Imagine spending your summer abroad — not as a tourist, but as a cultural insider. Picture yourself speaking Arabic in Amman, mastering Korean in Seoul, or navigating Tokyo in fluent Japanese — all while earning a full year’s worth of college language credit. That’s the reality waiting for students who secure a place in the 2026 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, one of the most competitive and fully funded opportunities offered by the U.S. Department of State.
What is Scholarship is All About?
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the CLS Program continues to redefine what it means to learn a language. Each year, it sends hundreds of motivated U.S. university and college students abroad for an intensive eight-week summer immersion. In just two months, participants achieve the equivalent of a year of university-level language learning — but this isn’t just about textbooks and classrooms. It’s about living the language, breathing the culture, and coming home with global perspective and confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Everything Covered by this CLS Scholarship
This is more than a scholarship — it’s a fully funded experience. Selected students will have round-trip travel, accommodation, meals, tuition, and cultural excursions completely paid for. A living stipend ensures every participant can focus on learning, not logistics. The program grants academic credit through Bryn Mawr College, adding real value to your degree while opening doors to global careers.
You’ll choose from nine critical languages — Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, or Swahili — and study at one of four levels, from beginner to advanced. Whether your goal is diplomacy, tech, medicine, or entrepreneurship, this scholarship can give you the global edge every future leader needs.
Who’s Eligible to Apply?
If you’re a U.S. citizen or national, at least 18 years old by May 15, 2026, and currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. institution, you’re eligible. The CLS Program welcomes students from all academic backgrounds — from STEM to social sciences, law, arts, and beyond. No prior language study is required for most languages, so your curiosity and motivation matter most.
The last date to apply for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program 2026 is Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.