A Program of the U.S. Department of State
Information for Applicants
Who Can Apply
The Critical Language Scholarship Program seeks participants from a variety of fields, backgrounds, and career paths, with the goal of building a cadre of Americans who speak critical languages at high levels in government, business, arts and culture, science and engineering, health and medicine, education, research, and other fields.
The CLS Program is a nationally competed award open to all eligible U.S. undergraduate and graduate students in every field. Review the full set of eligibility requirements for the CLS Program.
Getting Help with Your Application
The CLS Program maintains a list of faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities nationwide who have volunteered to assist students with the CLS application process.
To find CLS Advisors on your campus, visit this page:
Search for CLS advisors on your campus
The CLS Program does not designate official campus advisors because CLS applicants are not required to obtain support from their home institution to apply for the scholarship. However, the CLS Program maintains a list of faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities nationwide who have volunteered to assist students with the CLS application process. If you do not have a designated CLS representative at your university, we recommend you contact your university’s study abroad, fellowship or career office.
Find CLS Advisors on your campus.
Also be sure to watch the official CLS Application Tips video, which is designed to help you write focused, effective essays that speak to the selection criteria for the CLS Program. We recommend this video for every student applying to the CLS Program.
If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation to complete the CLS application, please contact our staff at cls@americancouncils.org or 1-877-257-9922.