Boren Awards

The David L. Boren Awards, which include undergraduate Scholarships and graduate Fellowships, focus on regions, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security.

The breakdown for Boren Scholars is as follows

  • Up to $8,000 for a summer program
  • $10,000 for a semester program
  • Or, $20,000 for a full year program

Boren Fellows , students applying to or enrolled in graduate school, can receive up to $30,000.

A number of regions and languages are given preference. Applications focusing on Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian are among the languages given preference.

The Boren Awards also come with a post-service requirement. Recipients agree to work for the federal government in the national security arena. Federal jobs are guaranteed after completion of service, and a job offer must be secured on your own.

Learn More

National Security Language Initiative for Youth

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.

NSLI-Y does not have a language requirement to apply, but participants must complete an Oral Proficiency Interview upon completion. Scholarships are available to study Russian in Russia, Moldova, Estonia, or Latvia or Morocco for the summer, or in Moldova during the academic year.

Go Abroad

Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is a fully-funded overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students.

To apply for CLS program, you are required to have studied Arabic for at least two years. Scholarships are available to study at two sites in Russia: Nizhny Novgorod or Vladimir.

Explore Options

Disclaimer:  CLM does not necessarily endorse any one of these programs. The information is intended to provide students with resources that aid them in selecting a program that suits their interests and needs.