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 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. 

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 new applicants to the following Master’s degree granting Flagship Programs: University of Maryland Arabic Flagship Program, Indiana University Chinese Flagship Program, University of Hawaii Korean Flagship Program, and University of Maryland Persian Flagship Program.  

Flagship Fellowships are also offered to students who have completed their first year at a Flagship Master’s degree granting domestic program and are pursuing their second year of the program at a Flagship overseas institution.  Flagship Fellowships may be awarded for study at the following Flagship overseas institutions: Alexandria University, Nanjing University, Korea University, and Tajik State National University. (Note: The Arabic Overseas Flagship Program at Damascus University in Damascus, Syria is currently suspended.)

Flagship Fellowships provide support for academic expenses directly associated with participation in a Flagship Program, including tuition, a modest stipend for living expenses, 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.

Please note that the Flagship Fellowship is not intended to cover all costs one might encounter during the two year academic program.  The Fellow should be prepared to incur costs for such things as internet and phone service, relocation, entertainment, tax liabilities, and other personal expenses.

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.

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.   

The Arabic Overseas Flagship Program for graduate students at Damascus University in Damascus, Syria is currently suspended.    

During the 2011-12 academic year, graduate Flagship students will study at the Arabic Overseas Flagship Program at Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt.