SIT Study Abroad Vietnam: Culture, Social Change, and Development

Major Topics of Study

• Pressing issues caused by rapid urbanization within the context of the Doi Moi “Renovation” economic reform
• Challenges of sustainable development and current strategies for new rural development in the Mekong Delta
• The effects of war, development, and tourism on Vietnam’s rich but increasingly fragile heritage
• The lives of Hmong and Red Dao ethnic minority groups in the Sapa mountains 

There is no "typical day"on an SIT program. Activities may take place on any day of the week and at any time of day to be in accordance with according to local norms and to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities. Thus, the schedule and structure of the program are likely very different from what students are used to on their home campuses. The semester progresses in phases:

• The program begins with a thorough orientation.
• During the first two and a half months of the program, students are engaged in foundational coursework, including:
  • thematic seminars, including education excursions,
  • language instruction focused on improving practical communication skills, and
  • a field research methods and ethics course that prepares students to conduct independent research.
• For the last month of the program, students conduct an Independent Study Project (ISP) on an approved topic of their choosing. 
• Finally, students present their project, participate in program evaluations, and prepare to return home.

• SIT Study Abroad offers a field-based, experiential approach to learning.
• Each program has a small group of students (typically 10–35). 
• On an SIT program, students gain high levels of access to many different stakeholders and experts relevant to the issues the program is examining. 
• While some learning will be conducted at the SIT program center, extensive learning is done outside the classroom — in host communities, field stations, NGO headquarters, ecological sites, health clinics, and art studios.
• Many students go on to use their Independent Study Projects as a basis for senior theses on their home campuses. Others use their undergraduate research and overall study abroad experience to successfully apply for fellowships such as Fulbrights and Watsons.

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 $1.3 million in scholarships and grants annually.
• All scholarships and grants are need-based.
• Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000.  
• The SIT Pell Grant Match provides matching grants to all students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding when it is applied to an SIT Study Abroad semester program. 
• 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.