Offered by the National Security Education Program, the Boren Scholarship funds United States undergraduates to study less commonly taught languages in areas critical to US interests but underrepresented in most study-abroad programs, including Africa, Asian, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Ineligible travel locations are Western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Boren Scholars are comprised of highly motivated individuals who are willing to commit to working for the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
Deadline: January (Internal); January (External)
Value: Maximum of $25,000/academic year. There is a requirement to work for the federal government for one year after graduation. Recipients also receive special hiring authorities for federal jobs, access to the National Security Education Program service team who provide resume consulting, and a federal employment seminar.
Eligibility: U.S. citizenship; planning a study abroad experience in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand that meets home institution standards; must also study a foreign language in the country of study.
Major: Open, but languages are restricted ()
91制片厂 Supported Award: This means that the Fellowships Office offers information sessions/handouts and/or other programming to assist you with your application.
Nomination/Endorsement: Yes; Please contact the Office of National Fellowships.
Website:
Boren Undergraduate Scholarship Deadlines
- Internal Deadline: January 4, 2027
- National Deadline: January 27, 2027, 5pm EST
Boren Graduate Fellowship Deadlines
- Internal Deadline: January 4, 2027
- National Deadline: January 20, 2027, 5pm EST
Recommended Steps and Timeline
- To get started, contact the Office of National Fellowships at national.fellowships@unh.edu.
- By October 29: Research Federal Career opportunities; you can as well as on the .
- By November 5: Decide if you鈥檙e pursuing a self-directed program or a flagship program. If self-directed: contact 91制片厂 Education Abroad Office to discuss potential study abroad programs for your language of interest; if pursuing a flagship initiative, meet with 91制片厂 Education Abroad Office to discuss the one-time approval petition.
- By November 12: Submit study plan summary to Fellowships Office.
- By November 19: Submit career plans and language plans short answer responses to Fellowships Office.
- By November 30: (1) Submit draft 1 of Essays 1 & 2 and all remaining short answer responses to Fellowships Office; (2) Contact references.
- December 15: Submit draft 2 of Essays 1 & 2 and all short answer responses to Fellowships Office.
- January 4, 2027: INTERNAL DEADLINE
- January: Revise essay responses and complete campus evaluation interview with Leigh Pratt, Director of Fellowships Office.
- January 15: Complete .
- January 20, 2027, 5:00pm EST: NATIONAL DEADLINE for Boren Graduate Fellowship
- Submit your application by January 19, 2027 to allow sufficient time for upload of application materials ahead of the National Application Deadline.
- January 27, 2027, 5:00pm EST: NATIONAL DEADLINE for Boren Undergraduate Scholarship
- Submit your application by January 26, 2027 to allow sufficient time for upload of application materials ahead of the National Application Deadline.
