offered, and how long you want to live/serve overseas.
Do Study NAME students receive training?
Before you go overseas, you will receive online training that will prepare you for your time in country. Once you are in country, you will be trained by the field team in how to do life/work/ministry in their context.
Will I be mentored?
You’ll receive valuable mentorship and specific training as you work alongside long-term workers. The field team will provide community and accountability, and they will also share the vision for the work while teaching you to boldly and wisely share the good news in their context.
How is Study NAME funded?
The funding works the same as it would for a normal study abroad program. You will work with your university in the US and the university overseas to determine the financial requirements. There are numerous options for financial aid and scholarships for students studying overseas.
What are my next steps and how do I apply?
There are several options to consider in moving forward:
- Check with your university to see what universities they partner with overseas. If they offer options in NAME, we can help connect you with a nearby NAME field team.
- If your university does not partner with any universities in NAME, it is possible to apply through another university’s study abroad program. This option is a bit more complicated than going through your own university, but it may provide open doors for studying overseas.
- Apply through independent study abroad companies (like CIEE, SIT, or ISA Veritas). This option gives you more freedom in choosing your location.
- Research specific universities in major NAME cities to see what programs they have available to study abroad students. Many universities offer incentives for students from the US to come study. You may be able to apply directly with the university.
Once you’ve determined a location and made contact with the local field team, the team will write up a job request for you, and you will be sent a link to submit a short-term missions application.
How do I receive more information?
To find out more information about Study NAME and learn about some of the opportunities, contact us at NAMEstudents@imb.org.