Eligibility

Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application. Permanent Residents and individuals awaiting naturalization are not eligible to apply.

Be at least 18 years old by May 15, 2026.

Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional) level at the time of application. Students who are graduating seniors at the time of application and students enrolled in one-year master’s programs are eligible to apply.

• Applicants must be enrolled in a program that results in a degree. Applicants taking stand-alone or continuing education classes or who are pursuing a certificate are not eligible.
• Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. institution. Students earning degrees at foreign institutions outside the U.S. or its territories are not eligible, even if those institutions are accredited by a recognized U.S. accrediting agency. Students enrolled in dual-degree programs that include coursework at a U.S. institution and an international institution may be eligible if they can produce a transcript from the U.S. institution.
• Applicants must be enrolled in at least one credit-bearing class at or through their home institution in the fall term of 2025. There are limited exceptions to the enrollment requirement:
  • If applicants are enrolled in a degree-granting program but taking a leave of absence to participate in an organized term- or year-long study abroad program; national scholarship or fellowship program; or to participate in a substantive co-operative or internship program, they may request an exception to the enrollment requirement. Exceptions may only be granted in these three cases, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis beginning in late January.
• Applicants must complete fall academic requirements and maintain good academic standing to remain eligible. Applicants who withdraw or fail to maintain good academic standing with their institution are not eligible to participate in the program.
• Applicants must be enrolled for the spring term unless they graduate in December 2025. The CLS Program reserves the right to revoke awards from applicants who withdraw or fail to maintain a good academic standing with their institution during spring 2026.

Applicants in an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor's) must complete at least one full year of study (two semesters or three quarters) by the beginning of the CLS Program in Summer 2026.

Applicants must meet the language requirements, if applicable, of the program to which they apply.

Applicants may apply once, for one language, each year. Applicants who submit multiple applications will be considered ineligible.

This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows and personal services contractors). This provision does not apply to interns.

This provision includes immediate family members of all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows and personal services contractors). This provision does not apply to immediate family members of interns.

• Self-supporting children living apart from their parents are eligible to participate, provided that their parents do not work directly on the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

This provision does not apply to immediate family members of interns. Self-supporting children or children or who live apart from their parents are qualified to participate.