Language Flagship: Creating Global Professionals

To apply for a Flagship Fellowship, one must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application, have minimum proficiency of Advanced Low (as defined by ACTFL) in a Flagship language (Arabic, Chinese, Korean, or Persian), and superior proficiency in English. 

To be awarded the Flagship Fellowship, one must complete their undergraduate degree by the beginning of the Flagship Fellowship funding period and respective Flagship Program start date, be enrolled in a Master’s degree granting Flagship Program, and not be employed by the U.S. government.   Additionally, award recipients must be willing to enter into the NSEP service agreement. 

In addition to the above requirements, all Flagship Fellowship applicants must concurrently prepare a separate application for admission to a designated graduate Flagship Program. The Flagship Program to which one has applied will test the language competencies of appropriate applicants as part of their admissions processes.  If you have questions regarding the Flagship Program’s application procedures, please contact the program directly.   

Beginning with the 2010-11 academic year, Flagship Fellowships can only be used to fund a Master’s degree granting Flagship Program. Flagship Fellows must remain enrolled in their graduate Flagship Program for the duration of their Fellowship funding period.   

Flagship Fellowships can be awarded to students studying for a degree at the following Master’s degree granting Flagship Programs: University of Maryland Arabic Flagship Program, Ohio State University Chinese Flagship Program, University of Hawaii Korean Flagship Program, and University of Maryland Persian Flagship Program.  

Flagship Fellowships provide support for academic expenses directly associated with participation in a Flagship Program, including tuition, a stipend for living expenses, and support for travel costs and health insurance coverage.  The stipend will be based on reasonable costs associated with the location of each Flagship Program.  Flagship Fellowship amounts will vary by individual depending upon composition and duration of the Flagship Program.  Fellowship awards cannot include additional support for dependents.  Flagship Fellowship award recipients are responsible for their own tax liabilities.   

Flagship Fellowship award recipients are expected to devote full-time effort to The Language Flagship program in which they are enrolled.  Therefore, Flagship Fellowship support may not be combined with other sources of funding that would require a Fellow to devote less than full-time effort to the Flagship Program curriculum. 

No.  The Language Flagship does not have funding available to support all admitted and worthy applicants of the graduate Flagship Programs.  We encourage Flagship Fellowship applicants to inquire with the Flagship Program as to whether other sources of funding are available.   

We encourage Flagship Fellowship applicants to also consider applying for the Boren Fellowship to support participation in the overseas component of the Flagship Program.  Please see www.borenawards.org for specific stipulations and eligibility requirements. 

The NSEP Service Requirement stipulates that an award recipient work in the Federal Government in a position with national security responsibilities.  The duration of the NSEP service requirement is equal to the duration of assistance provided under the program, in no case less than one year. It is expected that Flagship Fellowship applicants are interested in working for the government, and should they be awarded a Fellowship, will make a commitment to long term federal service. 

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the NSEP Service Agreement click here.

Flagship Fellowships are only awarded to students who are enrolled in Master’s degree-granting Flagship Programs, for the entirety of the program.  Thus, Flagship Fellowships cannot be awarded to applicants interested in foregoing the domestic portion of the program.   

U.S. graduate students who qualify for and are interested in participating only in the overseas portion of the Flagship Program may wish to consider the Boren Fellowship to support their Flagship overseas study.  Please see www.borenawards.org for more information and eligibility requirements. 

Flagship Fellowships are no longer available for Russian or Central Asian Turkic languages for the 2010 Flagship Fellowship application cycle.  

The post-baccalaureate Russian and Central Asian Turkic Overseas Flagship Programs do continue to operate, however.  We encourage interested applicants to consult the program administrator, American Councils for International Education, for more information about the program and special funding opportunities.   

U.S. graduate students are also encouraged to apply for Boren Fellowships to participate in the Russian or Central Asian Turkic Overseas Flagship Programs.

No. According to the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991, as amended, which established the NSEP: “No person who receives an award, scholarship or fellowship or any other type of assistance under the NSEP shall, as a condition of receiving such assistance or under any other circumstances, be used by any department, agency, or entity of the United States Government engaged in intelligence activities to undertake an activity on its behalf during the period such person is pursuing a program of education for which funds are provided under the program carried out under this title.”    

Therefore, government and military employees cannot maintain their employment status or a leave of absence status while receiving Flagship Fellowship funding. 

Flagship Fellowships can only be used for participation in the Master’s degree-granting Flagship Programs.  Please consult with the program staff of the undergraduate Flagship Programs for more information about undergraduate funding opportunities.  Please see http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/ for a listing of undergraduate Flagship Programs and contact information.   

Undergraduate Flagship students are encouraged to consider applying for the Boren Scholarship to support their overseas Flagship studies.  Please see www.borenawards.org for more information and eligibility requirements.