National Security Education Program — Boren Scholarships and Fellowships

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) is the federal government's premier scholarship and fellowship program for students studying critical foreign languages and world regions essential to U.S. national security — languages like Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Swahili, and Uzbek in regions that rarely appear in standard university language curricula. Created by the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. §§ 1901–1912) and named for its Senate sponsor (who later became Governor of Oklahoma), NSEP addresses a persistent gap in American human capital: the shortage of U.S. citizens with expertise in languages and cultures critical to diplomacy, intelligence, and national defense. The program funds approximately 300 Boren Scholarships for undergraduates studying abroad ($8,000–$20,000 per award) and 130 Boren Fellowships for graduate students pursuing degrees that include critical language study (up to $30,000 per award) annually. In exchange for funding, recipients commit to work for a federal national security agency for at least one year — creating a direct pipeline from American universities to the CIA, NSA, DIA, State Department, and other agencies that depend on language-qualified personnel.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 50 U.S.C. § 1901 — Findings and purpose: the security of the United States is dependent on the presence of Americans with knowledge of foreign languages and cultures; current educational resources are inadequate for producing the linguistically and culturally competent citizens needed for national security; a national program of scholarships and fellowships is required to fill this gap
• 50 U.S.C. § 1902 — Establishment: the NSEP is established within the Department of Defense; the Secretary of Defense is responsible for administering the program and designating priority countries, regions, and languages based on national security needs
• 50 U.S.C. § 1903 — Boren Scholarships: undergraduate grants of up to $20,000 to U.S. citizens pursuing study abroad in countries designated as critical to national security; must study a critical language; minimum length of 8 consecutive weeks; preference for programs of academic year length
• 50 U.S.C. § 1904 — Boren Fellowships: graduate grants of up to $30,000 to U.S. citizens pursuing graduate studies that include study in critical languages and world areas; may study domestically or abroad; must demonstrate connection to national security career goals
• 50 U.S.C. § 1905 — Service agreement: recipients must agree to seek and accept employment with a federal agency in a position that contributes to national security for at least one year within five years of completing their studies; failure to fulfill the service requirement results in repayment of the award with interest
• 50 U.S.C. § 1906 — National Security Education Board: a board chaired by the Secretary of Defense advises on priority languages, countries, and regions; includes the Secretaries of State, Education, Commerce, and the Director of National Intelligence; board recommendations inform which languages and regions qualify for NSEP funding
• 50 U.S.C. § 1907 — National Security Education Trust Fund: NSEP is funded through a dedicated trust fund established with an initial $150 million congressional appropriation; trust fund earnings supplement annual congressional appropriations
• 50 U.S.C. § 1912 — Language flagship programs: NSEP funds not only individual scholarships but also institutional Language Flagship Programs — intensive language programs at universities designed to produce graduates with professional-level proficiency (Level 3 on the ILR scale, equivalent to CEFR C1) in critical languages

Language Flagship Programs

Beyond individual scholarships and fellowships, NSEP administers the Language Flagship — a network of intensive language programs at universities across the country that aim to produce students with professional-level proficiency in critical languages. Flagship programs exist in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu, housed at universities including:

• Arabic: University of Maryland, University of Texas at Austin
• Chinese: Ohio State University, University of Oregon, Brigham Young University, Portland State University
• Hindi: University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan
• Korean: University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of California Los Angeles
• Russian: Bryn Mawr, Middlebury College
• Swahili: Indiana University

Flagship programs typically include: intensive in-country immersion in the senior year, rigorous proficiency standards at all levels, and connections to internships and federal employment. Students at Flagship universities can also compete for Boren Scholarships and Fellowships.

Service Requirement and National Security Pipeline

The NSEP service requirement distinguishes it from other scholarship programs. Recipients must:

1. Seek employment with a federal national security agency within two years of completing their program
2. Serve for at least one year in a position the agency determines contributes to national security
3. If the service requirement is not fulfilled within five years of study completion, repay the award with interest

Agencies that count for fulfillment of the service requirement include: CIA, NSA, DIA, NGA, NRO, State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and other agencies with national security missions. Boren alumni are specifically recruited by these agencies; the program maintains active relationships with agency human resources offices.

How It Affects You

If you are an undergraduate interested in national security, foreign policy, or intelligence careers: The Boren Scholarship is one of the most well-funded undergraduate study abroad programs for critical language study. Unlike general study abroad scholarships, Boren is specifically designed to lead to a national security career — the service requirement means you have a pathway to federal employment after graduation that many students value highly. To be competitive, you should: be studying a critical language with documented proficiency growth, have a clear narrative connecting your language study to a national security career goal, and select a study abroad program that prioritizes language immersion. Applications open each fall; deadline is typically in early February. Apply through your university's study abroad office or fellowships advisor.

If you are a graduate student in international relations, area studies, linguistics, or related fields: The Boren Fellowship provides up to $30,000 for graduate study that includes critical language training. Unlike Boren Scholarships, Fellows may use the award for domestic study if their program includes intensive language training. This makes Boren Fellowships accessible to students at universities with strong area studies and language programs who cannot travel internationally. The fellowship is particularly strong for students planning careers in intelligence, diplomatic service, or defense policy. Security clearance eligibility is a practical consideration — recipients who are flagged for security concerns during the vetting process may struggle to fulfill the service requirement.

If you are a language educator or university administrator: Language Flagship programs receive multi-year institutional grants from NSEP to build intensive language programs. If your university has strong expertise in a critical language and can commit to developing a proficiency-based curriculum with in-country immersion, the Language Flagship grant competition is worth pursuing. Contact the Institute of International Education (iie.org) or the NSEP program office at the Department of Defense for institutional application guidance.

Relationship to Other National Security Education Programs

NSEP is the flagship program but not the only federal investment in critical language education:

• Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program (State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) — intensive summer language institutes abroad in 15 critical languages; no service requirement; more competitive per award dollar; aimed at broader pool including students not planning government careers
• Fulbright Program — study, research, and teaching abroad, including in many countries of national security interest; see Fulbright page
• Gilman Scholarship — for Pell Grant recipients studying abroad; many Gilman scholars also receive Boren awards
• Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships — Title VI HEA funding for graduate students studying critical languages at designated National Resource Centers; administered by the Department of Education (not Defense)

Pending Legislation and Recent Developments

• NSEP has operated with broad bipartisan support since its founding; no major structural changes are pending
• The National Security Education Board's priority language and country designations evolve with geopolitical shifts; Chinese (Mandarin) has consistently been the highest-demand language for government employers
• Post-9/11 emphasis on Arabic, Dari, and Pashto has continued; growing attention to Swahili and other African languages reflecting expanding U.S. national security interests in Africa
• The service requirement has been a subject of debate: some argue it deters students from pursuing Boren awards (particularly those with concerns about intelligence community employment); others argue it appropriately ensures taxpayer investment in national security outcomes
• Boren alumni have filled significant roles in the intelligence community, Foreign Service, and defense agencies — the program is widely credited with meaningfully expanding the pool of language-qualified national security professionals