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Programs : Brochure

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Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Type of Program: Study Abroad Housing Options: Homestay, Hotel/Hostel
Area of Study: Anthropology, Asian Studies, Central Asian Studies, economics, Education, Environmental Studies, Foresty, Gender Studies, Geography, Geology, Government, History, Human Rights, Humanities, Independent Study, International Relations, International Studies, Internships, Linguistics, Minority Studies, Political Science, Politics, Psychology, Siberian Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies Language of Instruction: English
Minimum GPA: 2.5 Class Eligibility: 2 Sophomore, 3 Junior, 4 Senior
Program Description:

SIT Study Abroad Mongolia and Siberia: Nomadism, Geopolitics, and the Environment

NOTE: SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, like COVID-19, SIT may have to modify programs. Visit the SIT website for more details.

Explore Mongolia’s search for balance between environmental conservation and natural resource development on the doorstep of China and Siberia.

WHY STUDY GEOPOLITICS IN MONGOLIA?

A young democracy nestled between authoritarian Russia and China, Mongolia is undergoing rapid socioeconomic and cultural change. Live with a nomadic family in a ger, the iconic shelters made of felt and wood, ride horses for transportation, and experience the nomadic lifestyle on Mongolia’s starkly beautiful grassy steppes. Travel to the capital of Ulaanbaatar to meet with key experts and discuss the impact of mining on Mongolia’s social, economic, and environmental future. Along the way, learn about the traditions and livelihoods of Mongolia’s nomadic cultures and the effects of ecotourism and climate change on their communities. Learn Mongolian and speak with Mongolian students while exploring urban landscapes, remote Buddhist monasteries, and some of the most pristine natural environments in the world. See the cities of Siberia and meet Russian students. Trek through the East Gobi Desert, vast mountain ranges, and forest steppes of a country both protected and restricted by its dramatic environment. Take an excursion to Russia’s East Siberian region and ancient Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ride horses and live with a herding family on Mongolia’s steppes.
  • Witness Mongolian and Russian economies, resources, and changing ways of life.
  • Trek to Buddhist monasteries and the 150-year-old meditation caves.
  • Study Mongolia’s relations with the U.S., China, Russia, and North Korea
Please visit the SIT Study Abroad website for details on the program courses (including syllabi), educational excursions, and housing.

KEY TOPICS OF STUDY

  • Environmental conservation and natural resource development
  • Rapid urbanization and dramatic influx of foreign direct investment
  • History, traditions, and livelihoods of Mongolia’s nomadic cultures
  • Mongolia’s unique roots in Russia, China, Europe, and Central Asia
  • Independent study project or intern with a Mongolian organization

MONEY MATTERS

Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor.  

SIT tuition and room and board fees include the following: 
  • All educational costs, including educational excursions 
  • All accommodations and meals for the full program duration 
  • Transportation to and from the airport, and on all educational excursions 
  • Health and accident insurance 
 

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • SIT awards nearly $1.6 million in scholarships and grants annually.
  • All scholarships and grants are need-based.
  • Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs.  
  • Contact the financial aid and/or study abroad office(s) at your college or university to learn if your school’s scholarships and grants and federal and state aid programs can be applied to an SIT Study Abroad program.
 

CONTACT SIT STUDY ABROAD

 
 



Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Winter-Spring 2024 10/15/2023 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
Fall 2024 03/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.