David L. Boren Awards for International Study

The Boren Scholarship provides funding for undergraduate students to study abroad and, in the application, students must identify a primary and an alternate program.  If you are an undergraduate student applying for the Boren Scholarship, you should select a study abroad program that includes significant language study while also considering the Boren program preferences and your own personal, academic, and professional goals.

The Boren Scholarship can be used to fund many different types of programs since not all study abroad programs are right for every student.  Think carefully about your needs and goals.  Consider the following questions when selecting the program that is right for you:

• What language would you like to study?  Are you at a beginning, intermediate or advanced level?
• What countries or regions spark your interest?
• What is your major/minor? What subject areas do you want to study while abroad?
• How long do you want to study abroad?
• Would you like to participate in a program that caters to study abroad students or would you prefer to enroll directly in a university overseas?
• Are you interested in programs that include volunteering, internships, or experiential learning?
• Would you like to live with a host family or would you prefer living in a dorm or an apartment?
• What level of on-site support do you want/need?    

After you have done some reflection on what type of program you are looking for, you will be better prepared to sort through the many opportunities available.  Your best on-campus resource is your Boren campus representative and/or your campus study abroad or international programs office.  When you meet with the Boren campus representative and/or study abroad advisor to select a study abroad program, you may want to ask some of these questions:

• What are the programs that my institution offers?
• Are there opportunities offered by other universities, consortia, or private organizations?
• Do these programs have a course of language study?
• Which programs offer the appropriate level of language instruction for my ability?
• Which programs offer academic year options? Which offer semester options?
• How can I find out what courses are offered and if they will apply to my major or undergraduate requirements?
• What programs, if any, does this study abroad office specifically recommend (in terms of academic quality and student support)? 

If your institution does not offer programs in your country of interest, you should find out what the process is to allow you to study in that particular country.  If you and your campus representative need help identifying study abroad programs, you may want to look at online resources such as IIE Passport, an online study abroad directory with more than 7,000 study abroad programs worldwide.  You may also contact Boren Scholarship Staff at IIE.  Keep in mind that undergraduate Boren Scholars may not study in a country with a State Department travel warning without an official endorsement from their home institution.  

If you have any questions about finding a program, or if your preferred program does not appear on the application, email boren@iie.org.  Please note that you don’t have to be officially accepted into a study abroad program before applying to the Boren Scholarship, but you should have already selected both a primary and alternate program at the time of application.