Boren Scholars and Fellows study a wide range of critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili. Boren Awards are available to students of all proficiency levels who are committed to enhancing their skills.
Boren Scholars and Fellows from diverse fields of study immerse themselves in the cultures in world regions underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Boren Awards alumni are committed to public service, working in positions critical to U.S. national security throughout the Federal Government, including the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, and USAID.
Fund study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests.
Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
Fund research and language study proposals by U.S. graduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests.
Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
+ Up to $12,000 for domestic language study (optional)
Visit the Apply Now page to get started by selecting the country and language you want to study. You may change your selections at any time.
Reach out to the Boren Awards campus representative at your institution. (You may still apply if your institution does not have one.) They will have lots of constructive advice for you.
-AND-
Watch our introductory webinar to learn the basics of the Boren Awards application.
-AND-
Review the official selection criteria.
Apply for a Regional Flagship Language Initiative
Regional Flagship Language Initiatives offer Boren Scholars and 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:
-OR-
The Boren Awards invest in linguistic and cultural knowledge for aspiring federal government employees. Understanding the national security implications of your study and the many career opportunities available to you is critical to a successful application.
Draft your essays as early as you can and share them with your recommenders.
For more information on the one-year federal service requirement, check out the federal careers section here.
Your most important support will come from your campus representative. (You may still apply if you do not have one; ask new advisors to contact us if they want to be listed.)
Boren Awards staff will release new webinars on specific topics throughout the application cycle -- watch as many as you can!
If you have any questions specific to your application, contact us at boren@iie.org or call 1-800-618-6737 ext. 1 during business hours (9 am to 5 pm Eastern).
The national deadlines for the 2025 Boren Awards are:
Boren Fellowships: January 22, 2025
Boren Scholarships: January 29, 2025
The Boren Awards application is now closed for the 2024-25 cycle. The 2025-2026 application will open in mid-August 2024.
2025-26 Boren Awards funding may be applied to programs starting as early as June 1, 2025 or as late as March 1, 2026.
Your campus representative may also set a campus deadline to provide support and feedback -- please check to see if there is one and respect it!
Applicants will be notified if they have been selected in mid-to-late April
