Boren Scholarships for American Undergraduate Students

Overview

Boren Scholarships provide American undergraduate students with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experiences in areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation, in exchange for their commitment to seek work in the federal government.

Award Amounts

Maximum scholarship awards are:

• $8,000 for a summer program (special initiative for STEM students only; 8 weeks minimum)
• $10,000 for a semester
• $20,000 for a full academic year

Length of Study

Boren Scholarships promote long term linguistic and cultural immersion, and therefore study abroad proposals for two or more semesters are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to undergraduate applicants proposing a full-year academic study. Boren-funded programs can begin no earlier than June 1.

Summer-only programs must be eight (8) weeks or more and are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students. To learn more about this special STEM initiative, click here.

National Security

The program focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. It draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including: sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness. All applicants must demonstrate how their study programs and future goals are connected to this broad understanding of national security.

Program Preferences

Boren Scholarships are awarded with preference for countries, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security. Preference is also given to students who will study abroad for longer periods of time, and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work in the federal government.

As we cannot list all countries, languages, and fields that are critical to U.S. national security, we are interested in applications that fall outside the preferences, if the candidate can make a compelling case that such study can contribute significantly to U.S. national security and the goals of the program.

For more information about what makes a competitive application, click here

Eligibility

Boren Scholarship Eligibility

Boren Scholarships are for undergraduate students. You are eligible to apply for the Boren Scholarship if you are:

• A U.S. citizen at the time of application.
• A high school graduate, or have earned a GED, and are matriculated in an undergraduate degree program in a U.S. post-secondary institution, including universities, colleges and community colleges accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applying to engage in a study abroad experience in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand that meets home institution standards.
• Planning to use the scholarship for study abroad, and the study abroad program ends before you graduate. Boren Scholarships are not for study in the United States.

For more information on the Boren Scholarships, click here.

Boren Fellowship Eligibility

Boren Fellowships are for graduate students. You are eligible to apply for a Boren Fellowship if you are:

• A U.S. citizen at the time of application.
  
• Either enrolled in or applying to a graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college or university located within the United States. To receive the award you must provide evidence of admission and enrollment in such a program. Boren Fellows must remain enrolled in their graduate programs for the duration of the fellowship.

For more information on the Boren Fellowships, click here

How to apply

The Boren Scholarships’ national application deadline for 2011-12 has passed. The application deadline for 2012-13 is February 9, 2012.

Application Checklist

1. Contact your Boren campus representative for your on-campus deadline. Continue to work with your campus representative during the application process.
2. Submit the Boren Scholarship application, which includes the items listed below. Before starting the online application, remember to read the application instructions.
   1. a study abroad program section
   2. a budget section
   3. two statements of purpose
3. Submit the following supplementary materials to your campus representative. If you do not have a campus representative, you may send them directly to IIE.
   1. Completed letters of reference. Letters of reference must be signed, original letters in an envelope with the signature across the seal, when they are submitted to your campus representative or IIE. Two letters are required, and you may include a third optional letter. Click here for advice about getting strong letters of reference.
   2. Official, hard copy, transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Freshmen must also include high school transcripts.
   3. Language self-assessment - Complete this form using the Language self-assessment guide.
   4. Language proficiency form (optional)
   5. Choose one of the following:
      1. One page study abroad program description with cost information. (This may be a page from the program’s website or a photocopy of part of the program brochure.)
      2. If you set up a direct enrollment or individually arranged study abroad program, please provide two letters of support. The first letter should be from your home institution and the second letter should be from your overseas host institution.

The online application must be submitted, and the supplementary materials should be given to your Boren campus representative, by your on-campus deadline. If you do not have a campus representative, the online application must be submitted, and all original supplementary materials must arrive at the following address, by the application deadline. IIE cannot confirm receipt of materials, so campus representatives and applicants should send materials using a traceable method to ensure delivery.

Boren Scholarships
Institute of International Education
1400 K Street NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-618-6737
boren@iie.org

http://www.borenawards.org/


Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship

Other Recommended Scholarships

Join us and fill in the form below with your email address to get free scholarship information:

Privacy Guarantee: we will not share your personal information with anyone.