The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
The application for the summer 2022 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program will close in just under two weeks on Tuesday, November 16 at 8:00pm Eastern Time. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students to apply now to learn a critical foreign language next summer on a fully-funded study abroad program.
The application is now live and available online at: https://www.clscholarship.org/apply
The CLS Program, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. Most languages offered by the CLS Program (9 of 15) do not require applicants to have any experience studying critical languages.
We have hosted a number of information sessions and alumni panels this fall, including sessions specific to our 15 separate language programs and a session for beginners who may not know where to begin when selecting a language for their application. Recordings of these webinars are available here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc6m86vaPU3ajuH8dVPacok5ZwlmZjv2F
We have a limited number of upcoming live information and Q&A sessions: https://clscholarship.org/events
Our Azerbaijani, Bangla, Hindi, Indonesian, Persian, Punjabi, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu programs are open to absolute beginners with no previous language experience!
CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.
Getting Help With Your Application – Critical Language Scholarship 2022 (CLS)
The CLS Program maintains a list of faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities nationwide who have volunteered to assist students with the CLS application process. If you do not have a designated CLS representative at your university, we recommend you contact your university’s study abroad, fellowship office, career services office, or writing center. Note that CLS applicants are not required to obtain support from their home institution to apply for the scholarship, but we strongly recommend that you take advantage of the resources available on your campus.
Also be sure to watch the official CLS Application Tips video above, which is designed to help you write focused, effective essays that speak to the selection criteria for the CLS Program. We recommend this video for every student applying to the CLS Program.
We appreciate your consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions.