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Service Learning

An immersive hands-on educational experience in tackling real-world development challenges.

The Service Learning Experience (SLE) program takes students out of the classroom and directly into the field, in order to grapple with topics of social justice, global citizenship, and cultural competencies. The international trip component connects them to the needs of our larger worldwide community, providing insight and understanding of the historical and socio-political context of the visited country, and building a strong sense of global citizenship and commitment.

LOCATION

Koh Tao, Thailand

DATES

October 10 - October 18, 2025 

APPLICATION TIMELINE

  1. Submit an online application by Saturday, March 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
  2. Decisions released by Thursday, March 13, 2025.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Students must attend a series of mandatory pre-departure sessions and will complete a post-program capstone project. 

  • Pre-departure session #1 - Sunday, August 24, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #2 - Sunday, August 31, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #3 - Sunday, September 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #4 - Sunday, September 14, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #5 - Saturday, September 20, half-day off-campus
  • Pre-departure session #6 - Sunday, September 21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #7 - Sunday, September 28, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Pre-departure session #8 - Sunday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Flights (round-trip departing and returning to Doha, on economy class), visas, travel insurance, accommodation (shared), in-country transportation & activities, and meals are covered by Northwestern Qatar.

Students are responsible for the cost of transportation to, and from, the Doha airport, as well as any personal expenses during the program. Flights will not be arranged from another location before the program, or to a different location after the conclusion of the program. Students must depart from, and return to, Doha, Qatar.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for experiential learning, students must demonstrate that they are making academic progress and in good standing with both NU-Q and the University at large. Students must be enrolled for the full academic year and remaining in residence at the Northwestern Qatar campus.

Students are not eligible for the program under the following conditions:

  • If a student has been placed on academic probation for the semester prior to the program or for the semester in which the program is scheduled.
  • Any student who has a case pending against them in Northwestern’s Office of Student Conduct that could result in separation from the University.

Any student who is returning from a leave of absence must be enrolled in classes for at least one semester before applying for the program. Students with pre-existing health concerns that have potential to interfere with success on the program may be asked to work with the Dean of Students office to ensure that a treatment plan is in place during the course of the program. NU-Q reserves the right to make final determinations about a student’s eligibility to participate in the program for reasons including, but not limited to, health and safety concerns and pending conduct cases against students that do not rise to the level of separation from the University. These determinations are at the discretion of the Director for the Student Experience and Assistant Dean for the Student Experience.

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