Specific grants and scholarships for foreign language study
On campus | At the library | Local organizations | Federal and State Financial Aid | Free online scholarship databases
Grants for Foreign Language Study | Study Abroad Scholarships
Grants & Fellowships for Graduate & Post-Graduate Foreign Language Study
As we mention in our article "Finding money for foreign language study 101", the best place to start looking for language-specific scholarships and grants is locally -- on your home campus or in your community. This is where you will have the best chances of getting free money to support your language studies.
Below are various national and international scholarship and grant contests for students of foreign languages. Just remember, however, that the wider you cast your net in search of scholarships, the larger the applicant pool will be. These are grants to support your language study at your home institution. Because there are many more available scholarships for study abroad, we have listed those on a separate page.
Top | On campus | At the library | Local organizations | Federal & state aid | Free online scholarship databases
Grants for language study | Study abroad scholarships | Graduate and post-graduate fellowships
Grants and scholarships for general language study
Phi
Sigma Iota Scholarships: The national foreign language honor
society Phi Sigma Iota offers 8 different scholarships each year.
Applicants must be nominated by the faculty advisor of a local chapter
of the honor society.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: $300-$1000
CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program: Not only foreign
language majors may apply, but foreign languages are one of the
example areas presented in the scholarship description. Recipients
receive and annual salary, benefits package, fees and tuition of
up to $18,000 / year, and expenses for books and supplies. In return,
grantees work at a CIA facility during summer breaks with transportation
costs to and from facilities paid and an additional summer housing
allowance. Recipients also agree to continue working for the CIA
after graduation for 1.5 times the length of the scholarship period.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: varies
Top | On campus | At the library | Local organizations | Federal & state aid | Free online scholarship databases
Grants for language study | Study abroad scholarships | Graduate and postgraduate fellowships
Grants and scholarships for specific languages
As already mentioned above, these types of scholarships tend to be local- and community-based initiatives. If you have a particular ethnic heritage, you may also be eligible for additional scholarships that are heritage based. See our instructions for finding local scholarship opportunities. Or go to our page on scholarships and grants for study abroad if you need financial assistance to fund a stay abroad.
A.
Doak Barnett Memorial Essay Contest: Awards for US and Chinese
graduate students or post-graduates for 1500-word essays dealing
with topics related to US-China relations.
Level: graduate / Award amount: $1000
National
Italian American Foundation Scholarship Program: Awards
Italian American students or those students majoring or minoring
in Italian language or a related field scholarships toward tuition
and room and board at an accredited US college or university.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: $2,500-$10,000
Top | On campus | At the library | Local organizations | Federal & state aid | Free online scholarship databases
Grants for language study | Study abroad scholarships | Graduate and postgraduate fellowships
Grants and scholarships for any major
These are some college scholarships that are not limited to any particular major; hence, students studying foreign language majors are also eligible to apply. For the most part, these scholarships are very easy to apply for. Several have short online applications. Just taking the time to do so could help put you through college for free.
A
Better Earth Essay Contest: Environmental essay contest
on a topic that addresses one of the issues posted at the contest
website.
Level: undergraduate or graduate / Award amount: $750 - 2500
ACLU
FreedomWire Contest: Applicants between the ages of 17 and
29 must either produce a public service announcement or write an
essay on specified civil liberties issues. Awards will be made based
on effectiveness and originality, as well as production techniques
for the PSA and writing style for the essay.
Level: any / Award amount: $1000 - $5000
Akademos
/ TextbookX.com Scholarship Essay Contest: Any student enrolled
in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in the United
States is eligible to participate. Students write short essays on
a given topic that changes each semester as each new scholarship
contest begins.
Level: graduate or undergraduate / Award amount: $250-$2000
All-Ink
College Scholarship Program: Essay-writing contest, including
2 brief essays. Online application.
Level: undergraduate / graduate
A.
Patrick Charnon Memorial Scholarship: Recipients must be
admitted or enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program of study
in an accredited four-year college or university in the United States.
They must maintain good academic standing and make progress toward
a degree. The selection committee looks for candidates who value
tolerance, compassion and respect for all people in their communities,
and who have demonstrated their commitments to these values by their
actions.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: $1500
A
World Connected Essay Contest: Offers grants via essay-writing
contests on a topic that changes each year. Candidates must be under
25, and essays written between 600 and 2500 words.
Level: high school, undergraduate, or graduate / Award amount: $750
- $2000
Ayn
Rand Essay Contest: Applicants read a novel by Ayn Rand
and write an essay in response to a given related topic. Essays
must be between 1,000 and 1,200 words.
Level: undergraduate / graduate $50-$5000
The
Charles Shafae Scholarship / Papercheck Essay Contest: Applicants
address a list of questions pertaining to a particular issue in
an essay of 1000 words or more. Easy online application.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: $500
College-Computers.net
Scholarship: Essay contest on a technology-related topic.
Easy, online application
Level: vocational / undergraduate / graduate / Award amount: $1000
Dale
E. Fridell Memorial Scholarship: Easy, online application
including responses to two brief essays.
Level: vocational / undergraduate / graduate / Award amount: $1000
Elder
& Leemaur Publishers University Writing Scholarship:
Essay contest. Essays of up to 500 words on one of four topics.
Easy online application.
Level: undergraduate / up to $10,000 awarded
Flipnut
Innovations General Education Scholarship: Essay-writing
contest. Easy online application. Awards four times per year.
Level: undergraduates / graduates / Award amount: $500
Goetz
Higher Education Scholarship: Awards are based on financial
need and academic merit. Awardees show commitment to achieving educational
goals.
Level: undergraduate / Award amount: $1000 - $2500 annually
The
Institute for Humane Studies Grants & Competitions:
Offers grants via essay contests that engage students in writing
about liberty and related issues.
Level: undergraduate or graduate / Award amount: $5000
