[an error occurred while processing this directive] Frequently Asked Questions [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] Frequently Asked Questions [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Where is Kuwait?

Kuwait is located northeast of Saudi Arabia and south of Iraq, at the northern end of the Arabian Gulf.

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What is it like?

Kuwait’s terrain is almost entirely flat desert plain. Summers are dry and intensely hot; winters are short, with limited rain and moderate temperatures. The government is a constitutional, hereditary emirate ruled by the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Shiekh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Ninety percent of the population of 3.5 million, which is 85 percent Muslim, lives within a 500-square kilometer area surrounding Kuwait City and its harbor. Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

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What is the American University of Kuwait?

AUK overhead
The American University of Kuwait campus

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education, founded in Kuwait in 2003. The educational, cultural, and administrative structure, methods, and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. English is the language of instruction.

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What is Dartmouth’s relationship to the university and how was it begun?

The two schools signed an agreement in 2003 that facilitated a series of advisory, consultative, and cooperative projects. The agreement, renewed in June 2008, reflects the two institutions’ commitment to sustain the superb liberal arts education AUK provides and foster cross-cultural collaborations between faculty, students, and staff at both universities.

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What are some of the projects that Dartmouth and AUK have worked on together?

A month-long fellowship brings faculty from AUK to Dartmouth to engage in research and connect with others in their fields. An art historian from AUK became a Fellow at Dartmouth’s Leslie Center for the Humanities, two computer scientists have worked with Dartmouth colleagues at Thayer School of Engineering, and one has worked in the iQBS at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. Dartmouth faculty and staff travel to AUK to consult on administrative and academic matters. Students from both schools travel to their sister campus for internships. AUK students can also participate in a dual-degree program in engineering, where they study at AUK and at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering.

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What is the higher education environment in the Middle East in general and the Arabian Gulf more specifically?

The Middle East is experiencing major growth in higher education. Several new universities have been founded, and some U.S. universities have established branch campuses in the region, most notably in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. This is a time of exciting experimentation with different models that coincides with the region’s desire to provide a range of choices for its young people and to develop a robust network of national and regional scholarship and research.

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How long is the Dartmouth student internship at AUK?

Ten weeks.

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Do I qualify?

You should have an interest in the region. You must spend at least six months at Dartmouth after completing your internship. A selection committee interviews applicants and recommends those who qualify for the program.

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What is the application process?

You must submit a two-page, double-spaced essay indicating the relevance of this internship to your academic, intellectual, career, and personal goals; an up-to-date official transcript; and two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with your academic work and interests. Click here for more information.

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What kind of work will I be doing?

Interns are assigned administrative jobs on campus. You also may choose to seek out faculty members whom you can assist in their teaching and research.

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Where will I live during the internship?

Dartmouth students live off campus in AUK-owned apartments during their internship.

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Is there a dress code that I will have to observe?

Business casual is generally appropriate. Shorts are appropriate attire only on athletic playing fields and beaches. Consult a recent travel guide for more information.

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What is the weather like where I’ll be staying?

In Kuwait, summers are dry, with average temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Winters are short (December through February), with limited rain and temperatures averaging 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 27 degrees Celsius).

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What kind of transportation is available?

Kuwait City has bus service and many taxis. More information is available in the intern resource guide.

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Where is Hanover?

Hanover is situated in the U.S. in west central New Hampshire, across the river from the state of Vermont. The town is part of the Upper Connecticut River Valley community, commonly known as the Upper Valley. Boston (Massachusetts), New York City, and Montreal (Canada) are just a few hours' drive away.

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What is it like?

Hanover Main Street

Main Street in Hanover
Photo courtesy of Hanover, NH, Area Chamber of Commerce

Hanover is a medium-sized town surrounded by rolling forested hills, the Connecticut River, and many lakes and ponds. Mountain ranges in both New Hampshire and Vermont are within several hours' drive. Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures typically 20 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly -6 degrees Celsius) or lower, while summers can be humid and hot, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s (27–37 degrees Celsius). The town is governed by an elected board of selectmen.

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How long are the internships at Dartmouth for AUK students?

One month (mid June to mid July).

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What kind of work will I be doing?

You will either work in the Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures or hold two successive internships, one at the Hood Museum of Art and one at the Office of Public Affairs. You may also audit classes with the instructor′s permission.

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Where will I live?

AUK students stay on campus in student dormitories during their internship.

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How many students go to Dartmouth?

Approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students attend Dartmouth during fall, winter, and spring terms. During the time of the AUK internships, the entire sophomore class at Dartmouth is on campus.

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What’s the weather like in Hanover during the summer?

Summers in Hanover typically are warm, usually with temperatures around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21–27 degrees Celsius), although they can dip to the low 60s (15-plus degrees) and climb to the low 90s Fahrenheit (32-plus degrees Celsius). Periods of humidity and rain showers are common.

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How do I get around? Is there public transportation?

Most essential resources are within walking distance of the dormitories. There is a free public bus service available on weekdays, as well as taxi service at all times.

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Last Updated: 8/21/12