The Language Flagship Fellowship Application Instructions

Proceed to the online application login.

  1. Click on User Registration. 
  2. Answer the citizenship question and click Proceed.  Only U.S. citizens may apply for the Flagship Fellowship.
  3. On the Applicant Registration page, complete all fields and click Save.  Your email address will be your User Name.

Instructions for Part I – Applicant Information

Part I includes eight separate tabs.  You can proceed through the tabs by clicking on Save & Continue, or you can skip around by clicking on the tabs themselves. 

  • Personal Information    

Please complete all of the required fields (indicated by asterisks).       

In the U.S. Citizenship Information section, indicate if you are a U.S. citizen. Only U.S. citizens may apply for the Flagship Fellowship.  If you are a U.S. citizen by naturalization, please complete all of the remaining fields in the section.      

In the Other Information section, indicate the state and the number of your congressional voting district.  This information can  be found at http://www.house.gov/.      

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

  • Program Information             

Please complete all of the required fields (indicated by asterisks).               

If you are currently enrolled in a stateside Flagship Graduate Program and applying for funding for the overseas phase, please select the program in which you are enrolled from the drop-down menu.              

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

  • Educational Background    

Please complete all of the required fields (indicated by asterisks). Provide the requested information for all institutions of higher education attended. If the institution attended is not listed, please enter the name in the second field of Question 1.  If you attended more than six institutions, please fill in the application with the most recent institutions attended, and provide transcripts for the remainder. Please mail a hard copy of any transcripts to the Institute of International Education so it is received by January 14, 2010.  Provide official, certified translations to English if appropriate.        

After each entry, click on Save.  To add a new entry, click on Add New Record.  When complete, click on Continue to proceed to the next tab.   

  • Employment history    

Completion of this section is not required for submission, but we encourage you to provide any relevant information.     

List up to five relevant positions, starting with the most recent. Please enter the requested information, including a brief description of your duties.        

After each entry, click on Save.  To add a new entry, click on Add New Record.  When complete, click on Continue to proceed to the next tab.    

  • Relevant Activities     

Completion of this section is not required for submission, but we encourage you to provide any relevant information.     

List up to four relevant activities, including volunteer and community service, starting with the most recent.  Please provide any relevant comments.     

After each entry, click on Save.  To add a new entry, click on Add New Record.  When complete, click on Continue to proceed to the next tab.                      

  • Previous Overseas Experience           

Completion of this section is not required for submission, but we encourage you to provide any relevant information.   

List up to eight countries visited.  For each country that you enter, you will be required to complete the fields for nature of visit, start date, and end date.      

After each entry, click on Save.  To add a new entry, click on Add New Record.  When complete, click on Continue to proceed to the next tab.   

  • Honors and Awards           

Completion of this section is not required for submission, but we encourage you to provide any relevant information. 

List the names and dates for up to five relevant honors and awards.              

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

  • Other Information    

Please complete all of the required fields (indicated by asterisks).     

Questions 3-5 are only required if you were a recipient of any previous National Security Education Program awards.     

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab.  

Instructions for Part II – Program Proposal

Part II includes two tabs.  You can proceed through the tabs by clicking on Save & Continue, or by clicking on the tabs themselves. 

  • Government Agencies & Offices    

Please complete the required field (indicated by an asterisk).  Although only the first field is required, we encourage you to provide as much information as possible.     

Indicate the departments and agencies of the U.S. federal government in which you would like to be employed. Be as specific as possible by including offices and/or types of positions. Completion of this section does not imply that an applicant has adequately addressed a strong commitment and motivation to work in the federal government in an area related to national security; this discussion should be incorporated into your essay.     

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab.    

  • Essay Questions       

The essay is required for application submission.     

Please prepare an essay that addresses all of the questions listed.  The essay should not exceed 1000 words.  It is recommended that you compose and save your essay in a word processing program. Cut and paste the statement into the text box of the online application.      

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

Instructions for Part III – Language Proficiency Evaluation

Part III includes four tabs.  You can proceed through the tabs by clicking on Save & Continue, or by clicking on the tabs themselves. 

  • Language Self Assessment

Please complete all of the required fields (indicated by asterisks).     

Assess your language ability for the language you plan to study during the IIE Flagship Fellowship in listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production, and writing.  Please see the Language Self-Assessment Guide before completing this section.                    

Assess your ability in any other languages you have studied or you speak. You may assess up to three more languages, if applicable.  If English is not your native language; please assess it in this section.                     

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

  • In-Country Language Learning    

An important component of your language study is the time you have already devoted to both language and cultural learning in the country or region where the language is spoken.     

Please complete the fields for your Flagship target language as appropriate.  For any category in which you have no experience, please select None from the drop-down menu.  You may provide information for up to three more languages, if applicable.       

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab. 

  • Domestic Language Learning    

Important components of your language study are your formal learning experiences and your opportunities to use this language.     

Please complete the fields for your Flagship target language with information about formal learning and language utilization.  For any category in which you have no experience, please select None from the drop-down menu.  You may enter information for up to three more languages, if applicable.       

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab.   

  • Certificates and Diplomas    

Completion of this section is not required for submission.     

While not required, please provide any evidence of achievement and competency in the proposed language of study. You should include testing results from ACTFL or an ACTFL-certified tester, Foreign Service Institute, Defense Language Institute, or any other relevant evidence that would reflect your accomplishments. Provide official, certified translations into English if appropriate.  Please mail a hard copy of any certifications to the Institute of International Education so it is received by January 14, 2010.  

Click on Save & Continue to proceed to the next tab.    

Instructions for Part IV – Reference Form

This form is required for your application to be complete by the application deadline.  However, you can submit your online application before this is completed.  You can go back and check the status of your references after you have submitted your application. 
  • Online Reference Form    

The Flagship Fellowship Application requires that three references be submitted by the application deadline. Only three (3) letters of recommendation will be accepted. Additional letters will be discarded at random. If you are currently enrolled in a Graduate Flagship Program, note that only one (1) letter of reference may be submitted from a Flagship Program staff or faculty member.

All references should be entered and submitted online. Remember to contact your three referees before entering them into the online system. 

Please inform your referee if you will be deleting them as a reference. If a referee is deleted, they will no longer be able to access the appropriate website. You will not be permitted to delete a referee if their letter of reference has been submitted. You will not be able to delete referees more than 5 times. 

  1.  From the online application, proceed to Reference Form.
  2. Click on Add New Reference.
  3. Complete Reference Information and click on Save Reference.
  4. Repeat these steps for your other two referees.
  5.  Select the referees’ names and click on Send Referee Auto-generated Email. The referee will then get an email from IIE with directions for completing the online reference.                     
  6.  You can check your reference list to see if the referees have completed their references. Referee information may be edited any time before the reference has been submitted.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all references are submitted by the application due date.  The following is a list of important status codes.

Saved – Biographical information about your referee has been entered. Your referee is not yet able to login to the system.

Emailed – An auto-generated email has been sent to your referee. Your referee can now login to the system. Contact your referee directly to ask if he or she has received the email. If he or she has not, please ask them to check their junk folder, and double-check that their email address has been entered correctly. You can resend the auto generated email to your referee by clicking on Send Referee Auto-generated Email.

In Progress – Your referee has viewed and saved a letter of reference, but has not submitted it. If this is still the case as the application deadline approaches, please contact your referee.

Submitted – Your referee has submitted the letter of reference.

If you or your referees have any problems with the online reference forms, contact us at flagship@iie.org before the application deadline. Please also contact us if you have any other questions about the Flagship Fellowship application.  

Submit Application

  1. Before submitting the application, click on Preview.  Read through your application and ensure that there are no errors. 
  2. Proceed to Submit Application.
  3. Read the agreement, and click on Submit Application.
  4. If any mandatory fields are missing, you must complete them before the application can be submitted.
  5. Remember that all supplementary materials (see below) must arrive at the following address by January 14, 2010.  In addition, three online references must also be submitted by that date. Materials sent by email or fax will not be accepted.   

NSEP – The Language Flagship Fellowships
Institute of International Education
1400 K Street NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005  

Completed Application Checklist

  1. Completed online application including three online references. 
  2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.  Provide official, certified translations into English if appropriate.  
  3. While not required, you may include testing results from ACTFL, Foreign Service Institute, Defense Language Institute, or any other relevant evidence that would reflect your accomplishments.  Provide official, certified translations into English if appropriate.  Mail a hard copy of any certifications to the Institute of International Education so it is received by January 14, 2010.    

Be sure to complete a separate application for admission to the Flagship Program(s) of interest by the deadline(s) set by the corresponding Flagship Institution(s).