A Program of the U.S. Department of State
The application for the 2022 summer program is now live! The deadline to apply is November 16, 2021.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.
Each summer, CLS provides rigorous academic instruction in fifteen languages that are critical to America's national security and economic prosperity. CLS participants are citizen ambassadors, sharing American values and promoting American influence abroad.
Why You Should Study Abroad with the CLS Program
Key Benefits
Develop Key Expertise
The CLS Program provides its scholars intensive language and cultural instruction in an environment designed to maximize their language gains at every level.
Career Ready Skills
Alumni apply their critical language skills in a variety of professional fields in public and private sectors as well as government, helping to support America’s competitiveness across the board.
Citizen Diplomacy
CLS scholars represent the breadth and diversity of the United States. Through personal engagement they help to spread American values and develop mutual understanding with the people of other countries.
Languages Offered
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"I had always been interested in learning about Brazilian culture and Portuguese language and CLS made that a reality for me."
Max Courval, Portuguese 2020 -
The CLS Program was instrumental in getting me to the proficiency level required for my career. My employer cited my language skills as one of the main traits that made me an outstanding candidate.
John Krzyzaniak, Persian 2016 -
"The Persian language opens a door to a universe of wonders within the collective history of humankind."
Shabbir Abbas, Persian 2020 -
Just having conversations with people and being open with them about what we did culturally where I’m from; I’ve always wanted to share that with people.
Marcus Dunn, Korean 2011
CLS News and Stories
Meet CLS Hindi Instructor Neelam Singh
Neelam Singh is an instructor for the 2021 CLS Virtual Hindi program hosted by the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS). Having worked for AIIS in India for most of her career, Neelam Ji has interacted with well over 1,000 U.S. students who come to Jaipur, India each summer to learn Hindi.…October 05, 2021
The 2022 CLS Program Application
We are pleased to announce that the application for the 2022 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is now open! We welcome American students to apply now to learn a critical foreign language next summer on a fully-funded study abroad program. The application is now live and available online…October 04, 2021
Medical student learns about Korea’s approach to the pandemic during CLS program
This past summer, Sarah Schrader participated in the CLS Korean program hosted by Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. A microbiology PhD and medical student, Sarah saw her CLS program as an opportunity to not only improve her Korean language but gain valuable insights on Korea’s…September 27, 2021
Announcing CLS Refresh
The CLS Program is pleased to announce CLS Refresh, a new language learning opportunity for CLS alumni. To support alumni in their continued commitment to critical languages, individualized virtual language instruction will be offered for approximately 220 CLS alumni beginning in October 2021, at…August 18, 2021
CLS in the Press
UOG’s first Critical Language Scholars gain appreciation of heritage and multicultural learning
Lourdes Mafnas (Indonesian 2021) and Monita Paul (Bangla 2021) were the first University of Guam students to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship Program. Mafnas, a graduate environmental science student, and Paul, an undergraduate biology major, were chosen for the eight-week program from a pool of 4,600 national applicants.
Shared from University of Guam, October 21, 2021
An American in Dushanbe: How Studying Persian in Tajikistan Affects U.S. Students’ Language Learning
An article coauthored by alumna Leora Eisenberg (Persian 2017) abuot learning Persian in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Shared from The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, October 20, 2021
ASU alum uses global mindset in entrepreneurship
Growing up on an expansive farm in rural Arkansas, Sophie Aigner (Indonesian 2011) had an interest in other cultures from a very early age. It is only natural, then, that in her career the Arizona State University global studies alum would have a global mindset.
Shared from ASU News, October 08, 2021