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Rabat - Study in Rabat
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses that explore Moroccan Language, history, and culture with an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You take 16–19 credits per semester. Modern Standard Arabic (6 credits, semester long) and colloquial Moroccan Arabic during orientation (1 credit, during orientation) are required. All other courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise stated. Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:
Orientation Course
- IES Abroad Intensive Introduction to Colloquial Moroccan Arabic (required, 1 credit)
Semester Courses
- IES Abroad Modern Standard Arabic course (required, 6 credits)
- IES Abroad Colloquial Moroccan Arabic course (optional, 3 credits)
- English- or French-taught IES Abroad area studies courses (optional, 3 credits)
- French- or Arabic-taught courses at the Université Mohammed V (optional, credits vary)
- Internship Placement and Seminar (optional, 3 credits)
Courses
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
NOTE: IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF/SO 320 - Sub-Saharans in Morocco (French-taught) | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| CU/AF 221 - North African Cultural Identities | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/CM 250 - Arab Media and Issues of Politics and Culture | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/AF 221 - North African Cultural Identities | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| EC 352 - The Economic Impact of Globalization on Morocco & Northwest Africa | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR 351 - French Language in Context: Independent Abroad | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS/SO 250 - Gender and Society in North Africa and Beyond | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 312 - Contemporary History Of Morocco And North Africa | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/IN 395 - Internship/Social Action Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/IR 343 - The U.S. and North Africa | Fall | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 315A - Maghrebian Francophone Literature In Translation (English-taught) | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT 315B - Maghrebian Francophone Literature (French-taught) | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO 341A - North African Politics (English-taught) | Fall | English | 3 |
| PO 341B - North African Politics (French-taught) | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| PO/CM 250 - Arab Media and Issues of Politics and Culture | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/IR 343 - The U.S. and North Africa | Fall | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| RL 243A - Islam In Morocco And North Africa (English-taught) | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| RL 243B - Islam In Morocco And North Africa (French-taught) | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF/SO 320 - Sub-Saharans in Morocco (French-taught) | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| GS/SO 250 - Gender and Society in North Africa and Beyond | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| SO/IN 395 - Internship/Social Action Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Partner Institution(s)
Université Mohammed V
Named after the former King of Morocco, the Université Mohammed V was founded in 1957 after Moroccan independence as the country's first modern university. IES Abroad Rabat students with advanced-level proficiency in Arabic or French may enroll in courses taught in these languages in the Faculty of Letters and Humanities of the University Mohammed V - Agdal.
Courses are available in Arabic and French and focus on language, linguistics, literature, and cultural studies. You are advised on-site about the academic offerings of the university. Courses are available in the following fields:
- Communication
- French Literature and French Studies
- Geography
- History and Civilization
- Islamic Studies
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Sociology
Course offerings may vary from semester to semester and particular courses may not be available during your semester or academic year in Rabat.
Community-Based Learning
When you volunteer in Rabat, you have the chance to make a difference in the local community while meeting new people and gaining a new perspective on the world. If you are passionate about volunteering abroad, just let the on-site staff know at the beginning of your term. Past volunteer opportunities in Rabat include:
- Working with children
- Beach clean up
- Visiting patients in a hospital
- Participating in refugee work
- Engaging in cultural preservation
- Assisting at a dog and cat shelter
Internships
Did you know that, while in Rabat, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:
- Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support.
- Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process.
- Experience what working in Rabat is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness.
- Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers.
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country.
IES Abroad Rabat offers a variety of internship opportunities for students with two or more semesters of French or Arabic. Placements may be available for students with no previous study of French or Arabic, but placement options are limited and cannot be guaranteed in advance. Depending on your area of interest and skill set, certain internships may only be available in French.
Personalized Job Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal placement that satisfies your interests and goals. We’ve placed student with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently offer placements in your field of interest, we will look for one that’s right for you.
Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always looking for new internship opportunities for our students.
English Speaking Students |
Students with French Language Skills |
Students with Arabic Language Skills |
|---|---|---|
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Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Rabat, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. These trips are partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Some trips carry an additional fee. Here are a few possible destinations:
Granada & Córdoba, Spain
4 Days | Fall & Spring
Experience the cultural and historical connections between Europe and Africa by visiting Granada’s magnificent Alhambra. Tour an ancient mosque in Córdoba that now serves as a Catholic cathedral.
Middle Atlas Mountains & Berber Village
3 Days | Spring
Spend two nights with a Berber family in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Experience local Berber traditions and participate in activities such as visiting natural springs, meeting with local associations, making bread,and learning about medicinal herbs native to the region.
Sahara Desert
3 Days | Fall & Spring
Journey to the Sahara Desert to meet with Berbers living in traditional settings. Make your journey on camelback and gain insight into Berber history, culture, and music, and camp overnight at a desert oasis.
Tangier & Chaouen
2 Days | Fall
Explore the colorful sites of Tangier, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean at the Strait of Gibraltar. Then head to Chaouen to see its picturesque buildings in various shades of blue.
Fez & Volubilis
1 Day | Fall & Spring
After completing orientation in Meknes, visit the Medina and famed tanneries of Fez, and admire the ancient and well-preserved Roman ruins and more than 30 original mosaics throughout nearby Volubilis.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
Course-related trips are academic excursions associated with courses that are organized each term. They are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Moroccan culture and society. Participation is based on course registration. All course-related trips are included in the program cost.
Past trips have included:
- Trip to Parliament Building
- Chellah Kasbah
- The Royal Library
- The Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture
- National Human Rights Council
- USAID
- Democratic Association of Women of Morocco
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Rabat is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Orientation continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are covered during orientation.
Orientation continues with a brief stay in Rabat to meet the IES Abroad Rabat staff, visit the Center facilities, and tour some sights in the city. The next portion of orientation takes place in the city of Meknes, where you will live with a host family in the Medina, take intensive Colloquial Moroccan Arabic (Darija), and attend lectures on Moroccan culture and history. Before returning to Rabat, you will explore ancient Morocco with a field trip to Fez and Volubilis, the site of well-preserved ancient Roman ruins.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café — not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Rabat, it will feel like home.
Homestay - Live with a local family in the Medina within walking distance of our Center and experience Moroccan traditions, family life, and cuisine. You will receive three meals daily. You may request to live with another IES Abroad student in your homestay.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Take advantage of the cultural events we organize in Rabat, such as the following:
- Cooking classes
- Henna parties
- Cultural debates
- Mock Moroccan Wedding
Get to Know Your New City
Partake in the Mock Wedding at Our Center
Experience traditional Moroccan culture first-hand with our mock Moroccan wedding.
Engage Your Senses
Take in the tastes, smells, colors, and sounds of the Medina.
Advance Your Language Skills
Practice three languages in one city—where else can you do that?
Visit a Hammam
Spend a few hours at the local bathhouse with your friends.
Indulge in Local Food and Tea
From Moroccan mint tea to couscous on Fridays, get to know life in Rabat through the city’s food.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
John Gearen Need-Based Dublin or Developing Regions Scholarship
John Gearen, a member of the IES Abroad Board of Directors for many years and past chair of the Board for six years, is a leading real estate attorney and Rhodes Scholar who is involved in numerous philanthropic causes. Mr. Gearen has generously established this scholarship to support students who have an interest in studying on an IES Abroad Center in a developing region of the world (Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Morocco, or South Africa).
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
The IES Abroad Rabat Center is located within easy walking distance of the Medina and is just steps away from the Mausoleum and Hassan II Tower.
Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your classes in the Center's multimedia classrooms
- Meet with staff in their offices
- Meet with faculty in their lounge
- Get some studying done in the library and reading room
- Bring your lunch to eat on the outdoor patio
- Hang out with friends in the beautiful Berber tent on the roof-top terrace
Other features include a small kitchen, WiFi and printer access, and an updated security system.
Our Staff
Oussama El Addouli
Center Director
Prior to his work as Director of the Rabat program, Mr. El Addouli was the Director and co-founder of the International Arabic Institute in Meknes. He was also the Program and Outreach Director at the Moroccan American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (Fulbright Commission) in Rabat. Mr. El Addouli is a former Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of New England in Maine. He held teaching, coordinating and training positions at different institutions in Morocco, the US and Europe namely Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, the International School of Bologna in Italy, and QWL in Rabat. He first studied Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy at the University of Bologna in Italy and then participated in a four partner university program to obtain two masters in Global Studies and International Relations from the Universities of Leipzig in Germany, the London School of Economics in the UK, the University of Vienna in Austria, and the University of Wroclaw in Poland. Mr. El Addouli's interests span the fields of TAFL, Educational Curriculum Development and Design, Global Studies, Educational Governance, Civil Society and Democracy, Cultural Studies, and International Law. He has translated books and written and published articles and book reviews on transformational Education, issues on North African Politics and other related subjects. Mr. El Addouli holds a strong cosmopolitan outlook as he has studied, visited, lived in, and was trained in more than twenty foreign countries.
IES Abroad Rabat Staff
Houda El Mesaudi
Accountant & Office Manager
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
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Contact a Past Student
From budgeting tips to housing insight, IES Abroad Ambassadors volunteer their study abroad and internship experiences and advice.
