A summer abroad that gives students something real to work on, and something real to say.
Three fellowships in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, each built around a real academic project, a small group of peers, and a host community. Designed for high school students who want their summer to build actual skills and direction, not just a passport stamp.
These are not tours. They are hands-on projects with a passport.
Students do not just observe a place from a bus window. They work alongside a local partner organization, take on a real project, and are expected to deliver something useful by the end, whether that is a simple business strategy, a short policy brief, or a design proposal. That finished project, and the mentorship behind it, is what turns a summer into something a student can genuinely speak to in a college interview.
Each fellowship below runs twice over the summer. Every seat is application-only, and each group is kept small so the work stays genuinely hands-on.
Eligibility & Selectivity
- Rising juniors and seniors, typically ages 15 to 18
- Strong academic record in a related subject area
- Genuine interest in the fellowship’s academic focus
- Short-answer application, with interviews for finalists
- Rolling review by session, early application is recommended
- 16 seats per session, fellowships do not run below minimum enrollment
Built for students who want more out of a summer than a good photo.
These fellowships were designed for high school students looking for international opportunities that offer real substance. Each program is meant to give students perspective, practical skills, and an honest sense of what a field of study actually feels like day to day, all while helping them stand out as they prepare to apply to their dream college or university.
Programs are typically designed for students between the ages of 15 and 18. Each fellowship pairs cultural immersion with a real, structured project, so students come home with something concrete: a clearer sense of academic direction, a finished piece of work, and a genuine story to tell in an application or interview.
What Students Walk Away With
- More clarity on what academic path actually excites them
- A completed project they can speak to in interviews and essays
- Direct mentorship from people working in the field
- A genuine, respectful cross-cultural experience
What’s Included
The list below applies to all three fellowships. The one exception is noted directly below, homestay accommodation is part of the Morocco program only.
Included
- All breakfasts and lunches and some dinners.
- 3-star accommodations (homestay in Morocco only)
- Welcome and farewell meals
- 24-hour assistance from MOBT Global
- Guided visits
- Materials needed for workshops
- Transfers and transportation during the program
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel and health insurance
- Personal incidental expenses
Application Timeline
Pricing & Payment Policy Click to view program fees, deposit, and cancellation details
Program Fees (per fellow, in USD)
Deposit & Payment
To secure a seat in the program, a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total program price is required upon enrollment.
| When | What’s Due |
|---|---|
| Within 2 weeks of acceptance | 30% deposit, plus your signed enrollment agreement |
| 30 days before your session starts | Remaining 70% balance |
Final Balance Due Dates by Session
| Program | Session | Starts | Balance Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Session I | June 14, 2027 | May 15, 2027 |
| Morocco | Session II | July 5, 2027 | June 5, 2027 |
| Portugal | Session I | June 21, 2027 | May 22, 2027 |
| Portugal | Session II | July 12, 2027 | June 12, 2027 |
| Spain | Session I | June 28, 2027 | May 29, 2027 |
| Spain | Session II | July 19, 2027 | June 19, 2027 |
Cancellation & Refund Schedule
If you need to cancel your participation, refunds will be issued based on the total program price according to the timeline below:
- More than 60 days before start: 70% refund*
- 30 to 60 days before start: 50% refund*
- Less than 30 days before start: 0% refund (no refunds)
*All deposits are strictly non-refundable. Refund percentages apply to remaining paid funds and will be calculated minus any unrecoverable costs (for example, non-refundable housing, activity deposits, or transport).
Sustainable Agriculture, Social Enterprise & Rural Development
Fieldwork partner: a local nonprofit that works with women-led argan cooperatives in the High Atlas region.
Tentative Route
Casablanca to Rabat to Marrakech to Essaouira and back to Casablanca. Exact stops and order may shift slightly by session.
The Issue
Rural communities in Morocco’s High Atlas region are working to rebuild after recent earthquakes, and to protect their livelihoods against climate-driven water scarcity. Many women-led cooperatives produce sought-after goods like argan oil, but often see little of the profit because of the middlemen standing between them and the global market.
What Fellows Do
Fellows work alongside a local nonprofit partner and women-led argan cooperatives. Students help review how products move from the cooperative to market, speak directly with cooperative leaders, and put together a simple strategy for selling more directly to customers, so more of the profit stays with the people doing the work.
Fieldwork Arc
What to Expect
What This Builds Toward
Hands-on problem-solving around a real supply chain helps a student figure out whether economics or global development is actually the right path for them.
Direct mentorship from a local nonprofit and a finished project, not just a certificate of attendance.
a homestay experience.
Marine Conservation & Coastal Policy
Fieldwork partner: a marine research and conservation group based on the Algarve coast.
Tentative Route
Lisbon down to the Algarve coast and back to Lisbon. Exact stops and order may shift slightly by session.
The Issue
Portugal’s coastline faces real pressure. Tourism and pollution are putting marine life at risk along the Algarve, while the Lisbon estuary deals with industrial runoff and changing water conditions. Local conservation groups need solid data to push for better protections.
What Fellows Do
Fellows join a marine conservation team as research assistants for two weeks. That means helping collect water samples, going out on research boat trips, mapping data using simple mapping software, and drafting a short policy brief with real recommendations for balancing tourism and ocean health.
Fieldwork Arc
What to Expect
What This Builds Toward
Real fieldwork across marine biology, data science, and policy helps clarify which of those subjects actually excites a student before they have to pick a major.
Hands-on research experience alongside working marine scientists gives students a genuine, citable body of work, the kind that stands out in a resume, a research supplement, or a college interview, well beyond what a typical summer activity can offer.
A direct contribution to the kind of policy tools coastal towns use to balance tourism and ocean health.
Urban Heat, Sustainable Design & Public Health
Fieldwork partner: a municipal engineering and climate resilience team in Seville.
Tentative Route
Madrid to Seville to Donana National Park and back to Madrid. Exact stops and order may shift slightly by session.
The Issue
Seville regularly sees temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in summer, making it one of the hottest cities in mainland Europe. In lower income neighborhoods with a lot of concrete and little shade, this creates real health risks, especially for elderly residents.
What Fellows Do
Fellows work with a local engineering and climate team to measure temperature differences across Seville’s neighborhoods, learn about traditional and modern cooling design, and put together a simple design proposal for cooling a specific city block using shade, greenery, and smarter building choices.
Fieldwork Arc
What to Expect
What This Builds Toward
Working with real thermal data and design proposals gives students genuine, hands-on exposure to engineering and architecture, helping them discover their strengths and interests with confidence, well before it’s time to choose a college major.
Direct collaboration with a municipal engineering team, ending in a real design reviewed for feasibility, not just a group photo.
A concrete design response to the growing public health burden of extreme heat on low-income and elderly residents.
Info Session for Parents and High School Counselors
We host a virtual info session for parents and high school counselors who want to learn more about the Summer Fellowship Programs before students apply. The next session will be listed here as soon as it is scheduled, check back for updates.