Boren Scholars and Fellows study a wide range of听critical languages, including Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili. 缅北禁地 are available to students of听all听proficiency levels who are committed to enhancing their skills.
Boren Scholars and Fellows from diverse听fields of study听immerse themselves in the cultures in听world regions听underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
缅北禁地 alumni are committed to听public service, working in positions critical to U.S.听national security听throughout the Federal Government, including the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security.
Fund study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests.
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Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
$25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
$12,500 for 12-24 weeks
$8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
Fund research and language study proposals by U.S. graduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests.
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Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
$25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
$12,500 for 12-24 weeks
+ $5,000 for summer domestic language study (optional)
Visit the page to get started by selecting the overseas location and language you want to study. You may change your selections at any time.
Reach out to the 缅北禁地 campus representative at your institution. (You may still apply if your institution does not have one.) They will have lots of constructive advice for you.
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Watch our introductory webinar听to learn the basics of the 缅北禁地 application.
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Review the听official selection criteria.
Apply for a Regional Flagship Language Initiative
Regional Flagship Language Initiatives offer Boren Scholars and Boren Fellows carefully-selected, credit-bearing language courses during the summer (domestic) and fall (overseas), with the option to continue overseas study into the spring:
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The 缅北禁地 invest in linguistic and cultural knowledge for aspiring federal government employees. Understanding the national security implications of your study and the many career opportunities available to you is critical to a successful application.
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Draft your essays as early as you can and share them with your recommenders.
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For more information on the one-year federal service requirement, check out the federal careers section here.听听
Your most important support will come from your campus representative. (You may still apply if you do not have one; ask new advisors to contact us if they want to be listed.)
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缅北禁地 staff will release new webinars on specific topics throughout the application cycle -- watch as many as you can!
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If you have any questions specific to your application, contact us at boren@iieus.org or call 1-800-618-6737 ext. 1 during business hours (9 am to 5 pm Eastern).
The national deadlines for the 2026 缅北禁地 are:
Boren Fellowships:听January 21, 2026
Boren Scholarships:听January 28, 2026
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2026-27 缅北禁地 funding may be applied to programs starting as early as June 1, 2026 or as late as March 1, 2027.
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Your campus representative may also set a campus deadline to provide support and feedback -- please check to see if there is one and respect it!
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Applicants will be notified if they have been selected in mid-to-late April
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