The CLS Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with the goal of expanding the number of students studying critical languages and providing opportunities for those already doing so. CLS partners with universities and nonprofits around the world to provide students the opportunity to study a language and culture in a country/location where the language is typically spoken. Students from all backgrounds and academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Many programs require no experience studying the program language. Each program covers one academic year of university-level language coursework during an 8–10-week time frame. Programs include formal classroom instruction along with conversational practice with native-speakers, and cultural activities and excursions which will deepen student's understanding of their host countries. Participants are expected to continue their language study after their CLS Program and to apply these language skills to their future academic and professional careers. 

Students apply based on the language they wish to study. Some languages have multiple locations, but applicants can not preference a site when they submit their application. Click on the language from the list below to see which locations are available.

A few of the CLS programs require some level of language proficiency before starting the program. This pre-requisite does not need to be met through traditional classroom instruction. For more information on meeting the pre-requisites, see the CLS page on language levels.

No Previous Study Required

• Hindi
• Indonesian
• Persian
• Portuguese
• Swahili
• Turkish
• Urdu

One Year of Study Required (Or Equivalent)

• Arabic 
• Chinese 
• Korean 
• Russian 

Two Years of Study Required (Or Equivalent)

• Japanese

To be eligible for the CLS Program, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application
• Be at least 18 years old by the start of the program
• Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at either the undergraduate or graduate level at the time of application (graduating seniors are eligible)
• Meet the language requirements of the program to which they apply
• May only apply for one language each year
• In good health (CLS requires medical clearance before travel)

Applicants to the CLS Program can apply for and receive both a CLS Program award and a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award in the same academic year. However, you may not accept both a CLS Program award and the Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award in the same academic year. 

If your Fulbright grant has a mandatory pre-departure orientation that falls during the CLS Program period, you may need to choose between accepting the CLS Program and your Fulbright grant.

CLS looks for applicants who can demonstrate:

• Connection between the language they plan to study and their goals;
• Contribution to the Program goals of citizen diplomacy and mutual understanding;
• Preparation for the Program;
• Adaptability, sensitivity, and resilience; and
• Commitment to language learning.

Preference may be given to applicants with little to no previous study abroad experience.

Application Materials:

• Application Form
• Copies of your unofficial transcript(s)
• Three short answer essay questions
• A personal statement

National Deadline: November 19, 2024

All applicants will be contacted in late January by email with a notification of whether their application passed the initial review process. Top applicants are reviewed by panels of academic and international education experts in early February. Finalists, alternates, and non-recipients will be notified of their statuses by email in early March. Those selected for the award will have approximately two weeks to accept or decline. Alternates are promoted on a rolling basis throughout the spring.