National Security Education Program David L. Boren Scholarships

(1) To provide the necessary resources, accountability and flexibility to meet the national security education needs of the United States, especially as such needs change over time; (2) To increase the quantity, diversity, and quality of the teachin

The Boren Scholarship program provides funding for U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas that are critical to U.S. national security. Boren Scholarships focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are not emphasized in other study abroad programs. The Boren Scholarship provides up to $25,000 for 6-12 months of study abroad.

The contract for oversight of this program is made to a nonprofit organization that administers this assistance program on behalf of DoD. The contract award is made to administer this CFDA program as well as CFDA # 12.550 (The Language Flagship Grants to Institutions of Higher Education) and CFDA # 12.552 (National Security Education Program David L. Boren Fellowships). The award is reported to USASpending.gov under CFDA 12.550, which has the most funding between the three programs.

Any U.S. citizen enrolled in a degree seeking program at an accredited two- or four- year public or private U.S. institution of higher education (defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) is eligible to apply for an undergraduate scholarship. Students enrolled in Federal government schools are not eligible. All Boren Scholarship 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 an overseas location outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand Planning to study in an overseas location 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 overseas location, and the applicant's field of study.

Scholarship awards are given to degree-seeking undergraduate U.S. citizens. All Boren Scholarship recipients agree to seek employment in the federal government, and serve for a period of time equal to the length of the award but no less than one year.

Eligible students may receive Boren Scholarships for no more than twelve (12) months. 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. Summer-only programs must be eight weeks or more and are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students.

Boren Scholarship recipients (beneficiaries) are selected based on merit including (1) academic record and potential to succeed in the proposed study, (2) commitment to federal service, (3) language interests and aptitude, and (4) quality and appropriateness of the proposed program and its relevance to the National Security Education Program.

Award decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals resulting from an independent merit review.

DLNSEO employs academic peer review for all individual scholarship applications.

Boren Scholarship recipients may be eligible to apply for a NSEP David L. Boren Fellowship if they subsequently enroll in a graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.