Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

About this scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded overseas summer language-immersion program for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students, run by the U.S. Department of State to build Americans' proficiency in languages of strategic importance to national security and economic prosperity. CLS covers all major costs of participation — tuition, international and domestic travel, housing, and meals — and provides a $165 reimbursement of U.S. passport application fees for finalists who demonstrate exceptional financial need; about 500 scholarships are offered each year. To be eligible you must be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application (permanent residents and those awaiting naturalization are not eligible), be at least 18 years old by the program start, and be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate or bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, or professional) level. Undergraduate applicants must complete at least one full year of study by the start of the program, and all applicants must be enrolled in at least one credit-bearing class at their home institution in the preceding fall term. Many CLS languages can be studied at the beginner level, so prior language study is not always required. Applications are submitted through the CLS online application system in the autumn, with finalists notified in late January.

Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application (permanent residents not eligible)
• Be at least 18 years old by the program start date
• Be enrolled in an accredited US undergraduate or graduate degree program
• Undergraduates: complete at least one full year of study by the program start
• Be enrolled in at least one credit-bearing class in the preceding fall term