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The Boren Scholarship provides funding for undergraduate students to obtain long-term linguistic and cultural immersion abroad. The scholarship provides up to $25,000 in funding to study abroad in areas of the world that are both critical to U.S. interests and are underrepresented in study abroad programs, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Upon completion of the Boren Fellowship, you are obligated to work for the federal government in some capacity for 1 year after graduation.
Scholarship Amount
$8,000-$25,000, depending on programAnnual Number of Scholarships Awarded
- ~200 per year
- Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
- Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
- Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
- Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
- Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
Eligibility
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be matriculated in an undergraduate program at the time of application and remain matriculated in an undergraduate program for the duration of the scholarship
- You may not graduate until the scholarship is complete
- Proposed program must be at least 12 weeks
- STEM undergraduate students may propose summer programs of 8 weeks or longer
- Proposed programs of 2 or more semesters are strongly encouraged
- Preference is given to applicants proposing overseas programs of at least 25 weeks
Selection Criteria
- Academic excellence to succeed abroad
- Clear and compelling explanation of relevance of your country, language, field of study, and overseas study to U.S. national security
- Demonstrated commitment to language study before, during, and after overseas study
- Proposed study plan in a country and language or field of study preferred by the Boren Scholarship
- If not on the preferred lists, make a compelling argument for funding on the basis of U.S. national security
- Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a longer-term commitment to government service
Application Material
- Boren Application
- Budget plan for time abroad, including travel to and from the U.S. to desired country
- National Security Essay
- Motivation and Public Service Careers Essay
- Language Self-Assessment
- Language Proficiency Evaluation (Optional)
- Study Plan Summary
- CV/Resume
- Transcripts
- 2-3 letters of recommendation
- University Endorsement
University Endorsement Process
University endorsement is a competitive process and not guaranteed. Students seeking University of Utah endorsement must submit certain application components by the University’s deadline.