Goes By: Boren Fellowship
Be sure to consult the Fellowship Website for complete eligibility and competition requirements.
Boren Campus Nomination Deadline
Monday, January 6, 2025
Noon ET
Boren Fellowship Electronic Deadline
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
5 p.m. ET
Provides U.S. graduate students the opportunity to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency.
Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 in a 12-month period for graduate level projects including language study, research, coursework, academic internships, etc. Strong preference is given to students planning to be abroad for 25 weeks or longer. Applicants must explain how their language and study relate to issues of National Security, broadly defined. Boren Fellows also incur a service requirement, wherein they must agree to work for the federal government for a period commensurate with the length of their fellowship, or one year, whichever is longer.
While no nomination is required, students are encouraged to have their applications reviewed by NFSP well before the electronic deadline.
To participate in the campus feedback process, applicants should meet with a national fellowships advisor by December 1. Students should work with NFSP to submit application materials for review and feedback from the Boren faculty committee by the January 6, 2025 campus deadline. The committee is an opportunity to get individualized feedback on how to submit a more competitive application from faculty and staff experts who have a lot of experience supporting USC Boren applicants.
Please note: Current graduate students applying for the Boren must also submit information to the Education Abroad Office at least 30 days prior to departure. See their website for more information.
Disability Resources
Applicants should work with the overseas program provider on the on-the-ground accommodations and set up that is possible. Start early! Depending on what is needed, the program contact on the ground is likely the best resource to connect the student with instructors or an academic advisor (if academic / learning disability) or to identify the right folks for other accommodations (housing, wheelchair access, etc). By starting early, applicants have the best opportunity to fully understand what is possible in the overseas environment and program implementors have the time to make arrangements for accommodation.
Requests for additional Boren funding for an accommodation are reviewed on a case by case basis and they make every effort to ensure reasonable requests are able to be approved for Boren-eligible expenses. Some expenses, such as medication, are not eligible for Boren funding as personal medical expenses are always ineligible.
All accommodation requests are reviewed on a case by case basis but as a go-to resource, applicants should visit the Mobility International USA (MIUSA) website.
Up to $25,000 for overseas study of a less commonly taught language in a non-English speaking country. Some funding available for domestic language study to supplement overseas component, for a maximum overseas and domestic program value of $30,000.
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| Year(s) of Application | Senior, Alumni/Non-enrolled, Masters, Doctoral |
Minimum Grade Point Average |
3.0 |
Citizenship |
US Citizen |
| Campus Nomination Required | Yes |
Last updated: June 28, 2024
Fellowships for individuals who want to spend a year abroad in an intensive language program to improve their Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese or Khmer language skills. Provides for all basic expenses at a graduate student level necessary to pursue an academic year of full-time intensive language study in East or SE Asia, including tuition and/or tutoring fees, plus a stipend for travel, living and study expenses
The CLS Program provides intensive language study for US undergraduate and graduate students, funded by the US Department of State. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 13 critical languages. The program funds eight to ten weeks of language immersion and cultural enrichment, including travel, room, and board.