Critical Language Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State’s provides recipients with eight-to-ten weeks of intensive language training in fourteen critical languages.  All programs are hosted in immersive settings abroad.  The award covers the cost of airfare to and from the program site, tuition for the language training, housing abroad, meals, and field trips.

Program Languages 

Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu

Chinese and Japanese only are taught at the advanced intermediate and advanced levels and require at least two years of formal study prior to the start of the program.  Arabic, Korean, and Russian only are taught at the advanced beginner level and above and require at least one year of formal study.  The other nine languages are offered from the beginning to the advanced level and do not require prior study.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Enrolled as a current undergraduate or graduate student
  • U.S. citizen or national
  • At least 18 years of age
  • For the full list of requirements, see: .

Deadline

November 14, 2023

Undergraduate students should contact Dr. Brandon Gray Miller to discuss their applications.  Graduate students should contact Dr. Rachel Ball-Phillips.

SMU Application Workshop 

October 4, 2023