HOW TO APPLY 

How we evaluate your application

Fellowship recipients will be selected on the basis of merit with consideration for:

• Boren program preferences: languages, countries, fields of study, commitment to substantial time studying abroad, and a plan for a career in federal service;
• academic record and potential to succeed in the proposed program;
• commitment to international education to fulfill academic and career goals;
• demonstrated language interest and aptitude, and
• the quality and appropriateness of the proposed program and its relevance to the National Security Education Program.

The proposal you submit, along with your references and transcripts, will be included in the assessment process.

Specifically, screening committees and evaluators will consider each applicant in terms of the following positive attributes.

1. The student is academically prepared to benefit fully from this overseas experience.
2. The student has prior experience in language training and/or demonstrates serious commitment to acquiring the target language overseas, and continuing to study that language upon return home.
3. The applicant has a comprehensive, clear, and feasible proposal.
4. The applicant shows evidence of ability to adapt to a different cultural environment.
5. The applicant shows evidence of the integration of the proposed program into the applicant's academic and career goals.
6. The applicant's proposal addresses U.S. national security, based upon the applicant's academic and professional perspective. (More on national security here.)
7. The applicant's professional goals are international in scope and support U.S. national security interests.
8. The applicant expresses a commitment to pursue a career in federal service.