About the Scholarship
Boren Scholarships fund study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests such as Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Boren Scholarships require rigorous language study and the majority of awardees spend a full academic year overseas. Applicants must be matriculated in a U.S. college or university upon application and throughout the Boren Scholarship. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholarship recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
- Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
- Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
- Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
Requirements
Basic Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of the national application deadline
- A high school graduate, or have earned a GED
- At least 18 years of age or older at the time of the national application deadline
- Planning an overseas program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
- Planning to study in a country of which they are not a citizen
- Matriculated for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program in an undergraduate or graduate degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
- (For ROTC cadets and midshipmen and members of the military Reserves or National Guard) In inactive, non-drilling status for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program
In addition to these basic eligibility criteria, the Boren Awards give preference to programs based on their duration, focus on intensive study of a preferred language in a preferred country, and the applicant’s field of study.
Selection Criteria
Current matriculated USC undergraduate students who demonstrate the following traits are invited to participate in the Boren campus evaluation process. Successful applicants must demonstrate the following traits:
- Commitment to working in the federal government. Scholarship recipients must fulfill a one-year service requirement after graduation. Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a longer term commitment to government service.
- Focus on national security, broadly defined. Applicant offers clear and compelling explanation of the relevance of his or her country, language, field of study, and overseas study to U.S. national security.
- Commitment to language study. Applicant demonstrates a serious commitment to language study, before, during, and after his or her overseas study, with realistic expectations for the proficiency level that can be obtained abroad.
- Length of study abroad program. Preference is granted to students who will study abroad for longer periods of time. If applicant cannot study abroad for at least 6 months, they must provide a compelling case for shorter study abroad period.
- Appropriate academic preparation, cultural adaptability, flexibility and maturity.
Advising
Advising Period: Mid-October – Mid-December
Contact: Katie Capra, kcalvert@usc.edu