Master's of Professional Studies (MPS) in Persian
Boren Fellowship applicants have a new opportunity to pursue a Master’s of Professional Studies (MPS) in Persian at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), part of the Language Flagship Program in Maryland. The Persian MPS program, funded by the Defense Language and National Security Education Program within the U.S. Department of DefenseÌýis open to U.S. graduate students with previous study of Persian who can demonstrate advanced level proficiencyÌýin Persian. The MPS program offers the unique opportunity for intensive, immersive language study designed for graduate students with professional level Proficiency in Persian, preparing them to pursue their career of choice. (IIE, please make this parallel to the Flagship section version).
All applicants, including current Persian Flagship students, must concurrently apply for a Boren Fellowship and to the UMD MPS in Persian.
Applicants should review the University of Maryland’s Persian MPS () for important details including the UMD graduate program eligibility requirements, curriculum and instruction, living in College Park, and the link with instructions on how to apply for the program through UMD.
Program Name :ÌýUniversity of Maryland in College Park, MD
Program Dates:ÌýFall 2026 – Spring 2027 (dates to be confirmed)
Language:ÌýMPS provides rigorous proficiency-oriented language instruction designed to allow advanced speakers of Persian to attain Professional Level Proficiency in Persian. The instruction model provides students with opportunities to practice Persian in academic, professional, and social settings.
The 30-credit program is designed as a one-year master’s degree, with students taking 15 credits each semester.Ìý
Ãå±±½ûµØ: Applicants must meet all criteria for the Boren Fellowship and AND all eligibility criteria for the University of Maryland (UMD) Persian MPS program, including:
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited university by the Fall they plan to begin the program with at least a 3.0Ìý grade point average.Ìý
- Advanced proficiency (Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) 2 in speaking, reading, and listening) or greater is required for admission to the MPS Persian program and will be verified through testing.
- Applicants should reference the to self-assess.
- Applicants who do not meet the required proficiency but test at an Intermediate High (ILR 1+) may still qualify by attending UMD’s Persian Summer Language Institute in Summer 2026 with the goal of reaching an ILR 2 / Advanced proficiency ahead of the fall 2026 semester.
Costs: The following cost categories are eligible for Boren funding during the duration of the MPS Persian program:
- Tuition and fees
- Books and materials
- Housing
- Meals
- Round-trip travel costs to University of Maryland if applicableÌý
Boren Fellows should understand that budget estimates reflect average costs for study at UMD. Costs such as housing, meals, and transportation will vary based on individual choices. Participants in the MPS Persian program should budget carefully, taking into account fixed costs (e.g. tuition and fees) and plan for other costs that vary based on choice (e.g. housing and meal costs).
Please note thatÌýcertain costs areÌýnotÌýeligible to be coveredÌýby the Ãå±±½ûµØ: expenses related to dependents;Ìýand personal travel and entertainment expenses. Boren will not cover personal domestic expenses such as credit card, college loans or car payments.Ìý