Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program

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Last updated: Nov 19, 2024 by Matthew Baxter

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship program supports students who pursue training that leads to (1) a high level of competence in one or more languages critical to the national needs of the United States and (2) a fuller understanding of the areas, regions, or countries in which such languages are commonly used.

GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE students at Syracuse University who are studying less commonly taught South Asian languages at the intermediate to advanced level are eligible to apply for FLAS fellowships through the South Asia Center.  Graduate students in professional programs (Public Administration, etc.) may ask for an exemption to study Hindi-Urdu at the beginner level.  

(A) FLAS Summer Fellowships may be used toward full summer study in intensive language training programs in the United States or abroad for any South Asian language approved by the South Asia Center. In addition to applying for FLAS, students must also apply to an approved summer language program—such as the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) Summer Language Program (usually due in January) for study in India (usually at the advanced level), the South Asian Studies Language Institute (SASLI) (usually due in March) held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (usually at the introductory level), and the South Asia Institute's (SAI) (usually due in May) virtual courses through the University of Texas, Austin (for less commonly taught South Indian languages).  

  • Graduate & Undergraduate Students: Up to $5,000 tuition, $3,500 stipend

(B) FLAS Academic Year Fellowships at Syracuse University are awarded for Hindi-Urdu.

  • Graduate Students: Up to 24 credits of tuition, $20,000 stipend
  • Undergraduate Students: Up to $10,000 toward tuition, $5,000 stipend

Awards are contingent upon continued funding from the Department of Education.  See below for eligibility, application, and reporting requirements for summer and academic year FLAS.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program - Summer

Graduate & Undergraduate Students: Up to $5,000 tuition, $3,500 stipend

SUMMER 2025 FLAS APPLICATION 

DEADLINE: Monday, February 17, 2025 @ 11:59 pm

Application Requirements

  • Completed on-line application form (including a one-page Statement of Purpose in PDF format describing how FLAS training fits into your academic program and your career plans). 
  • Updated, official S.U. transcript only if you are a continuing undergraduate or graduate student delivered to Matt Baxter, Regional Programs Manager-Asia at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, who serves as Syracuse University’s FLAS Coordinator. New, incoming graduate students do not need to submit a transcript. Note: Syracuse University official transcripts can be requested and submitted to the FLAS Coordinator via secure email transmission through your MySlice portal/Student Services tab.
  • A completed FAFSA form.  This is required of both graduate and undergraduate applicants for both Academic Year and Summer FLAS.  You will be asked to submit your EFC number when you complete the application. The committee will consider financial need as well as academic merit when making funding decisions.
  • Letters of recommendation: For undergraduate applicants, two (2) letters of recommendation—one from a language instructor with an appraisal of your language ability and one from a faculty member who can speak to your academic preparation—emailed from an institutional email address directly to Matt Baxter. For continuing graduate students, one (1) letter of recommendation from your graduate advisor, thesis or dissertation supervisor, or a faculty member who knows your work well emailed from an institutional email address directly to Matt Baxter. If you are a new, incoming graduate student, you do not need to provide a letter of recommendation.
  • For Summer FLAS, you must be accepted an approved language program, which usually lasts around 8 weeks— such as the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) Summer Language Program for study in India, the South Asian Studies Language Institute (SASLI), held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, or the South Asia Institute's (SAI) virtual courses through the University of Texas, Austin. Please see their websites for further details.

 Eligibility Requirements

  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
  • Have earned a baccalaureate or comparable degree before the fellowship begins OR be an undergraduate student with sufficient prior training to take an intermediate or advanced level of an less commonly taught language;
  • Show potential for high academic achievement based on such indicators such as grade point average, class ranking, or similar measures that the institution may determine;
  • At the graduate level, be accepted for, or enrolled in, graduate level coursework in a program that combines modern foreign language training with a focus on international or area studies either in an academic discipline or a professional program.
    • Graduate students pursuing PhDs or professional degrees who want to take language courses at the introductory level will have their cases examined on a case-by case basis by the U.S. Department of Education
    • Undergraduate students with sufficient prior training to take an intermediate or advanced level of an uncommonly taught language are also eligible.  Undergraduate students are ineligible for introductory level language courses. Undergraduate and graduate students, including heritage students, can test into the intermediate level (speaking, basic reading and writing are required).
  • Agree to pursue full-time study of the language in accordance with the university's requirements during the entire award period. Summer FLAS Fellows must be enrolled in an approved language program. Approved activities must be maintained for the duration of the recipient’s fellowship tenure.

Reporting Requirements of Fellows 

  • All Fellows must inform the institution of any change in their programs of study or academic status.
  • All Fellows must submit to the U.S. Secretary of Education, through the on-line reporting system, a final report at the end of their fellowship tenure.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program - Academic Year 

Graduate Students: 24 credits of tuition, $20,000 stipend

Undergraduate Students: $10,000 towards tuition, $5,000 stipend

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026 APPLICATION

DEADLINE: Monday, February 17, 2025 @ 11:59 pm

Application Requirements

  • Completed on-line application form (including a one-page Statement of Purpose in PDF format describing how FLAS training fits into your academic program and your career plans).
  • Updated, official S.U. transcript only if you are a continuing undergraduate or graduate student delivered to Matt Baxter, Regional Programs Manager-Asia at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, who serves as Syracuse University’s FLAS Coordinator. New, incoming graduate students do not need to submit a transcript. Note: Syracuse University official transcripts can be requested and submitted to the FLAS Coordinator via secure email transmission through your MySlice portal; Student Services tab.
  • A completed FAFSA form.  This is required of both graduate and undergraduate applicants for both Academic Year and Summer FLAS.  You will be asked to submit your EFC number when you complete the application. The committee will consider financial need as well as academic merit when making funding decisions.
  • Letters of recommendation: For undergraduate applicants, two (2) letters of recommendation—one from a language instructor with an appraisal of your language ability and one from a faculty member who can speak to your academic preparation—emailed from an institutional email address directly to Matt Baxter. For continuing graduate students, one (1) letter of recommendation from your graduate advisor, thesis or dissertation supervisor, or a faculty member who knows your work well emailed from an institutional email address directly to Matt Baxter. If you are a new, incoming graduate student, you do not need to provide a letter of recommendation.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
  • Have earned a baccalaureate or comparable degree before the fellowship begins OR be an undergraduate student with sufficient prior training to take an intermediate or advanced level of an uncommonly taught language;
  • Show potential for high academic achievement based on such indicators such as grade point average, class ranking, or similar measures that the institution may determine;
  • At the graduate level, be accepted for or enrolled in graduate level course work in a program that combines modern foreign language training with a focus on international or area studies either in an academic discipline or a professional program.
    • Graduate students pursuing PhDs must have intermediate proficiency.
    • Professional students wanting to take language courses at the introductory level will have their cases examined on a case-by case basis by the U.S. Department of Education.
    • Undergraduate students with sufficient prior training to take an intermediate or advanced level of an uncommonly taught language are also eligible. Undergraduate and graduate students, including heritage students, can test into the intermediate level (speaking, basic reading and writing are required).
  • Be in residence on campus in Syracuse for each semester of the fellowship;
  • Agree to pursue full-time study in accordance with the university's requirements during the entire award period.  Academic Year FLAS Fellows must: register for a minimum of one course per term in approved language instruction at the appropriate level AND take at least one related area studies course per term.  Approved dissertation research must be maintained for the duration of the recipient’s fellowship tenure.
  • We expect Academic Year FLAS fellows to actively attend South Asia Center events during their fellowship year, during which time AY FLAS fellows should also feel free to use facilities at the Moynihan Institute. 

Reporting Requirements of Fellows 

  • All Fellows must inform the institution of any change in their programs of study or academic status.
  • All Fellows must submit to the U.S. Secretary of Education, through the on-line reporting system, a final report at the end of their fellowship tenure.