The Critical Language Scholarship Program

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program offers fully-funded summer language institutes for U.S. university students and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CLS Program you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application. 
  • Others, including Permanent Residents, are not eligible, even if they anticipate naturalization by the beginning of the program.
• Be at least 18 years old by May 15, 2025. 
• Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of application. Students who are graduating seniors at the time of application and students enrolled in one-year master’s programs are eligible to apply. 
  • Applicants must be enrolled in a program that results in a degree. Applicants who are taking stand-alone or continuing education classes or who are pursuing a certificate are not eligible.
  • Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. institution. Students earning degrees at foreign institutions that are not based in the U.S. or its territories are not eligible, even if those institutions are accredited by a recognized U.S. accrediting agency. For students enrolled in dual-degree programs in which they take some courses at a U.S. institution and some courses at an international institution, students who can produce a transcript from the U.S. institution will be considered eligible.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in at least one credit-bearing class at or through their home institution in the fall term of 2024. There are limited exceptions to the enrollment requirement; please read the following information carefully: 
    • If applicants are enrolled in a degree-granting program but taking a leave of absence to participate in an organized term- or year-long study abroad program; national scholarship or fellowship program; or to participate in a substantive internship program, they may request an exception to the enrollment requirement. Exceptions may only be granted in these three cases, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis beginning in late January. 
    • If applicants are not taking classes at or through their home institution in the fall term, they must submit a CLS Enrollment Confirmation form completed by their home registrar in the U.S. Applicants must also submit a signed letter from the program provider explaining the opportunity and confirming their participation. American Councils will provide the CLS Enrollment Confirmation form and further instructions to applicants selected as semi-finalists. If selected as a finalist, American Councils may ask the finalist to submit updated documentation from the program provider confirming their successful completion of the program. 
    • Applicants must successfully complete academic requirements for the fall term in order to remain eligible for the CLS Program. Applicants who withdraw or fail to maintain a passing grade average are not eligible to participate in the program. Applicants in an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor's) must complete at least one full year of study (two semesters or three quarters) by the beginning of the CLS Program in Summer 2025.

• Applicants in an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor's) must complete at least one full year of study (two semesters or three quarters) by the beginning of the CLS Program in Summer 2025.
• Applicants must meet the language requirements of the program to which they apply.
• Applicants may only apply once, for one language and for one of CLS’ models (i.e., Overseas or Spark), each year. Applicants who submit multiple applications will be considered ineligible.

The following persons are ineligible for the CLS Program:

The following persons are ineligible for the CLS Program for a period ending one year following the termination of such employment, association, or service:

• Employees of the U.S. Department of State/U.S. Agency for International Development. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows and personal services contractors). This provision does not apply to interns.
• Immediate family members (e.g., spouses or dependent children) of employees of the U.S. Department of State/U.S. Agency for International Development. This provision includes immediate family members of all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows and personal services contractors). This provision does not apply to immediate family members of interns.
  • Non-dependent children are eligible to participate, provided that their parents do not work directly on the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

• Employees (and their immediate family members) of private and public agencies that are under contract or grant with the U.S. Department of State to perform services on behalf of the Critical Language Scholarship Program. This includes employees who do not directly work on the program. This provision does not apply to immediate family members of interns.

Participation Requirements

The health and well-being of participants and staff are top priorities of the CLS Program. The CLS Program is a rigorous immersion program and may be physically and emotionally challenging. Each student must be committed to working hard and participating fully in the group program, beginning with the mandatory pre-departure orientation through the completion of the oversea program.

Each participant must:

• Be able to stay alert and to focus attention for up to several hours at a time during classes, while participating in cultural activities, and when receiving staff instructions.
• Attend the pre-departure orientation and all daily classes and activities, as dictated by the program schedule and for the duration of the program (program dates will be announced prior to the deadline for accepting the award, if offered).
• If taking prescription medications, be able to maintain proper dosage without assistance from instructors or others (except in emergency situations).
• Perform necessary self-care, including maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration, dressing appropriately for environmental conditions, maintaining personal hygiene, and managing known medical conditions.
• Comprehend and follow detailed instructions on travel, risk management, personal care, hazard avoidance, and other topics.
• With reasonable accommodations, be able to navigate transportation independently between program-provided housing and the institute site, a maximum of approximately one hour each way.
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment. No inappropriate verbal or physical behavior toward others, either in person or online, is tolerated for any reason.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns on an individual and group level.

Note that some program dates may overlap with the spring or fall academic term at your institution, and it may be necessary to work with your institution to accommodate the program dates.

Program Benefits

Participants in the CLS Program will receive: 

• Language instruction and cultural programming; 
• Textbooks and language learning materials; 
• Language gains certified using the widely recognized ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) assessment;
• Non-competitive eligibility for U.S. government employment for up to three years after program completion; 
• Academic credit issued through Bryn Mawr College
• International and domestic travel between the student's home city in the U.S. and the CLS Program site abroad; 
• Visa application fees, where applicable; and 
• Room, board, and program-sponsored travel within the host country or location.

Other expenses, such as, but not limited to, will not be covered:

• U.S. passport fees (except for students who are eligible and apply for CLS Passport Assistance);
• Cost of medical exams and any follow-up visits necessary to pass the medical review process, as determined by the CLS Program; and 
• Cost of immunizations required for entry, as well as costs for travel health clinical appointments.