Finalist notification messages for the 2025 CLS Program and CLS Spark are out now. Congratulations to the nearly 600 students selected. Read more about the 2025 CLS Program Awards here.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program provides fully funded immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world.
Each summer, over 500 American students enrolled at colleges and universities across the United States spend approximately eight weeks studying one of a dozen languages either overseas or virtually. Participants gain the equivalent of one year of language study, as the CLS Program maximizes language and cultural instruction in an intensive environment.
CLS Spark, an initiative of the CLS Program, provides opportunities for American undergraduate college and university students to study Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian virtually at the beginning level.
Designed to leverage best practices in online language learning, CLS Spark provides students with the opportunity to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to studying these languages on their campuses.
Since its inception in 2006, the CLS Program has supported nearly 10,000 participants to gain critical language skills and intercultural competence, which are in demand in a globalized workforce and increase a student’s competitiveness across career fields. CLS alumni represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by American Councils for International Education.
What Alumni Say About 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 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
CLS News and Stories
Alumni Profile: Vinny Nguyen
Vinny Nguyen participated in the 2024 CLS Spark Mandarin program hosted by the LTL School in Singapore. This summer, he is continuing his language studies as part of the 2025 CLS Mandarin cohort in Taipei, Taiwan. Nguyen is currently pursuing a BS in political science and economics. His professiona…July 12, 2025
Alumni Profile: Raven Miller
Raven Miller participated in the 2022 CLS Spark Russian Program, the 2023 CLS Russian Program hosted by the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and the 2024 CLS Russian Program hosted by Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia. She recently graduated with a BA in linguisti…July 12, 2025
Alumni Profile: Nisreen Kalai
Nisreen Kalai participated in the 2023 CLS Spark Arabic Program hosted by the TAFL Center of Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt and the 2024 CLS Arabic Program hosted by the Noor Majan Arabic Institute in Nizwa, Oman. Nisreen is a recent graduate from New College of Florida and studied…July 12, 2025
Alumni Profile: Kahiwa Sachs
Kahiwa Sachs participated in the 2024 CLS Arabic Program hosted by Noor Majan Daaris Institute in Nizwa, Oman. She recently graduated with a BA in international relations and an Arabic minor from the University of Iowa. Kahiwa plans to pursue a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and hop…July 12, 2025
CLS in the Press
A year of milestones for national scholarships at UND
UND celebrates exceptional number of students honored with national scholarships.
Shared from University of North Dakota, June 17, 2025
Nicholas Dotson Awarded Prestigious Critical Language Scholarship
Nicholas Dotson, a student in the Executive M.S. in International Relations, has been selected for the prestigious Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, marking an exciting new chapter in his academic and professional journey.
Shared from Seton Hall University, June 16, 2025
Found in translation
Blue Hen Makenzie Dowlin receives Critical Language Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania
Shared from University of Delaware, June 11, 2025