Back to Scholarships

Boren Scholarships for Undergraduate Students

Apply now

$25,000

Due: January 28, 2027

No min. GPA required

Description

Boren Scholarships will be awarded to a matriculated undergraduate student at a U.S. college or university as of the scholarship application deadline. The National Security Education Program (NSEP) awards scholarships to students committed to long-term overseas study and to public service. Boren awardees receive funding to study the languages most critical to our nation's security in the following regions: Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Applicants will select a study abroad program in consultation with their study abroad office and Boren Campus Representative. They may receive $25,000 for 25-52 weeks of study abroad, $12,500 for 12-24 weeks, and STEM majors may receive $8,000 for 8-11 weeks of study abroad. All applicants must plan to study language in an eligible world region and must be able to complete Boren-funded programs before graduation. Boren Award applications must include study of a foreign language appropriate to the proposed country or region, incorporating opportunities to advance language proficiency both inside and outside the classroom. With the exception of French and Spanish, there are no minimum language requirements. However, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the language and a strategy for continuing language study beyond the award. Boren Scholarship applicants may also elect to apply for special regional Flagship Language Initiatives that offer high-quality, for- credit instruction in the languages Akan/Twi, French, Indonesian, Swahili, Thai, Vietnamese, Wolof, and Zulu. Applicants must demonstrate a strong desire to work in the federal government; proposals for overseas destinations, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security; and proposals for long-term study abroad. Preference is given to those studying overseas for 25 weeks or longer, though some go for a semester. Undergraduates in STEM fields may be funded for summer programs of at least 8 weeks. The Boren Scholarship application requires two letters of recommendation, and applicants may include a third. Applicants are also encouraged to include a Language Evaluation of the Boren language, which should be filled out by a recent instructor in that language. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

Apply now

Level of Study

College Freshmen College Sophomore College Junior College Senior

Scholarship Type

College Student