- Travel Policy
- All International Institute Funding
- International Research & Internship Opportunities
- Boren Awards for International Study
- Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
- Fulbright UK Summer Institutes
- Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (CANCELED)
- Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowships (CANCELED)
- US/ED Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowships (CANCELED)
Boren Awards are scholarships and fellowships for U.S. undergraduate and graduate 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 these regions: Africa, Asia,Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.
As a condition of their award, Boren Scholars and Fellows agree to utilize their skills within the federal government by seeking and securing national security-related employment for at least one year, strengthening the federal workforce and enhancing U.S. capabilities, deterrence, and readiness.
Boren Award is an initiative of the National Security Education Program (NSEP) and is funded by the US Department of Defense.
Important Dates
Campus Deadline: January 11, 2026
Boren Scholarship (Undergraduate) National Deadline: January 28, 2026
Boren Fellowship (Graduate) National Deadline: January 21, 2026
Applications submitted by the campus deadline will receive a review by the Boren Awards campus representative. Please note that applicants who submit after the Campus Deadline are still encouraged to apply to the Boren Awards, although a review of their application may not be provided. Applications are submitted on the Boren website.
Award notification: late April 2026
Boren Convocation (mandatory in-person orientation): First week of June 2026
Earliest possible study abroad start date: June 6, 2026
Latest possible study abroad start date: February 28, 2027
Basic Eligibility Criteria
- US citizenship at the national deadline
- At least 18 years of age at the time application is submitted
- Planning an overseas program in an approved world region
- Overseas program that includes intensive classroom study of language (at least 15-20 hours of language classes per week)
- Dual citizens may NOT study in their country of citizenship
- Enrolled as a student in a US-based university for the duration of the their Boren Awards-funded program
Boren Awards Preferences
- Overseas program duration of at least 25 weeks (minimum duration is 12 weeks for most Boren applicants); longer duration is preferred
- Focus on intensive study of a preferred language
- Study location in a preferred overseas destination
- Declared major (undergraduate) or degree program (graduate) in a preferred field of study
- Long-term interest in a federal government career
Application Resources
- Review the Preferred Languages and Preferred Destinations
- Review the Frequently Asked Questions
- Review the Selection Criteria
- Review application instructions for Undergraduate Scholarships or Graduate Fellowships
- Sign up for Boren Awards webinars
- Join the U-M Boren Awards Applicant Resources Canvas site (self-joinable with a uniqname)
Advising & Support
Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Application Resources listed above. Once that content is reviewed, applicants are invited to schedule an appointment with the Boren Awards Campus Representative through the advising link.
