SiMO+ Program

The SiMO+ program offers the possibility of a shorter stay at the Near East School of Theology, a tradition-steeped Protestant university in West Beirut (Hamra) with two focuses:

• Research, especially for writing seminar papers and theses
• Internships in local church or civil society organizations in Lebanon

Optionally, the courses offered by NEST can also be attended for both focuses. This includes numerous courses in Protestant theology in the disciplines of Old Testament, New Testament, systematic theology, church history and practical theology, courses on local religious life as well as courses in Islamic studies.

The stay usually lasts three to six months. Longer or shorter stays are possible.

The SiMO+ program is open to students or doctoral candidates in the fields of theology, religious, regional, social, political and cultural studies, education or related fields with a connection to the Middle East who wish to live, research and/or work in the region for a few months. The connection should be made clear in the letter of motivation. A good knowledge of English is required.

The following costs are incurred for the program:

• Costs of a room at NEST (single room $225; double room $200 per month) and meals ($400 per month, optional)
• Costs for attended courses (guest student costs $ 67 per course)
• Costs for language courses, if applicable
• Costs for living expenses
• Flight and visa costs (over three months)

The total monthly costs depend on the design of the program on site.

If you are student in German, we recommend applying for a scholarship from the DAAD (Promos; the website is only available in German), Bread for the World or the Gertrud and Alexander Böhlig Foundation (the website is only available in German). We are happy to provide advice and support.

For enquiries about SiMO+ and the possibilities of a flexible stay on site, please contact us at: simoplus@freunde-der-nest.de. Applications can be submitted at any time, but should be handed in at least 6 months before the beginning of the stay. In any case, a CV and a letter of motivation are required for the application; further documents for visa processes etc. may also become relevant depending on requirements. This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.