Orientation

Upon arrival in Rabat, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in a one and a half day orientation designed to introduce them to Moroccan culture and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Morocco, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation. An essential part of the Orientation is language placement.

Accommodation and Meals

Students in the AMIDEAST Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Rabat live with Moroccan families that have been carefully screened by AMIDEAST/Morocco from a database of qualified applicants. Students usually are placed with families who have previous experience hosting American students through AMIDEAST. Few, if any, families speak English. Most host family members speak Arabic as a first language and also speak at least some French; a minority speak Spanish or Amazigh (Berber) as well. 

AMIDEAST matches students with host families using a variety of criteria. While all placement preferences may not be met in every case, AMIDEAST will strive to make the best match to ensure a rewarding and pleasant living experience. In the event of a problem, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program staff members will be available either to mediate or to arrange a new host family placement.  Students will be provided with all meals by their host families but may find that some days it is not possible to return to the family for lunch because of class schedules.

Excursions

AMIDEAST/Morocco organizes one day trip each session to a different part of the country – usually to a beachside town either north or south of Rabat (in the past such trips have gone to Asilah to the north and El Jadida to the south).  AMIDEAST/Morocco staff are also happy to provide information and even assistance with arrangements for independent travel to places like Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier and even the desert in the south.  There will be plenty of time and opportunity to explore your options once you arrive and Morocco and your session begins.  For those staying for both sessions, AMIDEAST staff will provide information about independent travel options during the week-long break.

Health & Safety

With AMIDEAST’s more than 60-year presence in the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs are able to draw on AMIDEAST’s long-term experience in the region, strong local connections, and deep understanding of the intercultural, health, safety, and security issues inherent to study in the Arab world.
AMIDEAST provides medical insurance for all enrolled students through HTH Worldwide, as well as medical, political, and security evacuation coverage. AMIDEAST has also contracted with an intelligence provider to assist with monitoring, protecting against, and responding to security issues in the region.

The AMIDEAST Advantage

Guided by an Academic Consortium that represents a cross-section of U.S. higher education, AMIDEAST programs are designed to provide academic excellence. AMIDEAST programs also include ample opportunities to interact with local university students and to reflect on intercultural encounters in structured settings.

Transcripts and Institution of Record

Students in Morocco receive transcripts issued from AMIDEAST’s Academic Partner, Mohammed V University-Agdal in Rabat. Alternatively, students can request (for an additional fee of $350) a transcript issued by AMIDEAST’s Institution of Record (IoR), Northeastern University. Should a home institution advisor indicate that a student needs to use the IoR, the student (or in some cases the institution) will be billed for this fee. This fee is refundable until the student is a confirmed participant.                                  

Rabat Address