Boren Awards for International Study

Funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), Boren awards come in two forms: fellowships for US graduate students and scholarships for US undergraduates students. Both provide up to $25,000 to support students who wish to study regions and languages critical to US interests.

The scholarship program funds undergraduates for study in Africa, Asia, Central & South America, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The award amount depends upon the duration of study: up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred scholarship duration), up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks, and up to $8000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM students only). 

The fellowship program is intended to enable master’s and doctoral level students to supplement their chosen disciplines with a language and international study. Fellowship recipients may study domestically or overseas, while the scholarship program supports undergraduate students who wish to study abroad. Languages studied under Boren fellowships and scholarships tend to be less commonly-taught and have the potential to contribute to US national security (defined broadly). Preference is shown toward applicants who study certain underrepresented languages.

Eligibility: Varies between scholarships and fellowships, check website for specific information

Deadline: Boren Scholarship (for undergraduates): January 31, 2024, at 5:00pm EST; Boren Fellowship (for graduates) January 24, 2024, at 5:00pm EST.

Faculty representative: Keith Dede, Department of World Languages and Literatures