The American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF) Junior Fellows program provides talented students of Slovenian heritage – and not only from the US – with the support they need to focus on their professional development at Slovenia’s top universities, institutes, and companies.
It’s a one-year program, which enables students to do an all-expenses paid (travel, housing, living expenses) 10-week work or research visit over the summer at a university, company, or a research institute in their field of study or expertise.
Where and what you can study in Slovenia
Participating institutions include all the universities, Institute Jožef Stefan, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU), and Karst Research Institute, as well as the Central Bank, various companies in the tech, medical, and biochemistry sectors, and several orchestras. The areas of research and work covered are: architecture, business, communications and marketing, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, earth sciences, English, economics and finance, electrical engineering, karst studies, linguistics and Slovenistics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, medicine, music, physics, political science, social sciences (including history), and theology.
The aim of the programme is two-fold. First, to give individuals the chance to experience Slovenia as a study and work environment, and to get to know its language and culture. Second, to strengthen research and study exchanges between Slovenia and other countries and help those who have an interest in Slovenian culture and want to realise their potential.
Note that the website isn’t entirely clear as to what the nationality requirements are, if any, only stating that “a typical applicant is a full-time senior undergraduate, masters, or PhD student from the USA, Canada, Argentina or any other country”. You can learn more here, including the experiences of previous recipients and all the forms you need to apply, with the deadline being 1 February 2020. And if you’re too late for this year, make a note for 2021 and spend that summer in Slovenia.
