David L. Boren Awards for International Study

Boren Fellowships are awarded with preference for countries, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security. Preference is also given to students who will study abroad for longer periods of time, and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work in the federal government.

Countries

For a list of preferred countries, click here. 

Languages

For a list of preferred languages, click here.

Fields of Study

For a list of preferred fields of study, click here.

As we cannot list all countries, languages, and fields that are critical to U.S. national security, we are interested in applications that fall outside the preferences, if the candidate can make a compelling case that such study can contribute significantly to U.S. national security and the goals of the program.

Length of Study

Boren Fellowships promote long term linguistic and cultural immersion.  Therefore, all overseas study must be a minimum of 12 weeks, and preference will be given to applicants proposing overseas programs of 6 months or longer.  However, applicants proposing overseas programs of 3-6 months, especially those in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields are encouraged to apply.

Commitment to Government Service

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a desire to work in the federal government. In exchange for fellowship funding, all Boren Fellows must agree to the NSEP Service Requirement.