David L. Boren Awards for International Study

What should a graduate proposal look like?  Boren Fellowship applicants have a broad range of choices when designing their program of study … 

The Boren Fellowship enables U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education, or to pursue specialization in area and language studies. Boren Fellowship applicants design their own programs, which should complement their own academic needs and interests. 

Boren Fellows spend up to 12 months overseas.  A Boren Fellowship proposal may include one or more of the following elements:

1. Pure language study: An applicant may propose to conduct a course of language study, domestically and/or overseas. If an applicant proposes to use the Fellowship by concentrating on language, he or she must clearly articulate how the knowledge of the proposed language is critical for his or her academic and professional pursuits.

2. Other classroom study: Applicants may propose a course of classroom study in area or cultural studies relating to the language and/or region of their interest. If an applicant proposes to use the Fellowship by concentrating on cultural training and/or courses, he or she must clearly articulate how the knowledge of the proposed culture is critical for his or her academic and professional pursuits.

3. Research: Fellows can conduct research to be used for a PhD dissertation; a pre-dissertation/feasibility study; a master’s thesis; or a graduate level research paper.  The proposed research must be closely linked to a Fellow’s academic studies and interests.  While the research is conducted independently, all Fellows must have a host country affiliation before arriving in country.

4. An academic internship: Fellows can do an internship with a local organization overseas.  This internship cannot be paid, and must be integrally linked with the Fellow’s academic studies.

5. Any combination of the above.

Boren Fellowships can include a domestic component for the study of language and areas studies that complement the overseas proposed program.  Most frequently, Boren Fellows will use the domestic funding for language training prior to going overseas, or maintaining proficiency after returning.  At no time can the domestic funding be used for required degree coursework.  Domestic support costs cannot exceed overseas costs.

Applicants must make a clear link of their activities to issues of national security, broadly defined.  All programs must include a component to develop, maintain, or advance language proficiency. Please note that to be eligible for a Boren award, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, enrolled in, or applying to, a graduate program at a U.S. university located in the United States. Award recipients may not graduate prior to completion of the Boren Fellowship.

 

Please read the section on our website about what makes a competitive application before you begin your process.  In order to ensure a project’s feasibility, it is very important for applicants to talk with their academic advisors and professors when developing their proposals.  All applicants should feel free to contact the Boren Awards office at boren@iie.org or 1-800-618-NSEP with any questions.