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Funding

Partial / Stipend

Boren Scholarships

Bachelor's ScholarshipGlobal

National Security Education Program (NSEP)

Application Deadline

January 27, 2027

Official Page

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

“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.” Eligibility

  • Eligible nationalities

    USA

  • Education required

    High School

  • Age requirement

    ≥ 18 yrs

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Boren Scholarships are awarded by the U.S. National Security Education Program (NSEP) and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). They fund U.S. undergraduates to study a language intensively abroad, outside Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Applicants choose or design their own program, or join the African Flagship Languages Initiative. Preference goes to longer stays, listed languages, destinations and majors, and applicants aiming for a federal career.

Benefits & funding

  • Up to US$25,000 for 25–52 weeks (preferred); US$12,500 for 12–24 weeks; US$8,000 for an 8–11-week summer program (STEM majors only).
  • Covers approved tuition and fees, room and board, airfare, insurance, visas and local transport; meant for most costs, not all.
  • Other aid covering the same costs reduces the award.
  • Duty: work for the federal government for at least one year, starting within three years of graduation.

Eligibility

  • U.S. citizens by the national deadline.
  • Aged 18 or older when applying; high school diploma or GED.
  • Enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s program at an accredited U.S. institution, and still enrolled (not graduated) until the award ends.
  • Destination outside Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and not a country of which you are a citizen.
  • ROTC cadets and Reserve or National Guard members must be in inactive, non-drilling status during the award.
  • No minimum language level, except French and Spanish, which require set speaking levels.
  • Programs need at least 15–20 language hours a week.

Application process

  1. 1
    Choose a language, destination and program (an alternate program is required for Arabic, Mandarin, Russian or asterisked destinations).
  2. 2
    Write two essays of up to 800 words and secure two recommendations (relatives not accepted).
  3. 3
    Upload an unofficial transcript; other institutions’ transcripts must arrive before the national deadline.
  4. 4
    Meet any earlier campus deadline your Boren campus representative sets, then submit online by January 27, 2027, 5 pm Eastern.

Program timeline

  1. National application deadline

    January 27, 2027 (5 pm ET)

  2. Selection notifications

    Mid-to-late April 2027

  3. Window for funded programs to start

    June 2027 – March 1, 2028

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