Fellowships for graduate and post-graduate language study
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Grants for Foreign Language Study | Study Abroad Scholarships
Grants & Fellowships for Graduate & Postgraduate Foreign Language Study
Below you will find several excellent fellowship and scholarship opportunities to support graduate study in a foreign country, to encourage advanced-level participation in cultural exchanges, and to promote research on topic related to area studies. In addition to those listed below, many individual graduate programs offer stipends and fellowships for foreign research. There are many more opportunities for graduate students. If you are searching for grad schools, you might also consider what scholarship opportunities are also available for students.
Apart from these opportunities, you should check with the government of the country where you would like to do research -- Contact either an embassy or consular office or the country's department of education. Many countries would like to attract international students in a variety of fields to do research in their country and offer financial assistance to make it a more attractive and feasible option.
Because the intention of our pages is to present undergraduate and graduate students with ways to finance their foreign language study, we generally have not included foreign opportunities for professional development. Check with professional associations in your career field for field-specific support for the pursuit of foreign languages.
Graduate fellowships for the study of various languages
Fulbright
Full Grants: For graduates with a 4-year degree who intend
to study in a qualified foreign country, not including study abroad
programs hosted by U.S. universities. Provides round-trip transportation
costs, tuition, living expenses, book and research allowances, language
or orientation courses, health and accident insurance. Applicant
must hold BA or the equivalent at time grant begins.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: varies
The Language Flagship Fellowships: Provides full financial support to U.S. citizens to participate in one of the Flagship Programs in Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, and Persian. The first year is spent at a U.S. Flagship institution, the second in an immersion program overseas.
Level: graduate / Award amount: tuition and living expenses for up to 2 years
Rotary
Ambassadorial Scholarships: The Rotary Club offers 3 different
types of scholarship: Academic Year Ambassadorial Scholarships for
1 year of study abroad, Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships for
2 years of degree-oriented study abroad, and Cultural Ambassadorial
Scholarships for 3 or 6 months of language study and cultural immersion
abroad. Applicants must be a citizen of a country that has Rotary
Clubs and must have completed at least 2 years of college-level
coursework or equivalent professional experience before commencing
their scholarship studies.
Level: any / Award amount: $13,000 - $25,000
Thomas
J. Watson Fellowships
One-year grant to support independent travel and study outside the
US to work on a project that is creative, feasible, and personally
significant. Awarded to graduating seniors from participating
institutions. US citizens and foreign nationals studying at
US institutions may apply.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: varies
Fulbright
English Teaching Assistantships (ETAs): Selected participants
work for one academic year in a school or university in a foreign
country in Europe, Asia, or South America, assisting in the teaching
of English language and American culture. Participants are integrated
into the life of the host country. Program details differ from country
to country, but participants receive a stipend, paid round-trip
airfare, and other benefits. Applicants must have B.A. at time the
award year begins. Graduate students are welcome to apply.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: varies
Fascell
Fellowship Program: One- or two-year fellowships for graduates
of programs focused on Eastern European, Slavic, or Mandarin Languages
to work in support of a diplomatic or consular mission in Eastern
Europe, the former Soviet Union, or China. Duties include administrative,
consular, political, economic or public diplomacy responsibilities.
Fellowships include housing, travel, and transportation costs.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: varies
National
Security Education Program David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships:
Enables US graduate students to add an important international and
language component to their education through specialization in
area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren
Fellowships support students pursuing the study of languages, cultures,
and world regions that are critical to US national security but
are less frequently studied by US graduate students (i.e., areas
of the world other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand), and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work
in the federal government.
Level: graduate / Award amount: $10,000 - $28,000
Alfa
Fellowship Program: Year-long fellowship enables young US
professionals ages 23 to 35, with at least 2 years relevant work
experience in business, economics, journalism, law, public policy,
or government, and holding a graduate degree to participate in intensive
language instruction and a professional assignment in Russia.
Level: holding graduate degree or equivalent experience / Award
amount: varies
American
Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship: Scholarships to support
well-defined research projects requiring a stay in Denmark, Sweden,
Finland, Norway, or Iceland.
Level: graduate / Award amount: $4000 grants / $20,000 fellowships
Fulbright
Travel Grants: To pay round trip travel expenses to study
abroad programs in Germany, Hungary, Italy in cases where the cost
of travel is not covered by the program fees.
Level: all / Award amount: varies
East
Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes: The East Asia and Pacific
Summer Institutes (EAPSI) provide US graduate students in science
and engineering first-hand research experience in Australia, China,
Japan, Korea, or Taiwan, an introduction to the science and science
policy infrastructure of the respective location, and orientation
to the culture and language. Applicants must be enrolled in graduate
programs in science, engineering, or biomedical research or other
fields supported by the National Science Foundation.
Level: graduate / Award amount: $3000 plus round-trip international
travel
Blakemore
Freeman Fellowships For Advanced Asian Language Study: Available
to American citizens and permanent residents of the United States
who have a college degree and plan to use an Asian language in their
career. Fellowships are awarded to those pursuing an academic, professional
or business career that involves the regular use of a modern East
or Southeast Asian language and who are at an advanced level of
language study. Includes tuition and a stipend for living expenses.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: at least $20,000
Ford
Foundation International Fellowship Program: Provides support
for up to 3 years of formal graduate study leading to a graduate
degree at any institution in the world. Candidates must be residents
of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Russia. US nationals
are not eligible. Awards are made based on academic merit, leadership
potential, and commitment to community or national service. Candidates
must enroll in a program that is consistent with the goals of the
Ford Foundation; these include fields that strengthen democratic
values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation,
and advance human achievement.
Level: graduate, non-US citizens / Award amount: varies
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Grants for language study | Study abroad scholarships | Graduate and postgraduate fellowships
Graduate fellowships for the study of specific languages
Australia
American
Australian Association Education Fund: Financial awards for
US citizens or permanent residents wishing to study in Australia or
Australian nationals planning to study in the US to support research
or study at the PhD or post-doctoral level. US to Australia applicants
are accepted in the fields of life sciences, medicine, or mining.
Australia to US applications are accepted in the fields of business,
science, technology, medicine, or engineering. Round trip airfare
may also be included.
Level: graduate or post-doctoral / Award amount: varies
Chinese
Department
of Education Scholarship for Programs in China: Provides financial
assistance to students who are participating in the Chinese language
programs offered by the CIEE Centers at Peking University (Beijing),
East China Normal University (Shanghai), Nanjing University, and National
Chengchi University (Taipei). Based on merit, financial need, and
previous language experience.
Level: upperclassman undergrad or graduate / Award amount: $500 -
$8000 toward program fee
French
The
Walter J. Jensen Fellowship For French Language, Literature, and Culture
Awarded by the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa for at least
6 months of study in France. Candidates must be US citizens holding
a B.A. who can demonstrate that their career does or will involve
the active use of the French language. They must demonstrate superior
competence in French.
Level: post-undergraduate / Award amount: $10,000
Walter
Jensen Scholarship for Study Abroad: Awarded to a future teacher
of French to help pay for a semester or a year studying French abroad
in an accredited program in any Francophone country. Student must
be currently enrolled in an established teacher education program
in French and must be sponsored by a member of the American Association
of Teachers of French. Awards are based on financial need and can
be used to cover tuition, fees, travel, or housing costs.
Level: undergraduate or graduate / $1500
German
Congress
- Bundestag Youth Exchange Program: Scholarship program
that facilitates cultural exchange for American and German young
adults in the business, vocational, technical, and agricultural
fields. 75 Americans and 100 Germans are selected annually. 12-month
program includes support for intensive language instruction, university
classes, and a 5-month career-related internship. Funds round-trip
airfare, language study and university classes, living stipend
Level: any / Award amount: varies
Robert
Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program
Fellowship enables young American professionals ages 23 to 34, with
at least 2 years work experience, and holding or pursuing a graduate
degree in the field of business administration, economics, journalism,
mass communications, law, political science, or public affairs/public
policy, to participate in an intensive work and study program in
Germany.
Level: graduate / Award amount: varies
German
Academic Exchange Service (for US or Canadian students)
German
Academic Exchange Service (for students outside US
and Canada)
Offers 7 different types of scholarships, grants, and fellowships
for study and research in Germany. There are awards for undergraduate
students to post-doctoral scholars in every field imaginable. Ranges
from financial support for 3-week courses to full-year financial
support for an academic year abroad.
Level: any / Award amount: varies
Ireland
George
J. Mitchell Scholarships: Financial awards to support a
year of graduate study for American citizens at universities in
Ireland or Northern Ireland. Students must be enrolled in a degree
or certificate program offered at the institution. Provides tuition,
housing, plus a $12,000 living expenses stipend, and international
travel. Awardees selected based on academic merit, leadership, and
public service.
Level: graduate / Award amount: $12,000 plus tuition, housing, and
travel
Japanese
Japanese
Language Scholarship
Provides assistance for Japanese teachers or graduate students in
Japanese language education to spend time in Japan carrying out
a project of his/her choice. The project can be anything that would
enhance the quality of the grantee's teaching.
Level: graduate or teacher / Award amount: $3000 plus round trip
air fare
Korean
Fellowship
for Korean Language Teaching: [Click English in the top right corner, then Support for Korean Studies Overseas tab, and find this in the left menu under Fellowships.] 6-month fellowship to support
graduates majoring or minoring in Korea-related subjects, faculty
members and researcher engaged in teaching or research activities
at universities or research institutes, or professionals working
in a field related to Korea. Extensions of 3 to 6 months possible.
Includes tuition plus stipend.
Level: graduate and faculty / Award amount: 900,000 won - 1,100,000
won plus a one-time 300,000 won allowance upon arrival
Polish
Kosciuszko
Foundation Graduate Studies & Research in Poland Award
The grant from the Kosciuszko Foundation and the Polish Ministry
of Education and Sport supports US graduate students and university
faculty members in their research at universities in Poland. Includes
a stipend for housing and living expenses. Candidates are judged
on academic merit and motivation.
Level: graduate and faculty / Award amount: varies
