The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships are funded by the United States Department of Education in support of graduate and undergraduate students studying less commonly taught languages and cultures, in particular those considered to be of critical interest to the United States. They are intended to promote the training of students who plan to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is a prerequisite for success.
FLAS Fellowships
- Award Amounts
Academic Year
Undergraduate
$5,000 stipend, plus maximum tuition award of $10,000 or actual tuition if lower.
Graduate
$15,000 stipend, plus tuition award of $18,000 or actual tuition if lower (maximum 12 credit hours per semester).
Automatic enrollment in the graduate student health insurance plan with the cost of the student premium paid by the fellowship.
Summer
All students, all programs
$2,500 summer stipend, plus tuition award for cost of language course only (up to $5,000).
- Eligibility
FLAS Fellowships are open to all eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.
Academic Year
Undergraduate
Undergraduate awards require enrollment in intermediate level language instruction (Level 2) or higher of a less commonly taught language (study of French, German or Spanish is NOT eligible for FLAS Fellowships). Some centers may require that undergraduate FLAS awardees enroll in a level higher than second-year.
In order to remain eligible for an academic year FLAS Fellowship, FLAS recipients must be enrolled in one language course and one area studies course during each semester.
Graduate
Graduate awards require enrollment in intermediate level language instruction (Level 2) or higher.
Specific approval for Level 1 language study is required and is considered on a case-by-case basis by the respective FLAS Center coordinator and with approval from the U.S. Department of Education. However, if you already have advanced proficiency in another language related to your studies, you are eligible to apply for a FLAS to support Level 1 study of another language related to your studies. (Please explain this status within Statement of Purpose portion of the application).
In order to remain eligible for an academic year FLAS Fellowship, FLAS recipients must be enrolled in one language course and one area studies course during each semester.
Summer
All students, all programs
A FLAS Fellowship may be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students participating in a summer program that provides the equivalent of one academic year of modern foreign language study. Students who plan to study at the IU Summer Language Workshop are encouraged to apply for FLAS Fellowships and will also need to apply directly to the Workshop.Undergraduate awards require enrollment in intermediate level language instruction (Level 2) or higher of a less commonly taught language (study of French, German or Spanish is NOT eligible for FLAS Fellowships). Some centers may require that undergraduate FLAS awardees enroll in a level higher than second-year.
Undergraduates who graduate prior to the beginning of the program to which they are applying remain eligible only under certain conditions, including being enrolled in a graduate program by Fall 2019.
Graduate awards require enrollment in intermediate level language instruction (Level 2) or higher. Specific approval for Level 1 language study is required and is considered on a case-by-case basis by the respective FLAS Center coordinator and with approval from the U.S. Department of Education. However, if you already have advanced proficiency in another language related to your studies, you are eligible to apply for a FLAS to support Level 1 study of another language related to your studies. (Please explain this status within Statement of Purpose portion of the application).
Languages
- A - E
Language Center(s) Akan/Twi African Studies Program Arabic (Africa-based only) African Studies Program Arabic Center for the Study of Global Change
Center for the Study of the Middle East
Islamic Studies ProgramAzerbaijani* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Bamana African Studies Program
Islamic Studies ProgramBosnian Russian and East European Institute Chinese Center for the Study of Global Change
East Asian Studies CenterCroatian Russian and East European Institute Czech Russian and East European Institute Dari* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Estonian Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Russian and East European Institute*Available for Summer 2019 FLAS only
- F - K
Language Center(s) Finnish Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Georgian* Russian and East European Institute Greek (Modern) Russian and East European Institute Haitian Creole Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Hebrew Center for the Study of the Middle East Hindi Center for the Study of Global Change Hungarian Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Russian and East European InstituteJapanese Center for the Study of Global Change
East Asian Studies CenterKazakh Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Kinyarwanda African Studies Program Korean Center for the Study of Global Change
East Asian Studies CenterKurdish Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Center for the Study of the Middle EastKyrgyz Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center *Available for Summer 2019 FLAS only
- L - R
Language Center(s) Latvian* Russian and East European Institute Lithuanian* Russian and East European Institute Maya Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Mongolian Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Pashto* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Persian Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Center for the Study of Global Change
Center for the Study of the Middle East
Islamic Studies ProgramPolish Russian and East European Institute Portuguese Center for the Study of Global Change
Center for Latin American and Caribbean StudiesQuechua Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Romanian Russian and East European Institute Russian Russian and East European Institute
Center for the Study of Global Change
Islamic Studies Program*Available for Summer 2019 FLAS only
- S - Z
Language Center(s) Serbian Russian and East European Institute Swahili African Studies Program
Center for the Study of Global Change
Islamic Studies ProgramTajik* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Tatar* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Russian and East European InstituteTibetan Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Turkish Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Center for the Study of Global Change
Center for the Study of the Middle East
Islamic Studies ProgramTurkmen* Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center Ukrainian Russian and East European Institute Urdu Center for the Study of Global Change
Islamic Studies ProgramUyghur Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Center for the Study of Global Change
Islamic Studies ProgramUzbek Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Islamic Studies ProgramWolof African Studies Program Yiddish Russian and East European Institute Yoruba African Studies Program Zulu African Studies Program
Center for the Study of Global Change*Available for Summer 2019 FLAS only
FLAS Centers
- African Studies Program
The African Studies Program (ASP) is a Title VI National Resource Center, one of the leading centers in the US for the interdisciplinary study of Africa. ASP promotes the study of Africa in global perspective, with courses offered by more than 90 faculty across the College, and in 10 of IU’s professional schools. Our top ranked African languages program offers instruction in eight languages approved for FLAS fellowship study: Akan/Twi, Arabic (focus is Arabic-speaking regions of Africa), Bamana, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu. IU graduate students wishing to learn an African language may apply for a FLAS fellowship to study an African language relevant to their area of research. Undergraduates demonstrating a commitment to African Studies through enrollment in one of the ASP minors or certificate, or International Studies majors or Independent Majors Program students with Africa regional focus are also eligible to apply.
- Center for the Study of Global Change
The Center for the Study of Global Change specifically supports study or research that is transnational, cross-regional, or global. It will only consider proposals that pursue specific national, cultural, or regional subjects in which the research or focus of study utilizes a global framework to explore its object of inquiry. Students interested in government service and/or research on critical global issues or areas of national need are especially encouraged to apply.
- Center for the Study of the Middle East
The Center for the Study of the Middle East (CSME) at Indiana University is a Title VI Comprehensive National Resource Center which promotes multi- and interdisciplinary knowledge of the Middle East by promoting language and area expertise through fellowships, travel grants, academic and professional development, and outreach programs. CSME supports advanced research and scholarship of the Middle East and provides training to students, teachers, and professionals, with the cooperation and collaboration of 97 affiliated faculty. CSME encourages and welcomes students of Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Persian, and Kurdish to apply for FLAS scholarships through the Center.
- Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) serves as the focal point on campus for research, teaching, learning, and outreach related to Latin America and the Caribbean, with a special emphasis on four less commonly taught languages: Haitian Creole, Maya, Portuguese, and Quechua. CLACS FLAS applicants should explain how their study of one of these languages will help them develop research, teaching, or outreach related to Latin America and the Caribbean and how their career plans relate to areas of national need. More than that, we would like to know in your statement of purpose what motivates you to study a Latin American and Caribbean language on a personal level: what it is that makes you interested in this world region.
- East Asian Studies Center
The East Asia Studies Center coordinates scholarship funding opportunities on China, Japan, and Korea, and this includes generous funding during the academic year and in summer to support students studying intermediate to advanced level languages in those areas. Successful applicants will indicate their commitment to focus on some part of East Asia in their current studies, and their intention to use their training in careers that include public service, and demonstration of their financial need.
- Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center
The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center (IAUNRC) provides academic year and summer FLAS fellowships to support study of the Inner Asian and Uralic region and training in less commonly taught languages of that region. The vast area covered by IAUNRC includes the following countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolian, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the following regions: Buryatia, Inner Mongolia, Tatarstan, Tibet, and Xinjiang.
- Islamic Studies Program
The Islamic Studies Program (ISP) advances critical research about Islam and the Muslim world and facilitates access to knowledge in the field for students, scholars, professionals, and the general public. Drawing upon IU's strengths in area studies and intensive language instruction, the Program has particular strengths in the study of Islam as it is manifested in sub-Saharan and North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia, and in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia. ISP accepts FLAS applications from undergraduate and graduate students across IU who have emerging or well-developed interests in Islam and in Muslim peoples and practices and who seek to pursue those interests in the following languages: Arabic, Bamana, Persian, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu, Uyghur, and Uzbek. We give consideration to students who plan to pursue careers in higher education, government service, the non-profit sector, or in any other field for which linguistic and cultural expertise is necessary for success.
- Russian & East European Institute
The Russian and East European Institute (REEI) administers one of the country's leading programs in Russian and East European area studies and has been designated one of eleven U.S. Department of Education-funded Title VI National Resource/FLAS Centers for Russia and Eastern Europe for the 2018-2022 grant period. REEI provides academic year and summer FLAS fellowships to support study of the Russian and East European region and training in less commonly taught languages of that region.
Application Process
Academic Year and Summer FLAS Fellowships are two separate competitions requiring two separate and complete applications.
For each competition, separate and complete applications are required when applying for more than one language or to more than one center.
Before You Apply
Students are required to complete the following steps before submitting their FLAS Application. These documents should be requested BEFORE the deadline to allow time for the requests to be processed.
- 1. Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application (Academic Year Only)
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for 2019-20 and request to have the results sent to Indiana University. If you have not yet completed the FAFSA for 2019-20, please do so at least two weeks before the competition deadlin to ensure time for processing.
PLEASE NOTE: A FAFSA is not required to apply for a Summer FLAS Fellowship.
If you have not completed the FAFSA or are unsure whether or not you have completed the FAFSA, you can find instructions for filling out the FAFSA form on the FAFSA website.
For additional information on FAFSA, you can visit the FAFSA Help page.
- 2. Online FLAS Fellowship Recommender Request Form
The FLAS Application requires three letters of recommendation. Please complete the Recommender Request Form to have an e-mail message automatically sent to the recommenders at the e-mail addresses you provide. The e-mail will include a link to the FLAS Online Recommendation Form, which the recommender is required to complete in order to upload a letter of recommendation.
Your recommenders should be three current or past instructors who can support your application for FLAS funding. At least one recommender should have knowledge of your language skills to speak to your current scholarly activity working with a foreign language.
All letters of recommendation must be received by the competition deadline. It is your responsibility to make sure that all three letters of recommendation have been received by the deadline. If all three letters of recommendation are not submitted by the deadline, your application may not be considered.
PLEASE NOTE: Letters of recommendation must be uploaded as PDFs; all other file types will not be accepted.
FAQs:
Can I use a letter of recommendation from my admissions application for my FLAS application?
Yes. If you would like to do this, please contact your home department and ask them to send the letter via e-mail or campus mail to your FLAS at SGIS. Be as specific as possible when referencing which transcript and which application. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that their home department sends their letter(s) of recommendation to FLAS at SGIS.- 3. Official Transcripts
You must provide official transcripts for all colleges and universities, other than an IU campus (see below), you have attended. It is your responsibility to ask the registrar(s) to send your transcripts(s) to FLAS at HLS. You are responsible for all fees incurred with transcript requests.
For academic work at an IU campus, you may elect to have an unofficial transcript downloaded at no charge by selecting this option on your application.
While separate applications are required when requesting consideration for support by more than one center or for the study of more than one language, only one set of transcripts are needed.
Electronic Transcripts:
FLAS@iu.eduPaper Transcripts:
FLAS
355 N. Jordan Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47405-1105FAQs:
What does "official transcript" mean?
An official transcript is one that comes from the registrar's office of your university or college. These transcripts often come in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal. We can accept a transcript in a signed envelope with an unbroken seal either from the applicant or directly from the conferring university or college. Note that the signed seal must be unbroken for us to accept the transcript. If electronic transcripts are considered official by your university or college, then we will accept them. In this case, we must receive the e-transcript directly from your university or college to the center email address.
Do I need to send additional transcripts if I am submitting multiple applications (more than one language and/or more than one center)?
No, one set of transcripts is all that is required per applicant. While separate applications are required when requesting consideration for support by more than one center or for the study of more than one language, only one set of transcripts are needed. Please contact the FLAS Center where you had your transcript(s) sent to request they be sent to another center.
I had transcripts sent to my home department as a part of my admissions/other funding application, can my FLAS application use those?
Yes. To do this, please contact your home department and ask them to send the transcript to the FLAS at SGIS. Be as specific as possible when referencing which transcript and which application. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that their home department sends their transcripts to the FLAS at SGIS.
FLAS Application Writing Prompts
The FLAS Application contains two short answer questions and a Statement of Purpose essay. The short answer questions should be written directly on the application form and the essay must be uploaded as a PDF file.
- Short Answer Questions
1. Please describe your past and future academic course of study for the region or global issue for which you are applying.
2. Please indicate how you have applied and will apply your language training to your academic and career goals.
- Statement of Purpose Essay
The FLAS Application requires a Statement of Purpose, which should address the following questions:
- How will this FLAS Fellowship enrich your academic and career goals;
- How will the proposed language of training advance your research and proposed program of study; and
- How will this language and area study training fit in to your long-term career goals?
Format requirements:
- up to 2 pages in length
- 1-inch margins
- 12 font size
- Times New Roman or Arial fonts