Boren Awards for USA students to Study Abroad

Funded by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO), Boren Awards provindes funding to US undergraduate and graduate students to pursue studies, research, and language study programs in world regions critical to U.S. interests.

2026-27 Boren Awards funding may be applied to programs starting as early as 1 June 2026 or as late as 1 March 2027.

Organisations in any country outside Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand

Studies, research, and language study in preferred fields of study.

All Boren Awards-funded programs must include language study as a core element for the duration of the grant.

Not specified

Undergraduate and graduate students who are US citizens

Maximum awards are determined by the duration abroad (up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only); up to $12,000 for domestic language study; up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks; and up to to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks.

All applicants must be:

• • U.S. citizens at the time of the national application deadline
• • A high school graduate, or have earned a GED
• • At least 18 years of age or older at the time of the national application deadline
• • Planning an overseas program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
• • Planning to study in a country of which they are not a citizen
• • Matriculated for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program in an undergraduate or graduate degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• • (For ROTC cadets and midshipmen and members of the military Reserves or National Guard) In inactive, non-drilling status for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program

In addition to these basic eligibility criteria, the Boren Awards give preference to programs based on their duration, focus on intensive study of a preferred language in a preferred country, and the applicant’s field of study.

Boren Fellows have additional guidelines for self-designed research, internship, and study programs.

Boren Scholars and Fellows must remain matriculated in a degree program at a U.S. post-secondary institution for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program

Applications are done online. The application deadline for the Boren Scholarship is 28 January 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET while the application deadline for the Boren Fellowship is 21 January 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

It is important to visit the how to apply page and the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.