Boren Awards for Undergraduate Students

The Boren Awards fund the intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. undergraduate or graduate students. All eligible applicants have the option to either apply for a Regional Flagship Language Initiative or select/design their study program.

Boren Awards Regional Flagship Language Initiatives offer undergraduate Boren Scholars and graduate Boren Fellows carefully selected, credit-bearing language courses during the summer (domestic) and fall (overseas), with the option to continue overseas study into the spring. In 2023, the Regional Flagship Language Initiatives include:

The African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) for the study of French, Swahili, Akan/Twi, Wolof, or Zulu
The Southeast Asian Flagship Language Initiative (SEAFLI) for the study of Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai
The South Asian Flagship Languages Initiative (SAFLI) for the study of Hindi or Urdu
The Turkish Flagship Language Initiative (TURFLI) for the study of Turkish
Boren Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
Basic Eligibility Requirements
The majority of eligible students will apply for Boren Awards to fund overseas language study programs that they have identified themselves. Program design guidelines differ slightly where noted for undergraduate Boren Scholars and graduate Boren Fellows.

All applicants must be:

U.S. citizens at the time of the national application deadline
A high school graduate, or have earned a GED
At least 18 years of age or older at the time of the national application deadline
Planning an overseas program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
Planning to study in a country of which they are not a citizen
Matriculated for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program in an undergraduate or graduate degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
(For ROTC cadets and midshipmen and members of the military Reserves or National Guard) In inactive, non-drilling status for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program
In addition to these basic eligibility criteria, the Boren Awards give preference to programs based on their duration, focus on intensive study of a preferred language in a preferred country, and the applicant’s field of study.

A specific subset of Boren Scholarships applicants already enrolled in The Language Flagship may receive funding for their Capstone year abroad. They use the same application as other applicants.

Matriculation & Academic Credit
Boren Scholars and Fellows must remain matriculated in a degree program at a U.S. post-secondary institution for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program. To prove matriculation, grantees will be required to submit a signed matriculation form or may also submit a letter from a dean or registrar at their home institution stating that their graduation date will occur after the completion of their Boren Scholarship or Fellowship.

Boren Scholarships applicants must be matriculated in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of application. They must remain matriculated in an undergraduate degree program for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.

he Boren Awards do not require grantees to receive academic credit at their home institution for their overseas study. Many types of programs may be eligible to receive Boren Awards funding, including:

Study abroad programs arranged by your home institution, a consortium of colleges and universities, or another U.S. institution
Overseas programs with a robust language component arranged by an independent provider
Direct enrollment in a foreign university or independent language school
In addition to reviewing study abroad opportunities available through their home institutions, applicants may consult search engines for international study programs such as IIEPassport.org, GoAbroad.com, and GoOverseas.com. (Note that some information on these websites may be out of date. Applicants should confirm program details and costs directly with their providers.)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their Boren Awards Campus Representative as early as possible in the application process to discuss how to ensure compatibility between their proposed Boren Awards-funded program and their institution’s matriculation requirements. Campus Representatives and administrators with questions about Boren Awards matriculation requirements are encouraged to contact us at boren@iie.org or 1-800-618-NSEP (6737).

Duration & Maximum Awards
The Boren Awards promote long-term linguistic and cultural immersion. Proposed programs of two or more semesters are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to Boren Awards applicants proposing overseas programs of at least 25 weeks’ duration. The minimum duration of an eligible program is 12 weeks for most Boren Awards applicants. (A special exception to this rule exists for undergraduate STEM majors, who may propose summer programs of 8 weeks or longer — see below).

Boren Awards funding in the 2024 application cycle may be applied to programs starting as early as June 1, 2024 or as late as March 1, 2025. (Note: Funding for program expenses incurred after May 31, 2025 is contingent upon availability and cannot be guaranteed at the time of award. Confirmation of availability of funds for study beyond May 31, 2025 will be communicated to recipients in Spring 2025.)

Boren Awards funding must cover a continuous period of overseas study. Short mid-program trips out of the country of study are allowed but will need to be pre-approved by IIE. Multiple, sequential programs in the same language and country are eligible for Boren Awards funding and may be necessary to reach the desired award threshold.

Study tours of several countries, such as a semester at sea, are not eligible for Boren Awards funding.

Boren Scholarships Award Amounts:

8-11 weeks: $8,000 for a summer program (STEM majors only)
12-24 weeks: $12,500
25-52 weeks: $25,000
Boren Fellowships Award Amounts:

12-24 weeks: $12,500
25-52 weeks: $25,000

The 2024-2025 Boren Scholarship application cycle is now open. You can access the Boren Scholarship application here.
The application deadline for the Boren Scholarship is January 31, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET.